Catching : Catching Catcher’s Gear
Shin Guards, buckles on the outside in order to avoid hooking them together
Chest protector- should fit tightly against the neck, not sagging
Face mask should have protection for the throat and cover the chin completely
Glove, shall be catchers glove
Protective cup, foul balls, wide pitches
Observation Tip (Gear) : Observation Tip (Gear) Watch for the sagging of the chest protector
Shin guards hooks on the inside
Flap of mask unattached
Coaching Tip (Gear) : Coaching Tip (Gear) Have player keep their gear in one spot
When finished with gear have them roll chest protector up and insert into a shin guard and hook bottom shin guard around the gear for better care of equipment
Coaching Drill (Gear) : Coaching Drill (Gear) Time with stop watch the catchers putting their gear on in less than one minute
Basic Catcher’s Signal Stance : Basic Catcher’s Signal Stance Athletic Stance
Feet Shoulder width apart
Toes point slightly outward for better in ward rotation of hip
Glove shall become extension of left knee
Fingers in middle of the legs along seem of pants
Torso shall be up right with a slight lean forward
Signals shall be given over outer half of the plate
Observation Tip (Signal Stance) : Observation Tip (Signal Stance) When giving signs fingers too low
Knees too wide so coaches can see the signs
Glove on the inside of the knee
Coaches Tip (Signal Stance) : Coaches Tip (Signal Stance) Run fingers along the inseam of the players pants
Point the knees at 2nd base and SS
Hang the glove off the end of the knee
End of fingers can be taped so that pitchers can see the signs better
Catcher should set up on outer half of plate because 80% of pitches outer half
Drill (Signal Stance) : Drill (Signal Stance) Have catchers practice giving signs to another catcher
Receiving Stance : Receiving Stance Goal is to give pitcher good target and umpire good view of the pitch
This stance shall be used when there is less than 2 strikes and no one on base
Feet shall be shoulder with
Right foot shall align with the instep of the players left foot – Stagger
Enables player to reach better for the ball too their right
Receiving Stance Continued : Receiving Stance Continued Backside shall rest comfortable below knee level
Set up position vs. the hitter-player shall be able reach out and touch back foot of hitter
Target shall be given at knee level of the catcher’s shin guards
Elbow of glove hand shall be outside the left leg
Observation Tip (Receiving Stance) : Observation Tip (Receiving Stance) Make sure player is not too deep in the catcher’s box or far forward
Also make sure that the catcher only uses this stance when there is less than 2 strikes and no one on base
Coaching Tip (Receiving Stance) : Coaching Tip (Receiving Stance) Elbow outside of the knee so that a player does not restrict their movement
Hop into position so that you do not give the pitch away- inside fastball-shifting weight back and forth
Target too high-should be at the level of the catcher’s shin guards
Drill (Receiving Stance) : Drill (Receiving Stance) Hop spot drill – Give sign and jump into position- do not shift in or out
Use tape to mark feet
Runner On / Block Ball Stance : Runner On / Block Ball Stance Feet shall be staggered and slightly turned outward
Not on toes, shall be stable in stance
Squat position shall be slightly higher than a receiving stance because of the situation with a runner on and potential advancement of a base runner-90 degrees
Backside shall be even with the knees
Weight shall be on balls of feet/slight lean forward
Coaching Tip (BB Stance) : Coaching Tip (BB Stance) Weight shall be forward and catcher shall be able to move freely from side to side, catcher not too low in stance
Catcher mentally has to ready for any wild pitch, should remind catcher often to be ready for anything
Runner on stance continued : Runner on stance continued Target at knees
Arm outside body
Elbow inside knee restricts movement with the glove
Hand behind or tucked behind glove
Drill (BB Stance) : Drill (BB Stance) 3 Ball Stance Drill- Ball inside, middle and outside
Receiving and Catching Pitch : Receiving and Catching Pitch Target at knee level, catchers want to receive the ball from the ground up
Tag play easier to go up than down
Want player to catch the ball out in front of their body rather than close to body – go get the ball- take pitches away from pitcher- arm shall be extended
Receiving continued… : Receiving continued… Catcher must frame pitch for the umpire
Remember the plate is actually bigger than 17 ½ inches across because the ball only has to touch it
Arm shall be extended in
Fingers shall be pointed inward except for a low pitch and pitch shall be held for one thousand count for umpire to see it
Receiving continued page 3 : Receiving continued page 3 Player shall quarter turn (shake hands) with their glove as pitcher releases pitch in order to allow for a smoother inside frame position
Hands shall be nice and relaxed
Observation Tip (Receiving) : Observation Tip (Receiving) Make sure quarter turn
Make sure that player is catching ball in front of body and not dragging pitches out of strike zone especially outside pitches
Coaches Tip (Receiving) : Coaches Tip (Receiving) Have player concentrate on catching the ball with their arm extended
