Nine spots, nine jobs. Every kid should learn what each position actually does — both to play it and to understand the seven teammates around him when he's not.
Play the ball, or cover a base — one fields it, the others take a bag.
The nine, in one line each
- Pitcher — becomes the fifth infielder the instant the ball is hit: cover first, back up bases, field the middle.
- Catcher — the field general: receives, blocks, throws, directs traffic, and sees the whole field.
- First base — the target: stretch, pick, and turn outs everyone else starts.
- Second base — range and the double-play pivot; covers first on bunts, relays from right.
- Third base — the hot corner: quick reactions, charges bunts, guards the line.
- Shortstop — the infield's captain: most range, covers second, calls priority, relays from left.
- Left field — backs up third and second; plays the pull-side line drive.
- Center field — the outfield's captain: priority over everyone, backs up both gaps.
- Right field — the strongest throw: backs up first on every infield play, guards the extra base.
The golden infield rule underneath it all: play the ball, or cover a base. When all nine know both their job and everyone else's, the coordinated plays — cutoffs, coverages, backups — stop being chaos and start being choreography. That's what the Defensive board widget teaches: pick a situation, watch all nine jobs at once, or filter to just one kid's.