Catchers role for 8U All-Star Tourneys

Sorry to stay off topic, but a couple of posts about competitiveness at 8U made me think about this.

I'd be more competitive in an all-star situation than I would a travel ball situation. As Quincy said, it's a short season, and part of the purpose of all-stars is to see how your league's best stacks up against another's. The rec ball season is strictly player development. Player development never ceases, but all-star season is also time to show what you've got and see how many games you can win (while being reasonable about it, meaning everybody should play enough to keep it fun for all.)

Now that All-Star season is over, here's my main lesson learned with regards to catching - they can't hear.

In what's probably my most embarrassing coaching moment yet (I was "that guy" for a few seconds if a video ever surfaces!) - my daughter catching, final play of the game, ball to the OF, runners heading home, crowd screaming (yeah - it's true - crazy reaches a whole new level in a tournament setting!). She's standing there watching the play, still behind the plate. I'm right by the dugout entrance - 10 ft away? - screaming for her to move up to cover the plate for what I had hoped would be an eventual throw home. She never moved.

I don't think I've ever tried to yell louder in my life. I asked her later why she didn't move - "It was too loud - I didn't hear you".

Even with the ear holes on the helmet - sound is blocked pretty well. Which probably just reinforces the need to train your catchers - early and often - b/c you won't be able to do it once the ball is in play.