If going to a secondary/runners-on stance means you have the ability to make a stronger throw, why not give yourself that advantage?
I have seen both.
Runners-On Stance
- Thread starter Eric F
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If going to a secondary/runners-on stance means you have the ability to make a stronger throw, why not give yourself that advantage?
I have seen both.
I guess my thought is, if the catcher can remain in a low position, it reduces time needed to get down in a block situation.
- Apr 1, 2010
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Might seem counterintuitive, but lower is slower for blocking.
redhotcoach
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- May 8, 2009
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The idea of runners on stance is if you are lower, you would typically have to go up a bit to go back down and block.
Eric, I am at a point where on most things I/Necc can just tell my dd things, give advice, and the "whys", but it is up to her how she does it.
- May 21, 2013
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If you're in a primary stance, it would be impossible to block a pitch without your hips raising up first, which is what you're trying to prevent, because that increases time to a finished block position. The only way your hips would not raise up first is if you just fall forward, which would also not be executing the block correctly.
As others have already commented, a low stance requires raising the hips up before the knees can go down to the ground. The "runners on" stance puts the hips in the raised position from the beginning, therefore reducing the movement and time required to execute a block.
That said, there certainly are players in softball who block effectively from a low stance. A good athlete can make lots of things work, but sometimes there is a more effective/efficient way to get the job done.
You will find it varies some from catcher to catcher.
One of thing things I look at when helping a young catcher is the elevation of the head. In a "runners on" position, I want to see the catcher's head position be very close to where it was in their "no runners" stance.
redhotcoach
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- May 8, 2009
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She reaches her throwing hand out on every pitch though like she is going to two hand catch it.
After watching more than a few college games this season, I've found that it's kind of weird depending upon each catcher. By that, I mean there are very few that I've seen actually use a RO stance similar to what NECC teaches yet a majority of these catchers raise their hips when they slide to center the ball for receiving then drop them again for low pitches. Why not just keep the hips high and move the mitt? It seems to me to be common sense.
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