2. Baseball / Softball Basic
Skills
This presentation introduces you
to the basic skills in the sports of
baseball / softball and the
mechanics on how each skill is
properly executed.

3. THROWING
 Throwing is the most
basic skill in baseball and
softball. It allows the team
to prevent their
opponents from touching
bases or even earning
points or runs. Style and
technique in doing it
differ from player to
player.

4. Elements of Throwing
a) Grip – Grip the ball across the seams with your index
and middle finger. The thumb is under the top
fingers.
b) Wind-up – Raise the throwing arm up and turn the
shoulder in the direction of the throw. The gloved
hand points toward the target. Raise the left foot and
place all weight of the body on the right foot.
c) Delivery – Make a backward swing with bent
elbows; lean forward in transferring weight to the
left foot and release the ball.
d) Follow-through – Point the throwing arm down-
forward, putting the feet parallel in a ready position.

5. Grip Wind-up
Delivery Follow-through

6. PITCHING
 Pitching is a skill that
puts the game to play. It
is performed by a pitcher,
one of the key players in
baseball / softball who
stay at the center of the
playing field called
diamond.

7. Element of Pitching
a) Wind-up – Keep the
front part of the right
foot in contact with the
side of the plate. Shift
the weight to the back
leg and take a backward
step.

8. CATCHING
 This is a defensive skill used to
receive a thrown ball and hold a base
runner or batter from proceeding or
prevent the opponent from earning a
point or a run.
 In baseball, a catch occurs when
a fielder gains secure possession of a
batted ball in flight, and maintains
possession until he voluntarily or
intentionally releases the ball. When
a catch occurs, the batter is out, and
runners, once they properly tag
up (retouch their time-of-pitch base),
may attempt to advance at risk of
being tagged out.

9. Elements of Catching
a) Follow-through – After the release of the ball, continue
the forward motion, with the throwing arm pointing to
the target.
b) Stride – Take a stride or wide step with your left foot.
Release the ball. In performing this skill observe the
following mechanics:
 Hold your glove open and keep a visual on the ball at all
times.
 Keep your free hand in front of you and bring it on top of
the glove as the ball approaches.
 Close your hand over the ball the moment it hits inside
your glove.

10. HITTING/batting
 The aspect of baseball that
draws many young players
to the game is the idea of
hitting a baseball squarely.
 In order to hit the ball
consistently, a batter must take a solid stance in the
batter's box with his left shoulder--for a right-handed
hitter--facing the pitcher.
 This is an offensive skill used to strike the pitched ball
using a bat. It is done to advance to the bases and
eventually leads to earning a run or point.

11. Elements of Hitting/Batting
 In doing this skill, consider your grip, stance, stride, and
swing.
a) Grip – use your fingers in gripping the bat and tighten
your grip as the ball approaches.
b) Stance - proper stance includes slightly bending your
knees, feet parallel to the plates in shoulder width
distance, and bat tilted at 45° and not positioned over
the shoulder.
c) Stride – as the ball approaches, stride the right foot a
little backward to gain momentum.
d) Swing – after a little stride backward, transfer the
strength generated by the body towards the arms to
bat as it swings parallel to the ground aiming at the
ball and directing it to the intended destination.

12. Grip Stance
Stride Swing

13. RUNNING / BASE-RUNNING
 This is a very important
skill you need to master
because it allows you to
advance safely from one
base to the other with
full speed and agility.

14. Considerations in
Running/Base-Running
 To condition the body for efficient and effective
running, consider the following:
a) Speed Running – running with speed from one point
to a definite distance. Try getting your time as you run
and improve your speed every time you do it.
b) Agility Running – running with a change in position
and direction in the fastest possible speed. To master
this, you might as well consider running through the
bases of the diamond. Improve your speed every time
you do it.