Playing Center Field
Center fielder is No. 8: the captain of the outfield.
How it actually works. Play straightaway, usually a touch deeper than the corners, and move with each hitter. The first step on contact is back, then efficient angles and crossover steps to the ball, with a quick plant for a strong throw. He calls off the corner outfielders, lines them up for each hitter and leads the cutoff throws to second.
Why it is done, and when it is wrong. Center field is the shortstop of the outfield. He has the best view of the ball off the bat, which is why he gets priority, and he has to take charge. An outfield where the center fielder is quiet is an outfield where balls drop between two players who both thought the other had it.
What people get wrong about it. Not taking charge on a ball in the gap, banana routes where he circles the ball instead of running a straight line to where it is going, and throwing to the wrong cutoff.
At Little League and travel ball. Put your fastest outfielder with the best instincts in center, and make him loud. The simplest youth rule works at every level: center field has the ball when he calls it, and everybody else gets out of the way.
Batter's Eye: look up anything in baseball