How to evaluate a non-catcher catching?

[Josh Greer]

2 things I would do:
1.) How long can they sit in the squat (minor, but if they can't, they won't)
2.) Have them put on a mask and get behind the plate. Have a pitcher, at short distance, moderately flip pitches into the catcher with someone in the box waving a bat in their face. Some people cannot do this without flinching. In most cases, this cannot be overcome.

Once you weed those 2 things out, then you can go from there with whatever you have left. Many of the other skills can be taught.

 

[BuckeyeGuy]

Yeah, I'm a bit lost on this one. I'm sure we'll figure something out that involves receiving and some sort of flinch drill.

Sometimes my brain gets ahead of common sense and then looks back and goes, "How the hell did we end up here???"

 

[MNDad]

I think it's important to have them get in gear and receive pitches at full speed.

Back when I was with our community association there was an athletic girl who's Dad convinced could be a catcher. She showed potential during drills, but once she saw live pitching froze up like a deer in the headlights. It wasn't anything she could get over, she just wasn't cut out to be a catcher.

When I helped coach a team we had a girl who told us she was a catcher so we had her suit up to see how she looked. After a half dozen pitches she went to the dug out to get a bucket to sit on...smh.

 

[YOCOACH]

Three things to evaluate a catcher at this level. 1) athleticism 2) an arm to make it to second even if it's a one hop 3) and my most important on the list is the willingness to not only try it, but the absolute necessity to want to learn how to be a successful catcher.

 

[reagansdaddy]

To me, the most important thing for a catcher is that they WANT to be a catcher. It's just too hard and painful for a kid who really doesn't want to catch even if they might have better skills than someone who does. I think forcing a kid to catch when they don't want to would ruin the fun that a rec league is supposed to provide.

So, I guess that would be my first step in evaluating catchers - seeing who has an interest in catching.

 

[sbmom19]

The first thing that I would look for is attitude. Catchers are aggressive players that want to be a part of every pitch, every play. They have to "want the ball". They are tough mentally and don't let anything rattle them and have a short memory (can't dwell on what they did wrong on the last pitch, have to move on). And are they a leader? Can they communicate to their players and pick their pitcher up?

Then I would look for strength and athleticism. Is their throw strong? Can they handle a squat for a long period of time? The drills that I would most want to see would center around blocking. A catcher could have the best arm out there but if the ball is constantly getting past them it doesn't matter. So I would see how they stay in front of the ball. Do they move side to side? Will they use their body to stay in front of the ball? Are they afraid of the ball? And this sounds silly but I see it all the time - Can they hold their arm and mitt up in front of them for long periods of time? Do they 'see' the ball well?

IMO...

 

[BuckeyeGuy]

I think it's important to have them get in gear and receive pitches at full speed.

Yeah, that'd be great if we didn't have to do it with 150+. I just don't see that as feasible this season. We need to identify girls with the athletic ability fist, IMO, which ties nicely into...

Three things to evaluate a catcher at this level. 1) athleticism 2) an arm to make it to second even if it's a one hop 3) and my most important on the list is the willingness to not only try it, but the absolute necessity to want to learn how to be a successful catcher.

I agree with 1 & 2 at this stage of the game. I was just looking for some sort of catcher-specific stuff that could be objectively evaluated outside of timed wall sits lol! I think the rapid-fire with tennis balls and no glove will work, along with a pop and fire. As for #3...

To me, the most important thing for a catcher is that they WANT to be a catcher. It's just too hard and painful for a kid who really doesn't want to catch even if they might have better skills than someone who does. I think forcing a kid to catch when they don't want to would ruin the fun that a rec league is supposed to provide.

I agree - which is why I need to know who CAN do it. Most of the girls are ok with an inning or 2 per game, and most of our games only go 4 or 5 due to time constraints. If I can get 2/team who are capable, we can coach them up. And if one really wants to be THE catcher, well alrighty then! This is true rec - our pitchers are 99.9% HE, almost slow-pitch speeds. It doesn't take a Molina brother to catch our girls.

 

[Dabears17]

Do you know who your catchers last rec season were? How about returning All-Stars catchers? Make all all-stars try out as catchers, as half of them are likely qualified to be rec catchers.

Even our catcher-beasts typically only catch 3 innings max a game in rec in our league. We usually give 1 run-limited inning to a girl with interest in catching, but hasn't developed yet. From what you said, the fastest most of your pitchers are going to be throwing is mid-30s.

If you evaluate all 150 girls and spend 2 minutes per girl, that is 5 hours.

 

[Ken Krause]

Take all the girls out to an area where there are some small trees and bushes. Have them run through that area to get to a clearing on the other side. The ones who run over the small trees and bushes are your catchers.

 

[BuckeyeGuy]

Take all the girls out to an area where there are some small trees and bushes. Have them run through that area to get to a clearing on the other side. The ones who run over the small trees and bushes are your catchers.

Now THERE'S an idea! We might be inside though, so maybe we set up an obstacle course and whoever just runs through them..?

Do you know who your catchers last rec season were? How about returning All-Stars catchers? Make all all-stars try out as catchers, as half of them are likely qualified to be rec catchers.

Even our catcher-beasts typically only catch 3 innings max a game in rec in our league. We usually give 1 run-limited inning to a girl with interest in catching, but hasn't developed yet. From what you said, the fastest most of your pitchers are going to be throwing is mid-30s.

If you evaluate all 150 girls and spend 2 minutes per girl, that is 5 hours.

Yep, it's going to be a long few days for sure, but I expect we'd do it in groups to save time. And when all is said and done, we may not be able to pull it off no matter how thick headed I am.