FIELDING – A quick release gains importance with age.

Proper technique, athleticism and positioning are vital components to playing good defense. But what becomes increasingly important is how quickly a defender can get rid of the ball. The pace of the game gets faster with each level of play and the ability to catch and release swiftly is what makes a fielder reliable.

The situations in a game where a quick catch and release are integral are endless: a catcher throwing on an attempted steal, a pitcher fielding a bunt, an infielder starting or turning a double play or an outfielder trying to cut down a baserunner. A great glove and golden arm become ordinary if the release time is too deliberate.

The first three items mentioned (proper technique, athleticism and positioning) all contribute to developing a quick release. Intelligent positioning provides you the opportunity to make plays. Proper technique (and footwork) puts your body in a balanced position to perform at optimum speed and consistency. Athleticism allows you to make plays with fluidity. A talented defensive player is often referred to as being “smooth in the field.” He appears to make plays with minimal effort and having the ball for only a brief instant.

Quickness is not achieved through a succession of choppy movements, but rather a series of continuous movements. Proper footwork and throwing technique provide the framework for defensemen, most notably infielders. Once these fundamentals are learned, players must practice them time and time again to blend these steps into a single act. The movements of setting, catching and throwing should not happen in stages. (The word ‘staccato’ comes to mind). There should be no pauses or stoppages, rather uninterrupted execution.

A major cause of hesitation by a fielder is failure to get a good grip on the ball in a timely fashion. This can be improved through practice. Every time the ball hits your glove, whether it’s a ground ball, fly ball or just playing catch, work on the getting the ball out immediately and getting a proper grip. The more you practice, the easier it becomes. In fact, any time you have your glove and a ball with you (at home, car ride, waiting for the bus) is an opportunity to pop the ball into your glove and pull it out.

Another reason for slow release is that players will turn their shoulders inward to get to the throwing position instead of using their hands to move the glove (and ball) back. The shoulders should turn in as a result of the hands moving them back (much like a load in hitting). When the shoulders fuel the movement it takes longer, and they often turn too far inward which also lengthens the release time. In addition, when the shoulders close off to the target, the player will then fly open with his front shoulder, which results in errant throws high to the throwing-arm side.

Another reason for a timely release is that players over-emphasize their technique. College coaches and scouts refer to these players as “camp products.” They come to a complete stop to set their positioning when fielding a ball, take time for perfect alignment on the throw, draw their arm back and glove-arm out and, finally, release the ball. This may look great and work for most plays up until the early teen-age years are over. But when the runners get faster later on and your defense really needs an out, it won’t cut it. Mechanical models don’t make plays. Athletes make plays.

So when you’re practicing your defense, practice everything. Have the game of “hot potato” you played when you were a kid in mind. Glove the ball with relaxed hands, get it out and get rid of it in a timely fashion. Fielding technique, arm strength and accuracy are only worth their weight if the ball arrives in time for the umpire to raise one arm rather than two.