The Crow Hop

To put a little extra power into your fielding plays, take a crow hop to add some zip to your throw. Step forward with your throwing-side foot as you field the ball. Turn your body so that your glove side shoulder faces the direction you want to throw and take a little hop forward, striding as you throw the ball.

"The crow hop makes it easy to link a catch or a fielding play to a clean, fast and accurate throw."

Step 1   Start in the defensive stance  Balance your weight forward, on the balls of your feet  Stand with your feet shoulder width apart  Keep your hands out in front of you  Be ready

Step 2  Position yourself in line with the ball and target  Stay a couple of steps behind the ball  Run toward the ball  Get your body low  Bend your knees  Lower your glove  Field the ball with your glove side foot forward  Bring your arms together  Grip the ball

Step 3   Prepare to make the throw  Shift your weight onto your throwing side foot  Step forward  Rotate your glove-side shoulder toward the target  Hop once on your back foot  Bring your arm back, then up and over your head Step forward with your glove-side foot  Throw the ball with a snap of your wrist

Skills Drills

Distance drill 

Practicing with a friend, stand at gradually increasing distances and throw grounders back and forth. When you throw, take a crow hop. You can also practice making the crow hop off a ball hit in the air. Just shift your weight back the same way as you do after fielding a ground ball. 

Troubleshooting Tips

Tempo 

If your hop does not feel natural, work on your tempo. Remember that the purpose of the move is to give you momentum to make a hard throw, so work on the stride that follows the hop and actually provides that momentum. 

Gain Control 

Before you can make a crow hop you have to field the ball smoothly, so make sure you have the ball under control before you shift your weight back to initiate the hop.

READ 
" The complete second baseman"

 
Click the button above to go back to the web page or web site you were at before comming to this page

This site is awarded the

In recognition of creativity, integrity and excellence on the Web.
The term "Little League" and the Little League logo are trademarks of Little League Baseball, Inc., Williamsport, Pa., extended only to local chartered leagues for purposes of  identification and publicity

Copyright © 2000 Brookside Little League, Inc. All rights reserved

Brookside Little League, Inc.

Thank you ,  for visiting  Brookside's Little Legue Web Site

by
Jon Anderson
jontanderson@juno.com