CATCHING Trojan Baseball Simsbury High School Simsbury, CT

What makes a good catcher? LeaderCommunicatorPositiveHard Working Athletic Intelligence

Priorities 1. Receiving the ball 2. Making a pitcher look good 3. Taking command of the field 4. Offense

Stances * Emphasize all three Used before pitch Communicate pitch to pitcher Feet close, toes pointed straight ahead Knees closed Hands set back in groin Glove blocking base coach Signal Used exclusively when no one is one base and less than two strikes. Toes pointed to 1 st and 3 rd base respectively Arm’s length away from hitter Throwing arm behind glove or next to knee…NEVER behind back Slightly forward lean Primary Used with men on base or no one and two strikes on hitter Target must be as low as primary stance position Feet parallel, knees wide & butt parallel to knees Flat back, more lean for balance Throwing hand behind glove Secondary

Stances PrimarySecondary Signal-Giving

Details: Primary/Receiving Stance glove arm outside or above left leg about 90% extended with index finger pointed to 1 o’clock glove arm outside or above left leg about 90% extended with index finger pointed to 1 o’clock eyes look just over the top of glove w/ head erect eyes look just over the top of glove w/ head erect be careful not to step w/ right when going right, and vice versa, use the mix or hop step once in a while be careful not to step w/ right when going right, and vice versa, use the mix or hop step once in a while position is one of stability (slight lateral mobility) and force absorption (air bag) position is one of stability (slight lateral mobility) and force absorption (air bag)

Receiving What a good catcher does in addition to catching the pitch that forces the umpire to: get a good look at a pitch get a good look at a pitch have to decide on ball/strike have to decide on ball/strike call all pitches in the zone strikes call all pitches in the zone strikes call as many borderline balls strikes as possible call as many borderline balls strikes as possible If there were no umpire, we’d call this section “CATCHING” and be done with it, but because the umpire plays such a large part in the game with balls and strikes, we must have a system of receiving to help him do his job. If there were no umpire, we’d call this section “CATCHING” and be done with it, but because the umpire plays such a large part in the game with balls and strikes, we must have a system of receiving to help him do his job.

Aspects of Receiving 1. CATCH THE PITCH with the 1 o’clock to 12 o’clock rotation, the trigger for the catch is done with the 1 o’clock to 12 o’clock rotation, the trigger for the catch is done body sway will help glove get to position for one-handed catch body sway will help glove get to position for one-handed catch bring the pitch with soft hands without doing the “egg toss take-away” or the “vacuum funnel” bring the pitch with soft hands without doing the “egg toss take-away” or the “vacuum funnel”

Aspects of Receiving 2. FRAMING(THE BODY) begins with stance (belly button on corner without giving away location or pitch) begins with stance (belly button on corner without giving away location or pitch) only on pitches less than 6 inches off the black, or <6” above or below the zone only on pitches less than 6 inches off the black, or <6” above or below the zone starts with the body sway (try to catch every strike with belly button behind ball) starts with the body sway (try to catch every strike with belly button behind ball) head must also be behind ball head must also be behind ball

Aspects of Receiving 3. TURNING, BRINGING & STICKING (the glove) must beat the ball to the spot with the glove must beat the ball to the spot with the glove in and out, thumb up/thumb down in and out, thumb up/thumb down thumb is last part of hand to touch ball except on low pitch thumb is last part of hand to touch ball except on low pitch turn the glove as catching the pitch (takes practice) turn the glove as catching the pitch (takes practice) palm faces zone always except on low pitch palm faces zone always except on low pitch bring pitches with soft hands, don’t funnel in,out, or down and always try to stick the low one inside midline of left knee, shake hands with it outside midline (no broken thumbs) bring pitches with soft hands, don’t funnel in,out, or down and always try to stick the low one inside midline of left knee, shake hands with it outside midline (no broken thumbs) Cliff notes: Cliff notes: OUTSIDE – “stick it” OUTSIDE – “stick it” UP – roll wrist forward UP – roll wrist forward Down – roll wrist up/bring fingers to you Down – roll wrist up/bring fingers to you In – bend elbow, bring in zone In – bend elbow, bring in zone

