Throwing hand placement

Yes to both! (Depending on circumstances) No runner on base, catcher should conserve energy and stay low. Hand stays behind leg (Preferred) or back until pitched ball is in glove. Runner on base catcher rise in stance (runner on) with hand behind glove. Hand stays behind glove down (Pitch down the middle) or buries hand to chest protector on inside /outside pitches (Hand tends to separate)

Below is what we typically see catchers do with runners on base and hand behind the back, leg or set beside the leg... (click to enlarge)

The catcher will anticipate the throw and bring the hand out next to the glove so as to be ready to catch and throw. (Similar to an infielder catching and throwing) THIS is when too many catchers get broken bones or torn ligaments.

Below is an ACC 10U catcher demonstrating her runner on stance with the throwing hand behind the glove.

Her throwing hand stays behind the glove and is ready to transfer the ball to throw. We challenge our catchers that after the pitch sign is given, DO NOT LET YOUR PITCHER SEE YOUR THROWING HAND UNTIL THE PITCH IS IN YOUR GLOVE OR HIT. If the pitcher can see it, more than likely the pitch can find it. It is exciting to see more and more catching coaches in softball and baseball recognizing the hazards to the throwing hand and teaching their catchers how to keep their hand safe. More and more are teaching their catchers to put the hand behind the glove.

Even with keeping the hand behind the leg, back or beside the leg with no runner on, catchers must train to keep the hand still and out of sight behind the leg or back. Just lifting it out a few inches invites injury.

[video=youtube_share;w5NNyVfw9RA]http://youtu.be/w5NNyVfw9RA[/video]

Whatever you choose to do with your catcher... Please don't let their pitcher see their throwing hand.
-Chaz @ ACC

tghorley said:

Yes, that is the way my DGD (14u) has been taught for the last three years. It is ingrained in her head and she has gotten pretty good at it. So yesterday she goes for catching instruction for the first time with a D1 catcher, who she met at a camp and they have become very good friends. Now the D1 catcher wants to change her "runner(s) on position to a balanced squat, similar to no runners on. She also told my DGD that she was going to have to develop more quickness getting up to throw runners out and to catch the higher pitches. When asked why the change, she said as DGD grows older, the pitchers will be faster and will have more movement on the ball, therefore she would have less time to react to pitches in the dirt. She also said DGD was athletic enough to handle it. It is hard to argue with her as this D1 catcher was the starting catcher the last two years and made only two errors and she threw out 13 runners this last season.

Personally, the NECC way makes more sense to me and I prefer it. But, alas, this is my DGD's hero so I guess she will change. Whatever makes her happy.

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What an unenviable dilema. DI or not, there are plenty of high-level catchers (MLB included) that could be even better if they improved their mechanics. Hopefully that will change in the future as the knowledge and resources currently available become more widely distributed and recognized.

Good luck!

Thanks Greenmonsters, old school vs. new school sometimes takes some time to convert. I think I am going to send my copy of NECC dvd to the D1 player and let her watch it, not so much to change her catching style, but to let her see why DGD catches the way she does. Maybe she will change her mind about DGD's "style" and leave her along. It is hard to change a way of thinking when that is the way you have done it all your life and have not been exposed to new school. Of course DGD's original catching instructor played fastpitch for 23 yrs and he changed his way of thinking.

As far as hand placement, we talked about it with her at a tournament. She seems to agree with what DGD is doing, so maybe that will not change.

My son, with the blessings of her previous instructor (he is still her hitting instructor), wanted to give DGD a chance to work with the D1 player. His thinking was maybe DGD would see how hard the D1 player works at her craft and to motivate her to work even more on her own. Plus the D1 player has some connections with two excellent TB organizations not in our area and he saw it as a way of networking. It sure was not a way to save money! Round trip for D1 instructor, 150 miles. Round trip for old instructor, 40 miles.

I just hope this change does not bite everyone in the butt.

Screwball said:

Yeah, I don't see any catchers having the hand behind the glove. Not that I look that hard.

Relaxed and beside the leg, knee, laying on the thigh, or whatever. I wrote BESIDE. Never seen my catcher have any issue blocking balls from there. Hand behind the glove does remind me of the two hands thing. Kind of babyish, Sorry.

