U.S. Baseball Academy Fielding Drill: February 1, 2010

The infield crossover step drill teaches players the proper footwork needed to field ground balls hit to either side of them. Instead of taking a stutter-step and losing valuable time, the cross over step allows the player to get to the ball quickly.

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• baseball
• drill

[lotklear]

travel, and the crossover move actually disappears and he will simply be running towards the ball. This is ultimately faster.

[lotklear]

If he remains with a wide stance his only reasonable first step is the crossover. Using the crossover first step to initiate movement is simply too slow. Therefore, the power move is that first "jab step" to the right with the right foot.. This gets him moving in the desired direction. Now, the second step will be a crossover, but he will crossover with his body already moving in the proper direction. As a result you will notice that he will naturally turn his body in the direction of trave

[lotklear]

The infielder is making two mistakes. 1. His feet are too wide. This makes his first side step move cumbersome, and slow. 2. His first step, say to the right, should be with his right foot. This is because he is motionless at the initiation of the movement and overcoming that motionlessness is very difficult. Therefore, with a slightly narrower stance and the use of the right foot as the initiator of the right side movement, he will ultimately get to the ball on the right side quicker.

[Ellodeycallmesexy]

@lotklear Please define the "power move".

[lotklear]

I don't mean to flame, I really don't. I just don't know how else to say this, but coach, you are wrong. The first step has to be the power move coming from the offside leg. This will get the body moving so that the second step, the crossover, being a weaker movement, does not have to overcome that initial static movement. If you don't believe me, try it yourself with a stopwatch.