Thread: Making the Tag at Home Plate Without Getting Hurt

As for combating players trying to take out your C, if she gets into a good position, she'll be able to minimize injury. If she puts a good lick on the incoming runner, I'm guessing word will spread not to do that anymore =) Think football (get lower than the other person).

One of the take-aways from last May's Buster Posey Collision is that it is generally not a good idea to have our catchers attempting the tag down on their knees. The weight and momentum of a runner going after the catcher is too great a risk. This leads to training other fielders to put in an accurate throw to minimize the risk to the catcher. I have seen 18U catchers catch a wild throw in and dive head first into the cleats of a runner trying to score. Other fielding positions should be trained to throw up the 3B baseline away from the plate to give the catcher the best opportunity to get the tag.

Hen, you are right about turning in towards the runner as they come in attempting to score. We train our catchers to turn, drop and make the tag.... providing the runner is not sliding into them. By staying inside the baseline, blue should have an easy call and eject the runner, should the runner go after the catcher....

I will never be impressed by any coach who instructs thier player to take out another player... at any level of play.

Steve, As far as your comment about a left handed catcher... you are starting to sound lke a baseball coach!

Two thoughts:
1. In softball the player can not make contact with the catcher unless they are in the act of sliding. If the catcher blocks the plate without the ball it is an obstruction and the runner is given the base and no out is recorded. As a coach you should look for a catcher who does block the plate without the ball and have a conference with the umpire before it an issue.
2. The positioning of the catcher should be first and foremost to avoid injury. Always have your catcher set up for a block of the plate with the joint of the knee in position to bend like it is designed which means their toes should be pointing toward third base. They should always be on or inside baseline from third to allow them to slide into position once they receive the throw.

Any contact with the catcher that results in what is deemed to be malicious will result in the player being thrown out of the game. Teaching your player to run over a catcher is not only bad sportsmanship but also could cost you a game. By the same token all players should slide hard into home and if the catcher puts their knees in a bad position it could end up costing them the rest of the season not just an out or a game. Safety first, always.