When you have a young team that has none or few players with experience, what is your game plan to develop a good catcher (or three)
How do you encourage kids to get started with catching?
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- Feb 3, 2011
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At your 1st organized practice, identify your best shortstop and then give her a set of catcher's gear.
LOL thanks... I think
Actually, there was a girl on my 10u daughter's TB team that was sheer joy to watch play SS but ended up playing C because she was the best catcher. I considered it a tragedy
Actually, there was a girl on my 10u daughter's TB team that was sheer joy to watch play SS but ended up playing C because she was the best catcher. I considered it a tragedy
I line them up at home and see who can throw to a bucket sitting near 2nd base.
In rec I consider who best fits the gear and it is them....
No seriously, whoever is the loudest and bossiest are the best natural catcher candidates. I don't ask - I just hand them the gear and tell them to catch. Most of them take to it like a duck to water.
No seriously, whoever is the loudest and bossiest are the best natural catcher candidates. I don't ask - I just hand them the gear and tell them to catch. Most of them take to it like a duck to water.
I only had to develop one, and had no plan at all. Fortunately for her, Dave Weaver was smart enough for both of us.
Success will reward the ones that do the work.
Success will reward the ones that do the work.
Catcher's are a unique breed and tend to self-select. Start slowly. Catcher is a physically and mentally draining position. It's hot, dirty, hard work and there's no time for daydreaming or picking flowers. For newcomers, just give them an inning or two behind the plate and rotate someone else in. "Just try it for one inning" works with the reluctant girls, especially if everyone is taking a turn. Eventually 2 or 3 are asking you if they can catch more. Then you have them hooked and can start developing their skills. Good luck. There's nothing like seeing that first successful block.
If it's rec make them all try it, you never know you might find one that absolutely loves it. I had several girls last year that "had no interest" in catching. I made them all do it. Catcher was the most requested position. Now TB is different there has to be a certain skill set. Sometimes if your best pitcher has a close friend on the team that doesn't pitch it seems they are often willing to give it a go. Since they are friends already you could invite that girl to catch during pitching practices at home or with a coach etc.
When the players could not steal home we tried to get all the players to catch in a game, for our league stealing 2nd was free anyways, 3rd was a free base if it got by the catcher.
For safety reasons 2 did not catch but all the other players did. 3 of them are still plugging away at catching and are pretty good. It gets really fun for them when players are allowed to steal home and dropped 3rd strikes.
For safety reasons 2 did not catch but all the other players did. 3 of them are still plugging away at catching and are pretty good. It gets really fun for them when players are allowed to steal home and dropped 3rd strikes.
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