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Catching Fundamentals
Catching Fundamentals
In our program, we want our catchers to emphasize the following skills, in this order (1 being most important):
RECEIVE the baseball. If we are not able to cleanly receive the baseball, then....
BLOCK the baseball. If we have a runner moving, have received or blocked cleanly and have a chance to get an out, then....
THROW the baseball.
Stances
Stances
SIGNAL STANCE
SIGNAL STANCE
Start in this stance every pitch. Used to give signals to the pitcher
Set up down the middle of the plate
Heels about 6" apart, toes pointed to SS and 2B
Balanced on balls of feet
Thighs parallel to the ground
PRIMARY STANCE
PRIMARY STANCE
Tall with chest, do not slouch over
Glove hand forearm rests on top or side of left knee
Glove in front of left knee to prevent 3B coach from seeing signals
Signal hand must not be too high or too low. Up against the crease between the thigh and torso.
Used with no runners on base and less than strikes on the hitter
Get as low as you comfortably can while still being athletic
Rear rests on heels
On balls of feet or feet flat on ground
Throwing arm protected by making a fist with the thumb inside fingers behind the right heel or on the lower back
Glove gives target at the hitter's knees with index finger pointed in 2 o'clock position.
SECONDARY STANCE
SECONDARY STANCE
Used with runners on base or two strikes on the hitter
Rear higher in the air than primary stance, off the heels
Feet wider apart than primary stance
Right foot positioned slightly closer to backstop (3-5 inches) than left foot to promote a quicker transition for throwing to a base.
Thighs close to parallel to the ground
Throwing hand behind the mitt (preferred) or behind body
TRANSFER FROM SIGNAL POSITION TO PRIMARY OR SECONDARY STANCE
TRANSFER FROM SIGNAL POSITION TO PRIMARY OR SECONDARY STANCE
Transfer to primary or secondary stance once the pitcher begins to move.
Be consistent in how you shift into your stances. Don't tip off pitch location or type based upon your transfer.
Transfer should be smooth and balanced. Chest should be in the middle of the target location.
Hop or shuffle, as long as it is controlled.
RECEIVING & Framing
RECEIVING & Framing
RECEIVING
RECEIVING
Catch and move body as quietly and relaxed as possible
Keep shoulders, eyes and the glove in a straight line
Receive with soft hand but strong wrist/forearm
Beat the ball to the receiving spot....arriving late results in bounce outs/bounce offs or misses.
Take eyes down to baseball
Once ball is caught, mitt does not move
FRAMING
FRAMING
Only frame strikes and border-line strikes. Do not try to fool the umpire on obvious non-strikes. Make strikes look like strikes!
Hard pitches held out more, soft pitches pulled slightly to chest to keep ball in the strike zone
Blocking
Blocking
Glove and throwing hand go to ground first
Knees to ground and rear on heels
Always aim to block ball directly back to plate
Catch balls in dirt with your chest unless runner is stealing, then try to short hop catch
Square to ball with hips
Keep glove and throwing hand between knees, crotch and ground. "Cover the hole".
Watch the ball all the way into the chest
Blow air out (exhale) as ball hits your chest
Throwing
Throwing
Always expect a runner to be moving. Don't be caught off guard
Be a CATCHER first and a thrower second. First priority is always to take care of the baseball.
As ball arrives, shift weight to glove side to prepare for throw
Transfer ball to hand in front of body and find four seams (glove and hand go to chest)
Throwing to 1B....quick swing of feet to get both feet in line and body in straight line to 1B. If arm is very strong, can practice throwing from knees to add element of surprise for runner.
Throwing to 2B...right foot replaces left, left steps directly towards 2B.
Throwing to 3B with right-handed hitter in box...right leg swings behind left towards 3B dugout, left leg steps directly towards 3B.
Throw THROUGH your target, not to it.
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