How to Throw Across the Body

Throwing across your body is typically frowned upon in baseball and football. Baseball pitchers put undue stress on their arm by doing so and become inaccurate. A football quarterback throwing across his body loses velocity and risks a costly interception. Yet in some cases, a throw across your body has to be made. In baseball or softball, a second baseman may be running toward center field and have to get the ball to first base, or a quarterback's only open receiver may be on the opposite side of the field. For those times, a properly executed throw across the body can lead to success.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball, softball or football
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Instructions

  1. Baseball or Softball

    • 1

      Field the ball as you move in the opposite direction of your throwing target. Think of a shortstop fielding a ball in the hole near third base and having to throw the ball across his body to the first baseman.

    • 2

      Swivel your head and pick up the target with your eyes.

    • 3

      Bring the baseball up into throwing position and plant your back foot. For right-handed throwers, the right foot will be the plant foot.

    • 4
      Bring your stride foot off the ground and lock in on the target.

      Bring your stride foot off the ground, rotate your hips and release the baseball, all while keeping an eye on the target. For right-handed throwers, your stride foot is your left foot. The left foot should be off the ground until the ball is released.

    Football

    • 5
      As the right-handed quarterback rolls right, hit receivers on the left with a throw across the body.

      Take the snap and roll out to the side of the field that matches your throwing arm. Right-handed quarterbacks move right.

    • 6

      Look back to the opposite side of the field and locate a viable receiver. Keep your eyes on the target.

    • 7

      Bring the football into throwing position and plant your back foot.

    • 8

      Bring your front foot off the ground, rotate your hips toward the receiver and release the football. Because of your momentum toward one side of the field, you will not be able to drive your foot toward your target to increase velocity.

    • 9

      Slow to a stop with both feet on the ground. Brace yourself for any hit that may be coming from a defensive player.