Softball skills can be very complicated and one of those skills, softball fly ball fielding can be difficult. For new athletes who are learning the game, there can be so much information that it can be overwhelming. I put these check lists together and found them great for breaking the skills down in smaller and easier to implement chunks of information for the players.
I would print them off and laminate them and then have the players actually evaluate each other as a part of a practice drill. I would not do it very often but a few times so that they are seeing what I was teaching them. Sometimes to teach a skill is a great way to learn one as well.
Softball Fly Ball Fielding Mechanics
Preparation
_____ your shoulders are square or facing the batter
_____ feet about shoulder width apart with the glove foot a little bit ahead of the other
_____ Weight is slightly forward (on the balls of your feet) balanced side to side
_____ knees are slightly bent ready to go in any direction
_____ glove and throwing hand is about at your knees in front of the body
_____ your back is flat and upright so you are facing the batter
_____ eyes are on the ball and the batter
Execution
_____ keep your eyes on the ball
_____ your eyes and body are moving with the ball
_____ hands are still down until you get to where you are going to field the ball
_____ when you get to where you are going to field the ball, you get ready with your body
and your glove open to the ball
_____ watch the ball into your glove which is pointing up at your throwing shoulder
_____ the throwing hand closes your glove over the ball and then gets ready to throw
Follow Through
_____ weight is moving back with the ball in your throwing hand
_____ the glove side elbow is pointing toward where you are going to throw the ball
_____ the glove side of the body is pointing toward the target
_____ the ball is in throwing position
_____ eyes are on the target you are going to throw to