At more than an hour from our facility, the best place for a Lake Forest fielder to start is online. Baseball Fielding Training in Lake Forest, IL with Coach Cinz leads with Zoom Lessons, Video Analysis and the Full Scouting Analysis, and adds occasional trips to Naperville for hands-on work. Our fielding and infield training page explains the method in full.
Coach Cinz has over 25 years in baseball as a player or coach, including five years before the pandemic as a hitting, fielding and pitching instructor with the Chicago White Sox organization.
Why start online from Lake Forest?
Lake Forest is in Lake County, about 52.7 miles northeast of The Play & Thrive Club Naperville, a drive of about 74 minutes. Weekly trips are hard to sustain, but a lot of fielding can be coached from video: stance, first step, glove angle and the footwork into the throw. A driveway, backyard or open field with a parent rolling grounders is enough to film most footwork drills, and the clips give Coach Cinz a clear view of what is happening.
Three online tools for fielders
- Zoom Lesson ($65, 30 minutes): live 1-on-1 coaching online, with a consultation first. Good for footwork patterns and throwing mechanics.
- Video Analysis ($35): send a clip of ground balls or throws and get drills back.
- Full Scouting Analysis ($390, 3 hours): an in-depth evaluation of hitting, pitching, fielding and base running, with a detailed report.
Many Lake Forest families start with Video Analysis, since it is quick and low-cost, then add Zoom Lessons once there is a clear list of things to fix. The Full Scouting Analysis suits a player who wants a complete picture of his game before a big season. The report then becomes a roadmap, so each Zoom Lesson and each trip to Naperville targets the areas that matter most for that player.
When is a trip to Naperville worth it?
Some things need live reps. Plan an occasional visit for:
- a Personal Assessment ($195, 1-on-1) to see exactly where the player stands, or
- a 1.5-hour Fielding Clinic ($204) built on the 6 F’s (Feet, Field, Funnel, Footwork, Fire, Follow), with live action off the bat and situational plays.
Across every format, Coach Cinz teaches movements, mechanics and timing, and explains the “why” behind each adjustment. He also builds the mental game: confidence, mindset and consistency, so a fielder wants the ball hit to him.
Starting Baseball Fielding Training in Lake Forest, IL
Ready to begin? Start with the free Benchmark goals form. Coach Cinz replies within 48 hours with times to measure the player’s current metrics. Every athlete who books also gets a Play 2 Earn Sports player profile to track progress. We also coach players in Libertyville and Vernon Hills. For more on training Lake Forest defenders, see our fielding training hub.
Lake Forest families ask
Can a Lake Forest player do fielding training without regular trips to Naperville?
Yes. The facility is about 74 minutes and 52.7 miles from Lake Forest, so we lead with Zoom Lessons, Video Analysis and the Full Scouting Analysis. Footwork, glove position and throwing mechanics coach well on video, with occasional visits for live ground balls.
What does the Full Scouting Analysis include for a Lake Forest player?
It is a 3-hour, in-depth evaluation of hitting, pitching, fielding and base running, with a detailed report. It costs $390. For a Lake Forest fielder, it shows how defense fits the whole game and helps set priorities for Zoom Lessons and future clinics.
