Thread: Need a Coaches Input on Lefty Catchers...

Here’s a question for coaches…. Recently I received mailings from 2 different parents of left handed catchers saying virtually the same thing. Their DD’s team coaches had discouraged them from seeking to advance their DD’s catching skills because these girls were left handed. Is there a basis for this type of thinking? As a catching instructor (and the father of a left handed fastpitch catcher) I customize my instruction for lefties and try to point out to them the advantages they have over RH catchers. We have seen this thinking before with some of the coaches my daughter played for.
My goal in with this question is to better understand the reasoning behind this train of thought and hopefully provide better training overall for my catchers.
So my question to coaches is… Would you play a left handed catcher? If not, how come? Are they really inferior at the 2-spot? Please help me to understand….

-Chaz @ ACC

A coach who does not understand the differences between catchers in baseball and softball is not worth playing for. Its a bias from a different game, from a coach who has not educated himself on the game he claims to be coaching.

If a left handed catcher is good enough for the US National Team, one who is talented enough should be good for any team.

Originally Posted by chinamigarden

If a left handed catcher is good enough for the US National Team, one who is talented enough should be good for any team.

That's my DD's catching instructor.

One of the best catchers that I have ever coached was a lefty and I made her a catcher at 8U.
She played through her sophomore year as the starting catcher for DD's high school but then decided to drop softball and pursue other things in her last 2 years of school.

Originally Posted by GOINGDEEP

As the dang dad of a LHP, I'm very curious to advantages you speak about of LH catchers. I'd guess the biggest advantage is against batters in the LH batters box, slappers, and 3rd base throw downs? But I'd like to hear from y'all, I've never had a LHC.

Just as your LH pitcher is at a disadvantage fielding bunts because she has to turn her body to throw to first. The right handed catcher is at the same disadvantage, while the lefty already has her body pointed the right way to throw to first without having to turn.

I never understood why lefties can't catch, even in baseball. I don't see how they are more disadvantaged than righties. Each have some disadvantages but not enough to be ruled out for the position