Signal for pitcher to throw changeup

Mike wentzel · Jun 1, 2018

Sorry guys I left that out yes I am a coach not the crazy dad in the stands I have been trying to get our one catcher to look over at me after every pitch but she don’t most of the time I mean really I would just have my daughter few times in a game that’s why I was thinking of just yelling like a girls name that’s not on our team so my daughter would no that I want her to throw her change up also I would think the team were playing might just think I’m yelling to one of our girls in the field

CoachKevin · Jun 1, 2018

In my opinion, I would make the catcher look at me, if she doesn't then yell her name... if she just doesn't after a few times, then it's a refusal from her and I would find another catcher

Eric F · Jun 1, 2018

Mike wentzel said:
Sorry guys I left that out yes I am a coach not the crazy dad in the stands I have been trying to get our one catcher to look over at me after every pitch but she don’t most of the time I mean really I would just have my daughter few times in a game that’s why I was thinking of just yelling like a girls name that’s not on our team so my daughter would no that I want her to throw her change up also I would think the team were playing might just think I’m yelling to one of our girls in the field

It's time to establish a pattern of your catcher of looking at you for a sign on every pitch. Your pitcher also needs to be in the loop of expecting to get a sign from her catcher, and not throwing a pitch until she gets one. This helps them start to get accustomed to the procedure they will be following as they continue in the game. Teach the skills they need for tomorrow, not just what works for today. Making mistakes as they are learning is okay, but point out those mistakes (in a constructive way).

This is also the time to teach the difference between a sign-giving stance and a receiving stance for your catcher.

canyonjoe · Jun 1, 2018

I was never good at calling pitches but had 2 good catchers who were pretty good. I had a couple of signals that I would use for certain things such as I don't want to throw this pitch over the plate. However, you have to let catcher signal if you aren't using wrist bands. It's not fair for pitcher to throw a pitch that a C doesn't know is coming.

Big Daddy Michigan · Jun 1, 2018

Train your catcher to call the pitches would be the best advice. I can't stand coaches micromanaging the pitch calling. Your catcher can see the batters feet hand and stance better than you can from the dug out. It's not like this is college where you have a spread sheet of every pitch the batter has swung at in their career and you are making decisions based on real data.

That said, you can always have a verbal signal. We used something inconspicuous like shoot or toss. It just sounded like dug out chatter. Toss one in there... shoot one by her... that's the way to toss that ball.

The thing about when to throw it- often! Most coaches are so predictable with it and then it gets blasted. 0-2 ohhhh guess what's coming now. If you can throw the change in any count and especially if you have the confidence to throw two in a row the offense will start yelling watch the change up, and that's when you've got them where you want them.

Lori Sipple's catcher (I forgot her name) was a presenter at a clinic I went to and she called 9 straight change ups and struck out the side versus the best hitting line-up in the country. The batter refuses to believe you will throw it again. I stole that theory when we faced one of the best hitters in the state. She went 0-6 in a double header and never touched the ball. My pitcher threw her 18 straight change ups. Now, my pitcher had a nice change that dropped off the table so while it looked fat coming in it was bouncing on the plate when it got there.

Eric F · Jun 1, 2018

Big Daddy Michigan said:
Train your catcher to call the pitches would be the best advice. I can't stand coaches micromanaging the pitch calling. Your catcher can see the batters feet hand and stance better than you can from the dug out. It's not like this is college where you have a spread sheet of every pitch the batter has swung at in their career and you are making decisions based on real data.

That said, you can always have a verbal signal. We used something inconspicuous like shoot or toss. It just sounded like dug out chatter. Toss one in there... shoot one by her... that's the way to toss that ball.

The thing about when to throw it- often! Most coaches are so predictable with it and then it gets blasted. 0-2 ohhhh guess what's coming now. If you can throw the change in any count and especially if you have the confidence to throw two in a row the offense will start yelling watch the change up, and that's when you've got them where you want them.

Lori Sipple's catcher (I forgot her name) was a presenter at a clinic I went to and she called 9 straight change ups and struck out the side versus the best hitting line-up in the country. The batter refuses to believe you will throw it again. I stole that theory when we faced one of the best hitters in the state. She went 0-6 in a double header and never touched the ball. My pitcher threw her 18 straight change ups. Now, my pitcher had a nice change that dropped off the table so while it looked fat coming in it was bouncing on the plate when it got there.

The OP's DD is 10U, and seems to be just starting with using a second pitch in a game. I agree that training catchers to call their own game should be the long-term goal, but it sounds like a lot more fundamentals need to be in place before that becomes a part of the instruction.

As for being predictable, at this level it doesn't matter very much. Hell, in 12U TB, our AC was calling CU only on 0-2 counts with one of our pitchers. She struck out a LOT of batters on that pitch.

Rocketech1 · Jun 1, 2018

We had 8U catchers and pitchers receive signs and it worked out fine. 1 finger = fastball; 2 fingers change-up. No pitcher has more than that at 8U and in most rec leagues 10U. The only other sign we would do is tap the right or left thigh after the sign to specify location (an inside or outside pitch). It's fun and keeps the catcher and pitcher committed to each and every pitch. I think we dumb down the game unnecessarily with these young girls, have some fun with them teaching them how to play the game correctly. Same goes with giving signs to the batters...

Big Daddy Michigan · Jun 1, 2018

Eric F said:
The OP's DD is 10U, and seems to be just starting with using a second pitch in a game. I agree that training catchers to call their own game should be the long-term goal, but it sounds like a lot more fundamentals need to be in place before that becomes a part of the instruction.

As for being predictable, at this level it doesn't matter very much. Hell, in 12U TB, our AC was calling CU only on 0-2 counts with one of our pitchers. She struck out a LOT of batters on that pitch.

I agree with you, but why wouldn't you teach P & C as early as possible. If she can throw the change at 10U then teach her & her catcher when to use it.

Of course the pitcher is going to strike out a lot of girls at 12U with a change. There aren't that many girls who have been taught to sit on the 0-2 change at that age. But I don't think pitchers at 14U or above are going to get away with that. Any coach worth their salt should recognize that the HC always calls a change on every 0-2 and tell them too sit on it.

My feeling is you handicap your players if teach them 0-2 is a good change up count because they are going to have to relearn pitching philosophy when they advance to higher levels or play against better coached teams.

Signal for pitcher to throw changeup

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