Catchers height in stance

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Jun 19, 2012
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Is there a difference between regular no runners on and runners on stance.
My DD sits low in her stance when a runner is on her HS coach wants her to raise up a good 8-9inches. Now this is different from what her catching coach tells her to do.
So I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I personally do not trust her HS coaches knowledge of the game but I do trust her private instructor who has college coaching experience.

So I guess I am asking for your help in what you tell your catchers to do.
Thanks
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
No runners on should be the lower stance because you don't need to block. Runners on stance is slightly higher with thighs parallel to ground so that you can drop directly to block without wasting the time to raise up sufficiently to be able to drop.

ETA - assuming your DD is not being instructed to always throw from her knees, which is not a smart approach IMO
 
Last edited:
Jun 19, 2012
306
18
So when your up like you are describing doesn't that take away the top of the strike zone from an umpires point of view?
Thanks for the feedback so far
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
So when your up like you are describing doesn't that take away the top of the strike zone from an umpires point of view?
Thanks for the feedback so far

Not when your back is flat/chest over the tops of the thighs, which requires a slightly wider stance than no runners on. Regardless of situational stance, catcher's primary responsibility is to give blue a good look at every pitch. Look at NECC's website or YouTube videos for good examples.
 
Dec 19, 2012
1,428
0
GM is absolutely correct. A no runners on/primary stance should be low set and comfortable. A runners on/secondary stance should be balanced, locked in, and femurs parallel to the ground. In order to properly block a catcher must replace her feet with her knees on the ground (among other things), and a no runners on/primary stance makes this virtually impossible without having to lift the rear end up first. By the time a catcher does this it is usually too late to drop to the knees and the ball is at the backstop. I'm afraid your private instructor with college coaching experience is incorrect.

Disclaimer: Both GM and myself have daughters that are collegiate catchers.
 
Jun 19, 2012
306
18
Thanks for the feedback much appreciated.
I am going to try and get some pictures of both my DD and the varsity catcher so maybe you can visually see what I'm talking about. Probably be next Wednesday though.
But in the mean time I will check out NECC.
Now I don't want to put the buggy before the horse here and throw her private instructor under the bus my DD is just starting to catch the school had a need she stepped up and took on the challenge. I just want to make sure I support the right way. Because everything I thought I knew from catching myself seems to have changed a lot. Lol. But I guess 17yrs will do that ha.....
 

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