Need help on whos right and whos wrong.

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Nov 2, 2012
26
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My husband and I coach our 10u dd. Our daughter has decided she wants to be a catcher. I have been reading a million things on it on here and got the DVD that was mentioned on here.
Ok. When teaching my dd to throw down to 3 to pick off
a runner, I want her to sidestep behind batter to make the throw, try to keep the throw on the outside part of the bag. He feels that the batter is far enough back and the sidestep is not necessary and he wants her to throw over the runners shoulder on the inside of the bag.
My daughter has a good arm but she is only 10. I am afraid she is going to hit the runner.
Please help me on deciding the best options or if we are both wrong I love to hear your ideas.
 

redhotcoach

Out on good behavior
May 8, 2009
4,706
38
I teach my dd and other catcher to do it your way. Her first move is right foot crosses behind her left foot with instep facing third and throw off that foot. It a big enough step back to easily clear the batter and the throw stays on the foul side of the baseline.

Dd always argued for your dh's point, we were watching a 16u game and the catcher just drilled the batter in the helmet with the ball. Batter was fine but the ball flew almost to first base and the runner scored.
 
Feb 3, 2011
1,880
48
Runners being hit is a part of the game, even when the throw goes right where it was intended. Baserunners and catchers usually are not on the same page, just as batters and catchers usually are not on the same page.

Depending on your sanction and rule set, some umpires consider the batter's box a safe haven for the batter, so when that's the case, a sidestep might be indicated simply to gain clearance from the batter. Playing under rules where the batter's box is not a safe haven, the most direct route for the throwing lane probably won't involve a sidestep.

Really good catchers are typically the smartest players on the field. As they grow and evolve, they identify the techniques that work best, which may not always be the same every single time.

To answer your question, I typically favor your husband's method if the spacing is readily apparent - we play primarily ASA rules here - but that is not an absolute mandate.
 

Greenmonsters

Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Feb 21, 2009
6,168
38
New England
Drop step and throw behind the batter is the standard that should be taught. In certain situations like an outside pitch or a blocked ball in front of the plate the throw to 3B should be made in front of the RH batter.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
113
Right Here For Now
I teach our catchers to drop step and throw behind the batter and in certain situations as GM said in front of the batter. Trying to throw over the BR, especially at the younger ages, exponentially increases the possibility of errors not to mention the possibility of hitting the BR.
 
Nov 2, 2012
26
0
Thanks Everyone. It sounds like there is more then one way. SHOCKER. I have found this to be the case in so many aspects of this game. I think i will go over all her options and she will have to decide which one will work best in whatever situation she finds herself in. We worked on it on friday and she did all your sugestions with ease. SO thank you again.
 
Feb 19, 2012
311
0
West US
I have seen the batters being called out for interference if they change their pattern in a single at bat. If they step back after every swing catcher needs to adjust and step forward, and vise-versa. Never hurts to over prepare but I am impressed you're training your catchers so well at 10u.
 
Nov 12, 2009
365
18
Kansas City
I like to ask catchers what they have been taught or shown whenever we start working on certain skills. The one thing I hear a lot from catchers that hasn't been mentioned here is sweeping or pushing the batter (with glove arm) as the catcher steps towards third. We then ask the catcher to demonstrate the move with another catcher standing in the batters box. (Who has been told not to budge) We try to illustrate that in most sanctions, the batter owns the batter's box and does not have to move out of their way. Trying to sweep the batter makes for an off-balance throw. Overall, the most effective method is stepping behind the batter as outlined by NECC's A Coaches Guide to Training Catchers DVD. Occasionally an outfront throw may be called for on a wide outside pitch.
 
Jul 10, 2011
151
18
Rockport, MA
Like Chaz and GM just stated, the ONLY time a throw to 3rd should come from an angle in front of the batter is when a ball in the dirt gets away from the catcher in that direction or the well outside pitch pulls the catcher out in front of the batter and she is forced to make the throw from there.

On a receivable pitch, going in front of the batter is only adding to the number of variables the catcher must deal with during the throw. Home-plate becomes an issue, the batter moving up in the box during the throw can also become a problem (although it should be called interference, sometimes it is not actually called by the umpire and the catcher is now throwing into the batter). Also keep in mind that an errant throw from in front of the batter when there are other runners on base is now being directed down the foul line and away from the left fielder, who otherwise could have prevented a 2nd runner from advancing.

There are just too many things that can affect the throw from in front of the batter and not one benefit that I can think of unless the throw is forced by circumstances like a blocked ball in that direction.
 
Sep 14, 2009
25
0
My daughters catching coach has taught her that if the batter is up in the box, you go behind, if batter is back in the box, you go in front, in front she pushes out and for lack of a better term clears the batter out with her left arm for the throw. This requires the catcher to be paying attention if she thinks the runner may be going she has to pay attention to where the batter is in the box before each pitch. If she can get in front, I think its an easier angle for the third baseman to make the play too.
 

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