Aspects of Receiving 4. GRAVITY’s INFLUENCE barely high and barely low pitches must be framed too barely high and barely low pitches must be framed too get on top of high and catch deep (let gravity take it and make it a 63 foot pitch) get on top of high and catch deep (let gravity take it and make it a 63 foot pitch) get below low pitch with web and extend through it to stop gravity’s influence (make it a 59 footer) get below low pitch with web and extend through it to stop gravity’s influence (make it a 59 footer) sticking or push action and the in-between pitches (out and in) sticking or push action and the in-between pitches (out and in)

Details: Secondary/Block-Throw Stance This stance is used with man or men on base, or with no men on base and two strikes on batter This stance is used with man or men on base, or with no men on base and two strikes on batter #1 duty is to stop and change direction of the ball #1 duty is to stop and change direction of the ball target must be as low as it was in primary, lean forward, head is same height target must be as low as it was in primary, lean forward, head is same height feet parallel and slightly wider than shoulders, toes slightly flared feet parallel and slightly wider than shoulders, toes slightly flared knees are also wide with butt now slightly below parallel with knees knees are also wide with butt now slightly below parallel with knees flat back, more of a lean for balance and low target flat back, more of a lean for balance and low target glove arm above left knee, bare hand closed behind glove or behind back (more difficult) glove arm above left knee, bare hand closed behind glove or behind back (more difficult) target in middle of body with index finger pointed to 1 o’clock (target is always in center of mass) target in middle of body with index finger pointed to 1 o’clock (target is always in center of mass) eyes look just over top of glove w/ head erect eyes look just over top of glove w/ head erect position is one of greater mobility and anticipation position is one of greater mobility and anticipation

Aspects of Secondary or Block/Throw Stance 1. CATCH THE PITCH presentation with slight sway still, pull back bare hand out of foul tip line of fire presentation with slight sway still, pull back bare hand out of foul tip line of fire center ball center ball

Aspects of Secondary or Block/Throw Stance 2. BLOCK THE PITCH takes heart and reps – anyone can do it, but they have to love it (not many love it) takes heart and reps – anyone can do it, but they have to love it (not many love it) be an athlete, knees inside feet – lateral movement from hips and knees, not feet be an athlete, knees inside feet – lateral movement from hips and knees, not feet plug the holes (glove in five hole, barehand behind glove, arms are extensions of blocking surface – chest, gut, and face) plug the holes (glove in five hole, barehand behind glove, arms are extensions of blocking surface – chest, gut, and face) soft, exhale soft, exhale gain ground on 55 footers, drop on fastball gain ground on 55 footers, drop on fastball

Aspects of Secondary Block/Throw Stance 3. THROW THE BALL same mechanics as everyone else, just a Cincinnati Reds “C” same mechanics as everyone else, just a Cincinnati Reds “C” from the feet up, gain ground, center ball, and stay back from the feet up, gain ground, center ball, and stay back anticipate and load weight anticipate and load weight be an airplane, not a helicopter be an airplane, not a helicopter three types of footwork – replace feet, rock and pivot, jab (jab is only one that is pitch specific) three types of footwork – replace feet, rock and pivot, jab (jab is only one that is pitch specific)

BLOCK THE BALL The Details… A high school catcher must have the ability to BLOCK the ball with consistency. Block in front: –Drop to knees –Glove drop straight down between legs –Chin to chest –Roll shoulders forward –Back of arms on thighs

Blocking details cont. Block to the side: –Throw hip –Drop to knees –Glove straight down (thru the ball) –Chin to chest –Elbows in (arms on thighs) –Roll shoulders forward, round on to keep ball in fair terriotory) ONCE BLOCKED: –Scoop ball if rolling –Drive two fingers down thru ball if dead –Be ready to throw…get body/feet in position

Fielding Your Position Once the ball is in play by the hitter then the catcher must be able to react and make a play. Down 3 rd baseline - Scoop ball with glove - Square to base - Make throw, overhand if possible to ensure you won’t hit runner Down 1 st Baseline - Scoop ball with glove - Get an angle (inside or outside call) - Make throw In front around plate - Never lose sight of base - Round off…make good throw

