Keep your weight balanced and on the balls of your feet.
You should have your hips and your shoulders facing the plate.
Stay loose, with your hands in front of your body (not resting on your knees).
Your feet should be at least shoulder width apart. You can line up the inside part of your foot under the outside of your shoulder for a good general, balanced starting position.
Focus your vision on the zone as the pitch arrives over the plate.
Level 1 Infielding - Fielding Position
Charge the ground ball (including the ball hit right at you) briskly and time your crouch so you can come through the ball as you field (catch) it.
You should be balanced on the balls of your feet, with your seat down and your hands in front of your body. Your hips and chest should be square with the ball as you receive the ball.
A good hand position for learning to catch ground balls while minimizing the fear of getting hit in the face is to position your throwing hand between your mouth and your glove. At the mouth level, you can still keep your eyes focused on the ball as it enters your glove. And, with the hand coming to the ball as it enters the glove, you will ideally be able to secure a cleanly-fielded or a bobbled ball.
Level 1 Infielding - Catching the Ground Ball
Track the ball all the way into your glove with your eyes. If you learn to field with the technique of moving your hand from in front of your mouth to your glove, you can learn to minimize the fear of getting hit in the face and keep your eyes fixed on the ball. A common mistake from beginners is taking their eyes off of the ball due to fear of getting hit. The reality, however, is that you can't react to a bobble or bad hop that you aren't looking at!
Absorb the ball with your hands, up to chest level; always work ground-up when fielding a ground ball. Field through the ball as you make the play (as opposed to rocking back on your heels). Also, step in the direction of where you will be throwing as you complete the play.