Most catchers need to really concentrate on not dragging the pitch really concentrate on arms extended fingers in and out front of body – low ones do not drag down- funnel inward and upward
Have them hold it for a one thousand count
Do not frame the obvious ones
Drills (Receiving) : Drills (Receiving) Barehanded Quick Toss
Clock Drill
One on One Frame Drill
Block the Ball : Block the Ball Shift of weight forward to a catcher’s knees trying to block the ball with their chest
Do not attempt to catch the ball use the chest protect as a tool for stopping the ball
Technique is to have glove go down first to block center hole and knees follow
Block Ball (Side to Side) : Block Ball (Side to Side) Push off opposite leg and swing hips at 1st or 3rd base
Do not step out too slow
Trying to create a 45 degree angle in order to push the ball back towards playing field
Shoulders shall be leaning forward in and chin shall be tucked= C Shape
Arms shall be at players side
Observation Tip : Observation Tip Watch for players not anticipating a pitch
Catchers reaching instead of moving for the ball
Weight too low- below knees
Lifting of chin causing player to look away poor shoulder position
Coaches Tip (Blocking) : Coaches Tip (Blocking) Glove goes down first – still got a chance
Throw hip towards baseline
Place face over the ball
Anticipate every single pitch
Chart number of pitches to screen set goal for catcher
Blocking Drills : Blocking Drills 3 ball drill
Partner Drill
Soccer Ball Drill
Down Ups
Live
Footwork and Throwing : Footwork and Throwing Throwing similar to an infielder
Must caught the ball first (two hands)
Steps shall be small (relatively in place)
Steps shall be in a 1 – 2- 3 approach
Pivot, close and throw
Quick feet and hands
Throwing : Throwing Similar to pitching the hands break at the center of gravity
As a catcher is pivoting with right foot it is imperative that they throw glove hard towards their center of gravity in order to become completely closed and for proper transfer of the ball
Similar to a QB in football must point shoulder at their target
Step at target and throw through the base
Throwing to 2nd Base : Throwing to 2nd Base As the ball is approaching home plate, once the catcher has determined that the pitch is “catchable”, then they can slightly lean forward and use two hands to catch the ball
Throwing to 2nd base : Throwing to 2nd base Once the player catches the ball, then the catcher uses a jab step in order to pivot their heal towards the pitcher and close their front shoulder as they step towards 2nd base.
Observation Tip : Observation Tip Throw should happen behind home plate- if they step on plate then jab step too far forward or stride too far forward- must step in place
If throw keeps going to the right of 2nd base then the catch did not close his shoulder
Coaches Throwing Tip : Coaches Throwing Tip Have player stagger their feet, right toes aligned with instep of left foot
Have player moving slightly forward as the ball is coming to get their body moving
Have player catch the ball with two hands and should throw their hands towards their center of gravity so that they close the shoulder
Catcher must stop ball first before catching and throwing
Throwing Drill : Throwing Drill Coach throws ball to catcher and they practice throws
Use a stop watch to time ball glove to glove
Footwork drills
Player throws against wall and catcher practices throws and blocking the plate
Throwing to 3rd Base : Throwing to 3rd Base Drop Step with right foot to clear hitter- easy to do with ball in middle of plate or inside corner, if not have to step out then you have to throw over the hitter and throw over hitter
Observation Tip : Observation Tip Throwing over hitter with inside pitches, a coach needs to watch the drop step of the catcher
Coaching Tip (Throw to 3rd) : Coaching Tip (Throw to 3rd) Have player take drop step straight back –about 6 inches deep towards umpire and throw the ball through the base
Throwing to 3rd Drill : Throwing to 3rd Drill Place a hitter in the right hand batter’s box and have a player or coach throw balls to catcher practicing drop step
Blocking the Plate : Blocking the Plate Catcher should attempt to deceive the runner by showing them the plate and as the ball is caught they step across the plate with their shin guard facing the line, sweeping the tag and turn to throw to the next base
Observation Tip : Observation Tip Make sure when a player steps across the plate that the shin guard is facing the runner and not exposing a players leg
Coaching Tip (Blocking Plate) : Coaching Tip (Blocking Plate) On a close play, a catch wants to have weight on the leg that is going to block the plate so that a player in a collision does not get thrown off the plate
On a tag play do not stand in the line, tag the player and spin off so that you don’t stand there waiting for a collision
Two hands on the ball at all times
Blocking Plate Drill : Blocking Plate Drill Coach throws ball’
Outfield throws ball
Throw and wall drill
Run down drill
Intentional Pass : Intentional Pass Catcher must start upright in the catchers box
Catcher must extend arm straight out to the side
Catcher must move outside as the pitcher throws the ball to them
Pitch must be far enough outside not to allow hitter to hit it
Catcher shall start on the outer half and move outside