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