I really don't care about the style of the catcher as long as the hand is not behind the back. I have a few catchers in the family too.

Look I got hit with line drives, on base (no helmets then) etc.. All softball players break and sprain fingers. Not a big deal. I played with them that way (although not pitching).

I got hurt more than my catcher ever did. If you as a catcher are that uncoordinated to stick your hand in there (to the point you have to hide it somewhere), then don't catch. One thing is for sure, you hurt your finger, you won't do it again, so that works as a lesson, too.

Good grief.

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Good grief is right.

So they should not use the techniques taught by leading coaches because they look kind of babyish? Catchers can't dictate where the ball goes after it is fouled off, why leave their hands in a vulnerable position.

The only kid I saw take a foul tip this year in the hand had it behind the glove with a steal on. The hand was cheating out and she got hit hard. DD has the NECC dvd and follows most of it to a T but keeps her hand on the side. It would seem that flinging the hidden hand up to meet the glove might actually increase speed to feet. I'm having trouble visualizing a catcher getting her hand into the glove from behind before getting to her feet anyway so I don't see a speed issue but would need to time it first.

Chaz is the expert in the midwest. Sounds like you got your answer!

Mine kinda hooks her thumb in the top on the heel of her right cleat (throws right), not stuck in there, just like a 1/2 inch or so.
IMHO the behind the back like in parade rest is awkward and causes a balance issue

Just had to comment on here and say thanks for all the kind words and recommendations.

Here is the simplicity of this issue.

Nobody on base w/less than two strikes - Very little responsibility on catcher to do anything but receive the pitch and keep strikes looking like strikes.

Runner on Base or two strikes on the batter - Catcher must be prepared to block and throw.

If the catcher is called to do either and their hand is behind their body and not behind the glove, the hand WILL be exposed to a possible foul ball.

This year, I attended more games than I have in my entire life. From ASA 10U softball tourneys to the professional games of a few of my clients who play at that level. I cannot tell you how many times I saw the catcher's hand get hit by a foul ball. Saw a handful of catchers flat out break their hands and saw a few with their fingers in distorted positions on the hand that God had no intention of them being in. As a coach and mentor that is a very sad thing to watch.

If that isn't enough...Two years ago I had two students who played for a National Select team. Both were studs. During the later stages of a national tournament their team was competing in, one of the coaches told the better of the two catchers to keep their throwing hand behind their body at all times. Catcher #1 had 4 of their top 5 schools coming to watch them (All Div. 1 schools). In the middle of the game before the college coaches were scheduled to show up, that catcher went to block a ball and their hand came out to their side and they took a linedrive foulball right off the thumb. Broken thumb and fingernail completely removed. Catcher #2 got the start the next game (when all of the college coaches were present) and threw out 2 runners, went 3-4 with a couple doubles and absolutely dominated behind homeplate. Later that evening, Catcher #2 got an offer from Catcher #1's top choice.

Simply put, if you want to take the chance, feel free, but your catcher literally isn't gaining a single thing by keeping in the same spot as it is with nobody on base or less than two strikes. What they are doing, however, is putting their ability to stay on the field at a severe risk.

Bump! Anyone have anything new to add here? Looking for thoughts, both pro & con on having the throwing hand behind the glove when in a Runners On Stance. Thx!

I'm going to speak from what I do as a catcher. What you teach may vary and your mileage may be different.

When I am catching a pitcher without having any runners on base, I like to keep my throwing hand situated right below the hinge in my left knee (I am a left handed thrower). When there is runners on base, I like to keep my hand where its barely touching the outside part of my left leg. The theory behind this is if my hand is behind my leg or beside my leg, my leg will protect my hand a lot better. I don't like keeping my hand behind my glove or balled up/flat against my chest because I don't feel like I can get my hand out of the way in time if the batter fouls off a pitch and I have to jerk. Plus, my hand is just not as protected doing that.

So young padawans (Yes, I know I'm butchering Star Wars and I'm going to paraphrase for this purpose Please forgiveth me Master Yoda for I have not fulfilled the ways of the Jedi) *imitating Yoda* It is better to take a foul ball off of a meatier or better protected part (ie. thigh or calf) than take a foul ball off of a bonier part (ie hands or arms).