Baseball is a game. It has always been a game. Games are meant to be fun. All too often there is an overload of pressure that is put upon an individual to perform at a certain level. This can and will bring poor performance and put the player into what is commonly known as a slump.

The most successful baseball players of all time had fun with the game. As long as you have fun, you will have no limits in how far the game can take you.

Step 1:

Have fun! Play to simply play. Enjoy what you are doing. If you get bored, make games within the game. This can include for instance picking up the other teams signs or seeing if you can pick up the rotation on the ball.

Step 2:

Drink plenty of fluids. This is a game which is played out doors. Your body is made up of 60% water. Being dehydrated leads to poor function and poor performance. You should drink primarily water. If you have been outside and sweating a lot you may wish to drink a sports performance drink such as Gatorade or Powerade (find one that you like), followed by more water.

Step 3:

There are so many drills one can practice when they are not in a game. For a hitter the best is to hit off of a batting tee. See my article on "How to Hit A Baseball" and follow those instructions to hit the ball off of a tee.

Personally I used to hit 500 balls off of a tee each day. I would pick spots in the batting cage and drive the ball to those spots. For example I would hit 100 balls up the middle. I would hit 100 balls to the top right corner of the cage. I would hit 100 balls to the top left corner of the cage. I would hit 100 balls to the bottom right corner of the cage (line drives). I would hit 100 balls to the bottom left corner of the cage (line drives).

Always keep the ball on a line drive and be smooth with your swing.

Step 4:

The best way to build your arm up is to long toss. Start close to your team mate while throwing and work very slowly to a distance of perhaps 210 feet away. Once you get comfortable and with ease can throw a line drive of this distance, move back another 25 feet. Ensure you are smooth with your movements and are not over exerting yourself. You wish to avoid injury and strengthen your arm.

Step 5:

Taking ground balls and pop flies are very important. You already know how to field the ball or catch the ball. The purpose of taking grounders or fly balls is to gain further confidence and keep your central nervous system programmed on how your body should function properly by completing this task. You wish to have cat like reflexes. Have someone take a fungo bat and hit ball after ball after ball to you. I used to take 500 ground balls each day at first base.

Step 6:

Lastly here is a secret I used to go from being a mediocre fielder to an excellent fielder.

Quite often one does not have access to someone to hit them ground balls or fly balls.

All you need is a piece of 5/8 plywood and a raquet ball. Set up the ply wood against a fence or the side of a house.

Take the ball and with your throwing arm throw it against the plywood. Using your glove hand only (without a glove on), catch the ball. The ball should be caught between your forefinger and your thumb. This is where the pocket is in your baseball mit. As you get more comfortable move closer to the plywood. Practice on your knees. Dive for the ball. There are no rules to this other than to get very dirty, have a lot of fun, and develop lighning quick reflexes. The closer you get to the plywood the less reacion time you have. See if you can catch 10 ground balls in the proper part of your hand without missing or bobbling the ball. Do not get discouraged as this is a difficult drill if done properly.

The reason we use the plywood on grass and not simply play wall ball with this is so we can dive for the ball and get low to the ground without worry of scraping our skin and bleeding on black top or asphault. There is no black top or asphault on a field of play.