Abstract: A bat-and-ball sport training aid configured to teach baseball and softball fielders proper techniques in fielding a batted ground ball that takes a bad hop. A training apparatus for a bat-and-ball sport comprises a multilayer mat, a plurality of sleeves, and a plurality of diverting inserts. The multilayer mat comprises an inner layer encapsulated by a top and bottom layer. The top layer has an outer surface constructed to simulate a playing surface for the bat-and-ball sport. The plurality of sleeves run through the inner layer and are configured to accept the plurality of diverting inserts. Each diverting insert is constructed to provide an obstacle that will change the direction of a ball in a difficult to anticipate direction after it impacts the insert.