Baseball · Ground balls · Team defence & relays

Turning two at second

Middle infielders practise the feed, the pivot at second and the throw to first, turning a ground ball with a runner on first into a double play.

Start / 5

Time: 20 min
Players: 6–14
Age: U13+
Area: Infield
Equipment: 12 baseballs2 bases1 fungo bat1 bucket2 batting helmets1 catcher's helmet with mask

Setup

Use a full-size infield with first and second base (90 ft bases for 13 and over; check your league's field dimensions for younger groups).
Put players at shortstop, second base and first base, with spare infielders lined up behind each position. A pitcher stands on the mound and ducks down once the ball is hit.
A runner in a batting helmet takes a lead off first, and a batter-runner in a helmet waits beside home plate, well clear of the coach's swing.
The coach hits ground balls from beside home plate. A catcher in a helmet and mask stands behind the coach and collects the throws back in.

The coach hits a ground ball to the second baser or the shortstop. The runner on first and the batter-runner both go on contact.
The infielder who doesn't field the ball breaks for second. The fielder feeds the ball to that player's chest: a firm underhand toss when close, a short firm throw when further away.
The pivot player catches with a foot on the base, gets the force out at second, then moves clear of the incoming runner and throws to first.
The first baser stretches to the throw for the second out.
Hit five balls to the second baser (4-6-3), five to the shortstop (6-4-3), then a few to the third baser (5-4-3). Rotate fielders and runners after each set.

Fielder: catch the ground ball first. A sure out at second is better than two rushed throws and none.
Fielder: show the ball to the pivot player early, then deliver it chest-high. Under about four metres, use a firm underhand flip and follow it.
Pivot player: get to the base early, stop under control and give a target with both hands up at the chest.
Shortstop pivot: drag the right foot across the back of the base and throw from the infield side of the bag, out of the runner's line.
Second-base pivot: touch the base with the left foot and step back or across away from the runner before throwing, so the throw doesn't cross the runner's body.
Runners: slide into second legally. A bona fide slide means sliding before the base, reaching for it with a hand or foot, staying on it and not changing direction to hit the fielder. Check your competition's rules, as many junior and school leagues are stricter.

Rushing the ground ball and booting it while thinking about the second out.
Pivot player arriving late and catching the feed on the run, off balance.
Pivot player standing on top of second, directly in the sliding runner's path.
Feeding to the pivot player's feet or glove side so the throw to first is slow.
Runners sliding late or past the base, or going out of their way at the fielder: that's interference and a double play called anyway.

Say it: “Sure out first, feed to the chest, step clear, throw.”

Live batter-runner timed from contact; the double play only counts if both outs beat the runners.
Mix in balls to the pitcher (1-6-3) and first baser (3-6-3), where the first baser must get back to the base for the return throw.
Hit slow rollers so the fielder must decide between the out at second, the out at first or the double play.

No runners. The coach rolls ground balls from the mound so feeds and pivots can be learned at walking pace.
Feed and touch second only; add the throw to first once the feeds are clean.
Use reduced-injury balls for the first rounds.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.