New Catcher Training

My DD has been catching only thus fall on her rec league team. Volunteered because they had no one else. We worked on her stance (runner on and no runner), blocking, retrieving passed balls and popping up to throw down. She's a good player and has done rather well.

She earned a spot on a travel team about 7 weeks ago. No fall tournaments, just training for next summer. She was accepted for her speed and outfielding skills.

She told her travel coach she was catching in rec league so he tried her out for a back up catchers position. I'm not a catching coach so I want some advice on how it went.

Coach gave her the signs and then instructed her on the stance for the different pitches. Basically moving her left or right and up and down for whatever pitch was called. Is this normal? Seems to me it's giving away the pitch and, sometimes, getting her out of position to throw down when he calls a low pitch or a change up.

I'm no expert, and the more I watch the more I don't know - I think there's finesse in moving to the position after batter is ready and received their signs. I also think, in a runner on first situation, there is some strategy in pitch calling to put the catcher in the best position to make the throw. Sometimes, a pitch is called up to help with the throw and it still ends up in the dirt and they have to eat it. There's a lot to learn and practice, and in many cases the catcher is the least developed position at practice. Best case is a coach who will quietly communicate with the catcher during the game as they learn. You may not even hear it. Worst case is they badger and yell - faster - squeeze on third strike - and shut them down on one bad throw or mental mistake. Been through both. There's some good resources - NECC is one. Good luck!


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To educate yourself on how to help your DD more, start here...https://vimeo.com/ondemand/neccdvd

Adjusting the receiving position related to the intended pitch location is common practice. When to move into that position commonly needs some direction for newer catchers. For the catchers I am working with (12U TB), I instruct them to pop into their receiving stance when the P starts her movement.

If KC in KCPhoto stands for Kansas City, get her set up with a few lessons with Chaz. He will help her be really good.

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Ok, not sure if link is working. Just google "advanced catching concepts"

redhotcoach said:

If KC in KCPhoto stands for Kansas City, get her set up with a few lessons with Chaz. He will help her be really good.

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Ok, not sure if link is working. Just google "advanced catching concepts"

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No, just my initials. But thanks for the reply.

How old is she???? Catching takes a lot of time to learn and it's the most practiced position on the field. Be patient. Pass balls are going happen and beating a new catcher up on them is always a bad move. ESPECIALLY if you can't do it yourself. Videos are OK, but she will be at a huge advantage if she can walk through it with a real catcher. The biggest magority of "coaches" are completely clueless and I've heard some serious nonsense on the field and from players previously "coached" by nonsense spewers

Great advice from these guys. Don't neglect working on her receiving. Properly receiving the ball can buy a ton of strikes. We do a bunch of drills with bare hands and tennis balls and pancake gloves and tennis balls just to continue to emphasize receiving the ball in way that maximizes the strike zone.

Be very careful with tennis balls and bare hands . Make sure they're receiving the ball properly and not palming the ball. I prefer to make them fold their pinky and ring finger and catch with only their thumb, index, and middle finger.

You hadn't mentioned age. Typically in younger (12B and under) pitchers will need a target to throw to and many coaches will want a catcher to set a target as soon as the sign is given. This does give away the pitch location for observant batters. Older pitchers will have to get used to not having a target and sticking their pitches. Catchers will need to delay moving out of their sign giving stance and into their receiving stance. No HS or college coach will want your catcher giving away pitch locations. We have a video that illustrates this point. Kara delays whether there are runners on or no runners on and sets up in the appropriate stance. Kara also demonstrates how to properly protect her throwing hand as well in both stances. If your daughter is a younger catcher, her pitcher more than likely isn't yet experienced enough to pitch without having a target set for her. Set the target early per coach's orders. Your catcher (and coach) needs to do all she can to make and keep her pitcher comfortable. Your catcher also needs to understand that ultimately she will need to delay setting up in stance as this is what is expected in the highest levels of play.