What is the most important catching skill college coaches look for?

[corlay]

Aubree Munro (Florida) - .200-ish hitter, spectacular defense.

and Munro is now on Team USA, correct?

Carlee Wallace (Auburn) was the Jose Altuve of college softball...

 

[UB40]

To the OP's original question about the most important skill for a catcher, it is the ability to do more than just catch.

Thanks. DD has played every position other than pitcher and mostly alternates between 3rd and catcher. She wants to stand out as a catcher, and wanted to know if there is one particular aspect of catching that she should focus on above any other. She has been very strong at receiving, but told that was not the most important skill for a college catcher, so has focused most of her practice time on POP times and throw downs.

 

[Sweet Lou]

I would argue receiving is the most important skill. In a 7 inning game you will asked to receive 100+ pitches and "stealing" several strikes or "not turning strikes into balls with poor receiving" can get your pitcher several outs per game, though it is often not noticed in the box score.

However receiving is not the one that will often get you noticed the quickest. The girl with the great pop time and cannon for an arm will often be noticed first.

But all the defensive skills for a catcher are important: receiving, blocking, controlling the running game, fielding your position on bunts and plays at the plate all factor in.

And as others have said, it helps to have a big stick too.

 

[UB40]

And as others have said, it helps to have a big stick too.

Is there a position that having a big stick is not important, maybe with the exception of the pitcher?

 

[Sweet Lou]

Is there a position that having a big stick is not important, maybe with the exception of the pitcher?

Every position benefits from having a big stick for sure.
But Pitcher, Catcher and possibly SS are 3 where you can absolutely make a team without having a great stick. But you better be really, really good defensively.

 

[riseball]

Your value to an organization be it an employer or a softball team is measured by the time it will take them to train or find someone else to do your job. Athletes are a dime a dozen, but great hitters are few and far between. With the exception of pitching any athlete can learn to catch, play SS, CF, etc. If defense is your primary skill you can easily be replaced by another athlete who swings a bigger stick.