How to be a good shortstop
  • 1. What is the primary responsibility of a shortstop?
A) Catching pop-ups in foul territory
B) Pitching to the batter
C) Covering the area between second and third base
D) Playing first base
  • 2. Which throwing motion is generally preferred for quick throws?
A) Backwards
B) Over the top
C) Sidearm
D) Underhand
  • 3. What is a 'short hop'?
A) A throw that lands short of the target
B) A very high popup
C) A slow roller
D) A ball caught just after it bounces
  • 4. When covering second base on a steal attempt, where should you position yourself?
A) Behind the base
B) In front of the base
C) On the side of the base
D) Halfway to first base
  • 5. What is the double play pivot?
A) The act of calling for the ball
B) The movement of transferring the ball for a double play
C) The stance before throwing
D) Running to first base
  • 6. What is the most important skill for a shortstop?
A) Raw power
B) Height
C) Slow, deliberate movements
D) Agility and quickness
  • 7. Which base does the shortstop typically cover on a bunt towards third base?
A) Third base
B) First base
C) Home plate
D) Second base
  • 8. What type of glove is preferred for a shortstop?
A) A glove with a shallow pocket
B) A first baseman's mitt
C) A catcher's mitt
D) A glove with a deep pocket
  • 9. How should you position yourself relative to the batter's handedness?
A) Slightly towards the batter's pull side
B) On the opposite side of the batter's pull side
C) Directly behind the pitcher
D) Far away from the batter
  • 10. What is the key to making a good throw across the infield?
A) Closing your eyes
B) Just throwing the ball as hard as possible
C) Footwork and momentum
D) Ignoring the first baseman
  • 11. When is it acceptable to dive for a ball?
A) Every time a ball is hit towards you
B) When the coach yells at you
C) When it's the only way to make the play
D) When you are bored
  • 12. What is the most important attribute in communication?
A) Volume
B) Profanity
C) Clarity
D) Speaking quietly
  • 13. What is a 'force out'?
A) When a runner is safe
B) When a runner is tagged out
C) When a runner is forced to advance to the next base
D) When a runner slides hard
  • 14. What is 'range' in terms of shortstop play?
A) The distance you can throw
B) The amount of time you practice
C) The strength of your arm
D) The area you can cover effectively
  • 15. What should you do after every pitch?
A) Lay down
B) Run to the dugout
C) Stay in the same position
D) Reset your stance
  • 16. What should you communicate to the other infielders?
A) Number of outs, runners on base, and potential plays
B) Personal insults
C) What you ate for breakfast
D) Nothing at all
  • 17. How should you approach a slow roller?
A) Ask someone else to get it
B) Charge aggressively
C) Stay back and wait for the hop
D) Backpedal
  • 18. What is the most common error for a shortstop?
A) Throwing errors
B) Pitching errors
C) Catching errors
D) Running errors
  • 19. How does pitch selection impact your positioning?
A) You start running around the field
B) It doesn't matter
C) You take a nap
D) You adjust based on likely batted ball direction
  • 20. What is important to remember on a double play?
A) Fall down
B) Try to tag both runners at once
C) Get the lead runner first
D) Argue with the umpire
  • 21. When covering second base, which foot is generally on the bag first?
A) Right foot
B) Left foot
C) Both feet at the same time
D) Doesn't matter
  • 22. What is the importance of anticipation?
A) Predicting the future
B) Reacting quickly to batted balls
C) Hoping the ball doesn't come to you
D) Ignoring the game
  • 23. What is the advantage of using a 'quick release'?
A) Makes the ball curve more
B) Reduces the time for a runner to reach base
C) It impresses the coach
D) Increases throwing accuracy
  • 24. What is the best way to improve your fielding skills?
A) Consistent practice
B) Watching TV
C) Eating unhealthy foods
D) Ignoring practice
  • 25. What does it mean to 'attack the ball'?
A) Hiding from the ball
B) Throwing your glove at the ball
C) Ignoring the ball
D) Moving forward aggressively to field the ball
  • 26. What is a good warm-up routine?
A) Stretching and light jogging
B) Sleeping
C) Playing video games
D) Eating a big meal
  • 27. Why is it important to stay low to the ground?
A) To improve your reaction time and fielding range
B) To avoid getting hit by the ball
C) To look cool
D) To hide from the coach
  • 28. What is the benefit of watching professional shortstops?
A) To become famous
B) To copy their uniform
C) To waste time
D) Learning advanced techniques
  • 29. What is the most important personal trait for a shortstop?
A) Being tall
B) Having a large glove
C) Mental toughness
D) Ignoring the game
  • 30. What does good footwork do for a shortstop?
A) Helps create momentum toward their target
B) Makes the shortstop run away from the ball
C) Allows the shortstop to trip over themselves
D) Makes the shortstop look stylish
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