Diving to make a catch

Just wondering if there is any protocol for how to position your body when diving to make a catch. I have seen 2 players chasing a ball that they had to dive back to catch and when each of them landed, their head bounced on the ground and they both wound up with concussions.

I'm thinking that when leaping to catch a ball, position yourself so that you land on your front or side but do not land on your back. from the front or side you can control your landing somewhat with your free arm. does this sound right and/or are there any rues of thumb to follow?

thanks!

I'm a bit confused, the players dove backwards? When DD dives it's almost always to the side or forward. I've seen her jump to make a catch that is going over her head but never what you are describing.

obbay said:

Just wondering if there is any protocol for how to position your body when diving to make a catch. I have seen 2 players chasing a ball that they had to dive back to catch and when each of them landed, their head bounced on the ground and they both wound up with concussions.

I'm thinking that when leaping to catch a ball, position yourself so that you land on your front or side but do not land on your back. from the front or side you can control your landing somewhat with your free arm. does this sound right and/or are there any rues of thumb to follow?

thanks!

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If they are diving backwards then 99% of the time they are not going after the ball the correct way
This is one of the few times I have seen someone dive backwards because they had to and in this case he dove straight back

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56f4xH4ZoEM

I could be wrong but it sounds a lot more like they were back peddling and fell/lunged more so than dove.

Diving and landing on your back does not sound natural to me.
[MENTION=14754]pattar[/MENTION] - that Edmonds catch was the one that immediately came to my mind too.

Sweet Lou said:

I could be wrong but it sounds a lot more like they were back peddling and fell/lunged more so than dove.

Diving and landing on your back does not sound natural to me.
[MENTION=14754]pattar[/MENTION] - that Edmonds catch was the one that immediately came to my mind too.

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Yes, I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday but I can remember that catch from 20 years ago. Too much useless
stuff clogging my brain...

obbay said:

Just wondering if there is any protocol for how to position your body when diving to make a catch. I have seen 2 players chasing a ball that they had to dive back to catch and when each of them landed, their head bounced on the ground and they both wound up with concussions.

I'm thinking that when leaping to catch a ball, position yourself so that you land on your front or side but do not land on your back. from the front or side you can control your landing somewhat with your free arm. does this sound right and/or are there any rues of thumb to follow?

thanks!

Click to expand...

Nothing is cooler than seeing a girl lay out for a ball and come up with a big catch. Nothing is worse than seeing a girl lay out awkwardly for a ball and then not get up. Form matters and it must be practiced to become second nature. "Diving backwards" isn't ever a good thing. Neither is "leaping" to catch a ball...leaping to me implies launching yourself up, whereas diving is launching yourself out (or forward).

Having a reasonably talented, fearless OFer who excels at diving for a daughter does not make me an expert in the slightest, but I have noticed some common things for good diving catches:

- Get a great early read off the bat (even anticipate before based on the upcoming pitch assuming IF communicates to OF).
- Drop step and adjust to ball flight. Sprint to ball with glove tucked.
- When you notice the ball flight will require a dive (this is judgment based on instinct and experience), begin to lower your body...diving from an upright position is never good.
- As you transition from low sprint to dive, extend BOTH arms keeping glove hand below the level of the ball. ALWAYS DIVE WITH BOTH ARMS EXTENDED.
- Non-glove arm/hand extended out front helps cushion and makes for a freer slide (and helps avoid nasty injuries). Glove hand makes spectacular catch and the crowd goes wild (if runners on base, celebrate later because you gotta pop-up quick and throw the ball in).

Can't stress enough the BOTH ARMS EXTENDED point. Major bad serious damage is caused when arms, wrists, hands get caught under a body and rolled over in nasty ways. Also, running low and diving out/forward will reduce the possibility of head/face slamming into the ground.

Diving in the best of circumstances takes courage, and many an otherwise great outfielder just won't do it. Yup, you may get the wind knocked out of you a bit. Yup, your belt may catch in the grass and the buckle may break. Yup, you may go through all that and still not make the catch...but man, when you do it is always awesome.

I'm a bit confused, the players dove backwards?

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I think in my haste to post the question, I probably didn't ask it right. the cases I referred to happened on texas leaguers where the SS or 3B went into shallow OF, was not called off by the OF and the ball carried just a little bit more than expected. they probably turned to catch it too soon when they needed to still be running. these infielders (both U18) were/are good athletes, all-star players and would chase any ball into hell if they thought they had a chance of catching it.

so I think the answer is to make sure kids know you cant just fall backward when going for a ball and don't turn to catch the ball when you should still be running?

obbay said:

I think in my haste to post the question, I probably didn't ask it right. the cases I referred to happened on texas leaguers where the SS or 3B went into shallow OF, was not called off by the OF and the ball carried just a little bit more than expected. they probably turned to catch it too soon when they needed to still be running. these infielders (both U18) were/are good athletes, all-star players and would chase any ball into hell if they thought they had a chance of catching it.

so I think the answer is to make sure kids know you cant just fall backward when going for a ball and don't turn to catch the ball when you should still be running?

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Watch Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias make over-the-shoulder catch in ninth inning | MLive.com


In this case the basket catch wasn't necessary (could have gotten under it as the article alludes to) but with infielders anything they can't get under and aren't called off on are usually over the shoulder/basket type catches.Notice he takes several glances to see where it is. You can do that in the infield since any ball which you would have to sprint to get (unless it is a low popup) you would likely be called off
by the outfielder unless they were playing at the wall or your LF was Manny Ramirez... In your cases the girls probably could have gotten under it as you allude to. If for some reason you do have
to dive I would do like Edmond did..belly flop.