Preparing for Playing Firstbase in College

While firstbase is an important position on the high school and summerball level it takes on a whole new significance in college.

In college SPEED is the biggest change a 1st baseman will see over the current level she plays on. Everyone in college softball is faster, either with their footspeed, their pitching speed or the ball off the bat speed. A 1st baseman is going to have to be VERY quick at first, and most of the time she'll spend going backwards FAST!

Here are 5 keys for life as a college firstbaseman:

1. The potential bunt is a huge threat in college so she'll be playing UP more than usual - meaning that if it's not bunted to her she'll be moving BACK farther and faster than usual.
2. Since so many college batters go from the left side and are Fast down to 1st base (2.6 - 2.8 seconds), she'll be moving back to the bag faster than usual trying to get to the bag and then get in position to receive a throw before one of the other team's speedsters pass her.
3. The 1st baseman's footwork efficiency must be excellent as she'll have no time to waste making up her position due to poor footwork. For instance, if she's in for a bunt/slap against a lefty slapper and the ball is either bunted or slapped to the SS, the 1B is going to have to dropstep at least 5 steps in order to reach the bag in time to them turn around and position herself for a throw that's already on it's way. If any of these 5 steps are not taking her directly to 1st base, but instead are off a little and forcing her to round off her path to 1st base, she'll not only be too slow getting to the base but will have her back facing the throw.
4. As a result of the extra speed involved at the college game playing 1st base becomes VERY exciting, and challenging.
5. The speed difference to a 1st baseman in college is like the speed difference for a quarterback going into the pros…things happen so much faster that it's the speed that causes the biggest challenge. They aren't having to make plays they've never made before, they're just having to make them moving faster and reading faster than ever before.

Check out these eDrills for more help with fielding and conditioning work.