Fielding Your Position cont. Pop Ups BACKSPIN… a ball hit behind home plate will have backspin and will drift towards the field BACKSPIN… a ball hit behind home plate will have backspin and will drift towards the field Remove mask and find the ball Remove mask and find the ball In position to make catch…throw mask clear of your feet and to allow two hands on the catch In position to make catch…throw mask clear of your feet and to allow two hands on the catch Careful not to overrun ball Careful not to overrun ball

Fielding Your Position cont. Plays at the plate are about getting in the right position and doing one thing at a time, being aware of the situation that follows. Force Play In front of the plate…left foot on the top In front of the plate…left foot on the top Body in position to where the throw is coming from Body in position to where the throw is coming from Catch and be ready for throw (turn DBL play, etc.) Catch and be ready for throw (turn DBL play, etc.)

Fielding Your Position cont. Tag the Dish Set up in front of the plate…must allow the runner access to home if you do not have the ball Set up in front of the plate…must allow the runner access to home if you do not have the ball Left foot should be pointed towards 3 rd base…shoulders turned to where the throw will be coming from…KEEP foot in place Left foot should be pointed towards 3 rd base…shoulders turned to where the throw will be coming from…KEEP foot in place As the ball is received, catcher steps across the plate to take away the back half while dropping his knee across to block home plate from the runner As the ball is received, catcher steps across the plate to take away the back half while dropping his knee across to block home plate from the runner TWO HANDS on the ball TWO HANDS on the ball Immediately look for another play Immediately look for another play

Drills Receiving Tennis Ball (catch bare hands w/fingers) Tennis Ball (catch bare hands w/fingers) Short Distance (Quiet body–strong hands) Short Distance (Quiet body–strong hands) Normal Distance Normal Distance High Velocity – off machine High Velocity – off machine Quick hands (rapid fire – glove on every ball Quick hands (rapid fire – glove on every ball Framing FramingBlocking Basketball Block Basketball Block 3 Ball Block 3 Ball Block Glove side (coach down 1B line0 Glove side (coach down 1B line0 Arm side (coach down 3B line) Arm side (coach down 3B line) Half & Half (some regular…some in dirt) Half & Half (some regular…some in dirt) Goalie drill (rapid fire – block – reset – FAST) Goalie drill (rapid fire – block – reset – FAST) Fungo’s (coach at mound) Fungo’s (coach at mound)

Drills cont. Past Balls Overhead (from stance & block position) Overhead (from stance & block position) Communication (yell “ONE”, “THREE” or “BACK” Communication (yell “ONE”, “THREE” or “BACK” After block (down the lines) After block (down the lines) Pop Ups Fair/Foul (tennis racquet or fungo) Fair/Foul (tennis racquet or fungo) Communication (yell “ONE”, “THREE” or “BACK” Communication (yell “ONE”, “THREE” or “BACK” Pitching machine (for height) Pitching machine (for height) Bunts (short- quick) Bunts (short- quick)

Situation Drills Situation Drills HOME HOME HOME w/less than two outs HOME w/less than two outs HOME, look 1B, fire to 3B HOME, look 1B, fire to 3B Picks in dirt…use fungo Picks in dirt…use fungo Tag plays…use fungo Tag plays…use fungo Squeeze plays Squeeze plays Trucked Trucked

Throwing Drills 1B From knees (slide into throw) Hop to feet (square up – drive knee) Inside/Outside (up the line) Bunt Past ball Dropped 3 rd strike Off block 2B Standing Secondary (start w/ball) Receive and Fire Bunt Knees 3B Knees Use RHB – throw behind – momentum to 3B NOT dugout From block Bunted ball Skip away

A SHS CATCHER: 1. Understands the game 2. Communicates 3. Gives 100% effort 4. Receives the ball effectively 5. Blocks the ball effectively 6. Throws the ball effectively 7. Fields the position effectively 8. Helps the umpire do his job 9. Takes command of the field 10. Plays without fear