Does your DD have a catcher specific pre-game warmup (12U)?

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May 19, 2016
55
8
In your opinion, at 12U, should there be an emphasis on a pre-game warmup for catchers, or is the general team warmup outlined below good
enough for now?

If your DD has a routine, please share it.

My second-year 12U DD doesn't have one she adheres to, but I'm thinking she probably should.

Typically, she'll "stretch" with her team (they mostly do just lower body), then do hitting stations and some warm up throwing (eventually spreading out to 60 feet), then light infield/outfield before pairing with a pitcher to warm her up. There are no catcher-specific warmups done, such as blocking or pop up and throw.

While warming up the pitcher she could practice dropping and blocking balls that hit the ground, and also popping up, but she hasn't so far. The head coach/assistants really aren't catcher-centric, so there's not much focus there.

So, the first time she has to drop and block in a game or try to throw a runner out would be the first time she's done it in three or so days, or perhaps a week or more depending on her practice schedule.

This is DD's first year with this team and I'm not an assistant so I'm not able to pull her and the other catchers aside before the first game and work with them for a few minutes. When possible, I could work with her the day before the game, though.
 
Apr 16, 2013
1,113
83
14u A here, and no real "warmup". However, all catchers catch the pitchers while the rest of the team is fielding. They're just sitting on buckets, though. So, no real "warmup" beyond the team warmups.
 
We had a good catcher last year that insisted on progressive long toss about 10 at full distance when regular warm up throwing going on. Dd was pitcher and said it really loosened her arm up also. New catcher doesn’t want to.
 
Oct 11, 2018
5
3
Mississippi
My second year 12U DD was given this workout from her catching coach a month ago. She does this every single day and before each game she plays. She does the usual team warmups as well.

Dynamic Catching-Specific Workout

LEGS
-10 squats
-10 squat jumps
-10 transfers from feet
-10 transfer pushes from knees

BLOCKING
-10 from knees --------- she starts on her knees with a ball in front of her and works with getting her glove down quickly and her throwing hand behind her glove.
-10 from feet *** focus on kicking back!

FRAMING (holds) ---------I usually just toss tennis balls and she frames them with her bare hands.
-10 inside
-10 outside

TRANSFER + THROW --------we always use a flat glove with this
-Solo Ball Tosses: Transfers Only- 25 reps
-Solo Ball Tosses: Transfers + Throwing Position (Knees)- 10 reps
-Solo Ball Tosses: Transfer + Throwing Positions (Feet)- 10 reps
-10 Throws, Feet
-10 Throws, Knees
 
Last edited:
May 24, 2013
12,461
113
So Cal
14U...Despite my encouragement to warm-up things like blocks and knee-throws, my DD doesn't do it. Part of the team warm-up includes progressive long-toss to about 80-90(ish) feet. Warming up pitchers she doesn't use a bucket, and will put some effort into proper receiving form.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
Don't drop and block in warmups. Do not squat, save your knees and sit on a bucket. Then wonder why a college coach will not give you the time of day at a showcase.
 
Feb 17, 2014
7,152
113
Orlando, FL
We had a good catcher last year that insisted on progressive long toss about 10 at full distance when regular warm up throwing going on. Dd was pitcher and said it really loosened her arm up also. New catcher doesn’t want to.

Find a different catcher. Your DD is on the right track, long toss every time you set foot on a field.
 
Apr 26, 2015
704
43
14U...Despite my encouragement to warm-up things like blocks and knee-throws, my DD doesn't do it. Part of the team warm-up includes progressive long-toss to about 80-90(ish) feet. Warming up pitchers she doesn't use a bucket, and will put some effort into proper receiving form.

This sounds exactly like DD. (2nd yr 14s)
 
May 19, 2016
55
8
My second year 12U DD was given this workout from her catching coach a month ago. She does this every single day and before each game she plays. She does the usual team warmups as well.

Dynamic Catching-Specific Workout

LEGS
-10 squats
-10 squat jumps
-10 transfers from feet
-10 transfer pushes from knees

BLOCKING
-10 from knees --------- she starts on her knees with a ball in front of her and works with getting her glove down quickly and her throwing hand behind her glove.
-10 from feet *** focus on kicking back!

FRAMING (holds) ---------I usually just toss tennis balls and she frames them with her bare hands.
-10 inside
-10 outside

TRANSFER + THROW --------we always use a flat glove with this
-Solo Ball Tosses: Transfers Only- 25 reps
-Solo Ball Tosses: Transfers + Throwing Position (Knees)- 10 reps
-Solo Ball Tosses: Transfer + Throwing Positions (Feet)- 10 reps
-10 Throws, Feet
-10 Throws, Knees

Wow, your DD's commitment to this routine is impressive. I'd be happy if my DD signed on to 1/4th of this.
 
May 19, 2016
55
8
Find a different catcher. Your DD is on the right track, long toss every time you set foot on a field.

Would love to see DD long toss before games. In our smallish metro area I've never seen it done pre-game at the level (B) DD's played at previously in 10U/12U. DD's team last year would do it fairly regularly during weekly practices. She moved to an "A" team (again, for our area) a few months ago, but I haven't seen any long toss work done at all before tournament games this fall. Perhaps it will be introduced during winter workouts. My guess is that it will have to be done independently from team warmups.
 

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