fingers wrapped around the thumb?

[mike s]

Just finished the NECC video. I plan on training our girls this off season on these techniques. I do have one question which I suspect may come up regarding the throwing hand. What is the purpose/reason the fingers wrap around the thumb while receiving the pitch? If it was explained in the video I must have missed it.

BTW the video was an eye opener for me. Appreciate that Jay is continuing his dad's great work.

Act well thy part, there in all honor lies

 

[chinamigarden]

Because if a wild pitch comes up and hits your fist, it hurts but you shake it off and receive the next pitch. If it comes up and catches the thumb that is sticking out, you might break it, you shake it off and in 6 weeks you can catch again

 

[Michael N]

I have only got to watch the first part of the video on receiving but my take on it is this .... With your hand in a fist and your thumb inside then if you get hit in the hand no fingers are likely to be broken . My DD used to just keep her thumb in her shoe but when her hand came up wide open I can see where any of her fingers , not just the thumb, would have been in a more vulnerable state . Considering she has broken 2 fingers on the last 2 years I was pretty hip on anything that may keep her fingers intact

I haven't decided if I am a big fan of the fist behind the glove when there is a runner on base just yet . I am gonna have to go watch some video of the college players and a few baseball games to see if it has caught on yet at the upper levels of the game .

 

[chazbz1]

One of the goals NECC has when working with catchers is keeping them safe during the game. (We at ACC share with them in this instructional concept) We want the hand protected when pitches are received. (Especially the thumb!) So the thumb is laid across the palm and the fingers wrapped around it in a fist. It stays in a fist until the pitch is in the glove or in the case of a pitch in the dirt, the hand stays in a fist during the block. It is too easy for a foul tipped pitch or a pitch-in-the-dirt bouncing off the plate or ground to injure an open hand.
-Chaz @ Advanced Catching Concepts

 

[mike s]

Appreciate the quick response, Thanks to all who responded.

Act well thy part, there in all honor lies