Is this a viable method for catching?

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Strike2

Allergic to BS
Nov 14, 2014
2,044
113
Think it through completely ~if you collapse your knees into the dirt you lose agility.

Spot-on correct. ^^

Throwing from a knee is a good thing to be working on, but receiving on a knee (or knees) will burn you. It's an unbalanced and unathletic position to use when receiving a pitch. You reduce or even lose the ability to shift laterally to block an errant pitch, and with a pop fly around Home or a bunt, it's harder to get up and on the ball.

I don't know why anyone would teach that. It's seems akin to the thinking that diving into 1B gets you there faster than running.
 
Oct 11, 2010
8,337
113
Chicago, IL
DD very seldom caught so I know very little about position.

I am not sure MLB is a fair comparison or carries over to SB, I think they are trying to protect their knees.
 

radness

Possibilities & Opportunities!
Dec 13, 2019
7,270
113
Nice to read some good and sensible replies.

Would even consider making sure the coach times pop X so all can see the difference between that or what you already do!
Tenths of a second matter!
Not just strike pitches, do an assortment of everything!

How about time some bunt and pop up recovery too!
With range also! Not just one step in front of the plate.
*Can even do that with live batters and pitching.
_______________________
Side note
* I've never been involved hearing any conversation with college coaches talking about mlb in comparison to how they coach softball.
_____________________

What I see is catchers have a more active role in Fastpitch and control the runners a heck of a lot more. Being that lead offs come after the ball leaves the pitcher's hand

Being in a better physical position to move to the ball to perform proper throwing mechanics absolutely makes for faster pop times and more accurate harder throws.
Absolutely without a doubt critically important.

What I hear from college coaches is they want catchers to do more than receive pitches and block the ball thats directly in front of them.
They want catchers to control the runners.
Also need to control wild pitches that is their job.
They expect catchers to catch a pitch that is over their head 7 feet and 5ft to the sides.>>> Be able to cover range behind both batters box's. In the air and in the dirt.

Additionally it has been spoken by college coaches (several of them said exactly this)
If they had to make this decision,
they would recruit a catcher with an excellent pop time who is defensively sound who doesn't frame as well because it's easier to teach better framing then it is to teach someone to move to the ball and how to throw Runners out.

How a catcher physically sets up for the pitch that's going to be flying at them is really important.
👉Talking tenths of a second to react to the ball!
Just like coaches teach the defense to be ready right when the ball leaves the pitcher's hand.
 
Last edited:
Oct 27, 2017
174
43
Check out Dominate the Dish on FB, and Instagram. She's my daughter's catching coach with lots of videos posted of one knee down and other stuff you might find resourceful.
Kirsten (Dominate the Dish) is a great instructor. DD has been doing her remote training and has attended her clinics when she is in the Atlanta area. She has given DD great confidence behind the plate and new techniques to improve her catching (one being KD)
Check her out - DTD
 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
Work in what way?
For framing or?

How is your throw from knee/knees?
Comparable to feet?
She thinks it would work more in terms of blocking and framing.
As far as throwing...I'm having no problems throwing like back to the pitcher or making a quick strike to first. I'm so used to throwing back to the pitcher from my knees. I have some problems with throwing to third and second. But that's because I'm so new to doing my catching this way. I have to fight the tendancy to go back to the old method right now. But I think that's my muscle memory. Also, I notice I've had no problems framing pitches so far. I do have some problems blocking but I think that's a newness thing, too and I'll find something that works for me.

I started watching a video that talks about it. I don't really know if I like their scooping method for bringing your glove up to catch a pitch. But I do like the idea of practicing using a wrist weight. Here's the video I've been watching...

 

softgabby

Gear Empress
Mar 10, 2016
1,073
83
Just behind home plate
My suggestion is to work at learning new techniques and approaches well enough to become competent with them. I look at it as adding tools to your toolbox. You might not always use all your tools, but you might find that you can do things better in certain situations than you could before because of a new tool you added.

For example, my DD prefers to throw from her feet. It's always been her default method. However, she has also done the work to get competent at throwing from her knees to all bases. She uses whatever is best for the game situation without having to think about it. She just reacts and uses the best tool for the job.
I was actually waiting to see your thoughts on this, Eric. :LOL: I've started watching some of your stuff on youtube with highlights from Maddie's games and wasn't sure if she received from her knees. I just started learning this method and I really have to fight muscle memory to get comfortable catching from this position.
 
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
I was actually waiting to see your thoughts on this, Eric. :LOL: I've started watching some of your stuff on youtube with highlights from Maddie's games and wasn't sure if she received from her knees. I just started learning this method and I really have to fight muscle memory to get comfortable catching from this position.

Maddie hasn't tried the knee-down stance. Her first opinion is that it's limiting in mobility. We shall see what happens next year in college if her coaches tell her this is what she needs to do. Maddie's early mechanics were very much in line with NECC instruction, but she has evolved in her own direction over the years as she has figured out what works for her. Some things I think she could do better, but my opinion doesn't carry much weight with her these days - LOL. She is 100% responsible for her results on the field, and people seem pretty pleased.
 

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