We are all on the lookout for outstanding pitchers, catchers, middle infielders, gutsy third baseman and fleet centerfielders. If the kid doesn’t win a starting spot there, and if she carries a decent bat, we stick her at first base. But do we give her enough proper instruction? Unfortunately, too many times the answer is no. We all just assume it’s a pretty simple position to play, so what’s the big deal?
This position requires some specific skills just like the other eight, and they should be drilled into the candidates for first base. The primary responsibility is obvious. We want the first baseman to be able to get back to the bag and establish a good target for the throw. But this may not be as simple as it sounds. There are two basic approaches to accepting a throw at first. The first, and probably easiest, is for the player to set up with the heel of her foot against the bag, facing the thrower.
As the ball is released, she stretches toward the ball, keeping one foot in contact with the bag. The second, when the thrower releases, she stretches out toward the throw and kicks back to the bag. This is a bit more difficult because an inexperienced player may have trouble finding the bag without looking, but it does allow the player a bit more mobility on wide throws. The key to either approach is to commit to the stretch only after the ball is released by the thrower. A premature stretch may find the first baseman in no position to recover and get to the bad throw. Both approaches require the first baseman to work extensively on her footwork going back to the bag as the ball is hit. She should avoid looking at the bag, perhaps just giving it a quick glance as she makes her initial move. This will allow her better reaction to the ball on those close plays that require her to catch the ball just as she arrives at the bag. Have the player work on a consistent pattern for going to the bag on pickoffs or groundballs.
The footwork I prefer is for the players to drop step and pivot 180 degrees to her right, heading toward the proper corner of the bag. For pickoffs, she should head toward the corner closest to home on the baseline. As she approaches the corner, her left foot should plant right at this corner alongside the bag. As the left foot is planting, she will be looking over her left shoulder for the throw from the catcher which should be released just as the left foot is about to plant. The right foot will plant to the outfield side of the bag as the ball is being caught, and the first baseman will put the tag right on the second base side of the bag. The first baseman should always make this tag facing second base. If she turns the other way, swiping to her left, she may not find anyone there because a good runner will break for second, and most of the time find the first baseman unable to react quickly enough to make the throw to second.
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As the ball is released, she stretches toward the ball, keeping one foot in contact with the bag. The second, when the thrower releases, she stretches out toward the throw and kicks back to the bag. This is a bit more difficult because an inexperienced player may have trouble finding the bag without looking, but it does allow the player a bit more mobility on wide throws. The key to either approach is to commit to the stretch only after the ball is released by the thrower. A premature stretch may find the first baseman in no position to recover and get to the bad throw. Both approaches require the first baseman to work extensively on her footwork going back to the bag as the ball is hit. She should avoid looking at the bag, perhaps just giving it a quick glance as she makes her initial move. This will allow her better reaction to the ball on those close plays that require her to catch the ball just as she arrives at the bag. Have the player work on a consistent pattern for going to the bag on pickoffs or groundballs. 
