ASA Softball: ACE Coaching Manual - Fielding A Ground Ball
While hand-eye coordination is not as crucial in fielding a
ground ball, fear of the ball is a big problem. Most kids are
scared to death of getting hit by a ball that is bouncing
sharply, heading directly toward them. Softballs are not soft
and they can hurt young (and older) kids.  The best thing you
can do to improve your players’ ability to field ground balls is
to remove their fear of the ball by using softer, safety balls.
Use safety balls, whiffle balls, tennis balls or any softer
ball, that won’t hurt the player if it takes a bad bounce and
hits them. Pain and injury are two things that will certainly
keep your players from paying attention long enough to ever
learn how to field correctly. And with all the great safety
balls available now, it doesn’t make any sense for you not to
use them. If you are the type of coach who thinks kids just need
to take a few grounders off the face until they learn to “stay
down on the ball and keep your body b