Catchers dirt pitch recovery. Field the ball!

[radness]

As for the ball not bouncing high do you tell your catchers to check the surface in front of the plate? we’ve played in some dust bowls where anytime the ball hit the dirt it never left the dirt.

Luv this.....
Yes check out the dirt!!!!
Everyone on the field should!!!
Even pick rocks off !!!
Look for soft spots too!!!
Outfield check the grass for spinklers excetra.
Have called time to dart out onto the infield and grab a little rock and toss it to the side...
Still have a green torquoise type rock the shape of california i saved from playing a tourny in Oregon.

*Add - even pay attention to how the plate is level or not to the ground. That causes some eratic things with a 1" lip .

Hey peeps i'm not saying the ball never takes a big bounce.
However MOST of the time we
catchers can use our glove!

We are defensive players behind the plate with the added pleasure of framing!

 

[Ryan777]

Luv this.....
Yes check out the dirt!!!!
Everyone on the field should!!!
Even pick rocks off !!!
Look for soft spots too!!!
Outfield check the grass for spinklers excetra.
Have called time to dart out onto the infield and grab a little rock and toss it to the side...
Still have a green torquoise type rock the shape of california i saved from playing a tourny in Oregon.

*Add - even pay attention to how the plate is level or not to the ground. That causes some eratic things with a 1" lip .

Hey peeps i'm not saying the ball never takes a big bounce.
However MOST of the time we
catchers can use our glove!

We are defensive players behind the plate with the added pleasure of framing!

Totally agree the ball will do crazy things occasionally but if I can give my catchers all the tools, the hope is as they grow they take over those game time decisions and use each tool when it’s required. They need the freedom to learn from failing and succeeding having them always block or always pick doesn’t necessarily facilitate that growth. Catchers need to be athletes and athletes make plays when plays need to be made.

On the topic of framing, I initially came from a baseball background and in my years of switching over to coaching softball I’ve come across all different kinds of methods. I’m interested which method you teach.

 

[radness]

Ryan777 like your thinking process! Sent pm framing.

Lets make sure we say
Check out the backstop also!!
Openings in fence.
Wood.
Cement.
Padding on it.
Angles that may deflect ball.

Btw good way to check out
dirt is walk out onto the dirt and throw a softball straight down at it. Easy to find if the ball bounces quickly or less or no bounce.
Good knowledge for defense and those hitters looking to pound ball into ground for the big bounce.

 

[radness]

Good discussions made this a good read again!

CHEERS to catchers leading their teams!!

 

[BigSkyHi]

Are there any pitches that will hop up & in the opposite direction due to the tight rotation. For example, in baseball a tight curve thrown in front of the plate. EDIT great post!!!

 

[radness]

Are there any pitches that will hop up & in the opposite direction due to the tight rotation. For example, in baseball a tight curve thrown in front of the plate.

Yes!
Pitches with side spin.
Rise released badly.
Even some fastballs
Screws and curve deffinetly!

(This has to do with that pitch trajectory/angle too !!
Lower flatter bounce skimming dirt.
Spin on ball deflects off dirt,
like a top spinning hitting an object)

 

[BigSkyHi]

Yes!
Pitches with side spin.
Rise released badly.
Even some fastballs
Screws and curve deffinetly!

(This has to do with that pitch trajectory/angle too!!
Lower flatter skimming dirt.
Spin deflects off dirt when touching the dirt, like a top spinning hitting an object)

Catchers sure are smart learning what all those pitchers can do to you

 

[radness]

How's your glove work coming along?!

LETS THROW RUNNERS OUT !

 

[radness]

More examples of
"Field & Fire"
in this skills video.
Enjoy!

 

[radness]

Great discussion dfp!