| Hello, | | | | age groups. The closer you can get your catcher |
| Teaching a player to be a solid catcher is an area | | | | towards the pitcher the easier it is for the pitcher |
| most youth baseball coaches do not cover | | | | to hit to their locations. It also prevents the |
| enough. In a practical sense, most coaches do not | | | | catcher from having to catch as many balls in the |
| devote enough time to produce quality catchers. | | | | dirt. Another benefit is you provide the umpire |
| The responsibility for this does fall on the coach, | | | | with a better window to make accurate calls on |
| usually because most youth baseball coaches lack | | | | balls and strikes. This also gives your catcher in a |
| a catching background. At youth levels 8 through | | | | better opportunity to protect the umpire from |
| 10 years old catching is not as critical, so it is | | | | getting hit, which helps your team, believe me. |
| somewhat ignored. A good catcher is always | | | | You must observe your catchers to find out that |
| noticed during the game. It is a pleasure to watch | | | | there is anything they are doing to block the |
| a quality catcher. It really does speed up the | | | | umpire's view of the strike zone. Remember to |
| game, not having those countless trips to the | | | | do this early in the game. Train your catchers to |
| backstop to retrieve passed balls. Developing a | | | | ask the umpire it there is anything they are doing |
| quality catcher takes special training and time that | | | | to obstruct their view. Try to do this before they |
| most youth baseball coaches overlook, though not | | | | miss a close pitch not after. |
| on purpose. | | | | Always instruct your catchers to treat the |
| The catcher is involved in every single play, | | | | umpires with the utmost of respect. The object is |
| receives very little thanks for their hard work, | | | | to get as much information from the umpire |
| and is the most important position on the field. I | | | | about the strike some in a manner that does not |
| guess you could say the pitcher is probably the | | | | offend or show up the umpire. This will help the |
| most important although the catcher is a very | | | | pitcher and catcher determine the strike zone. |
| close second. The catcher certainly has more | | | | Obviously this is not something an eight to |
| responsibilities than any other position. Blocking | | | | year-old is going to learn right away, but to can |
| pitches and catching high and low throws from | | | | begin teaching it right away. Sportsmanship can be |
| young pitchers will keep your team in the game. | | | | taught to three year-old players, it is your |
| An accomplished catcher saves countless runs in | | | | responsibility as a youth baseball coach to do this. |
| younger leagues just by catching the ball. A | | | | The catcher box is 8 ft. long by 43 in. wide and is |
| catcher that can call pitches, field bunts, set up | | | | located directly behind home plate. Baseball rules |
| defenses, and throw out base runners, make | | | | state that the catcher must have both feet inside |
| your team so much tougher to beat. | | | | or on the line of this box when the ball is pitched. |
| Catchers needed to be aware of everything on | | | | That is plenty of room to set up for inside and |
| the field. They must know what to do it every | | | | outside pitches. What I mean by that is having |
| possible situation. How many outs are there? | | | | your catcher move their entire body over to the |
| What is the score? Who is the batter, and how to | | | | inside or outside corners, not just move their |
| pitch them? It is my defense ready? Are there | | | | glove. Having the proper stance will help your |
| runners on base? How fast are the base runners? | | | | catcher be able to block the ball properly using |
| Who is on deck? Is the pitcher ready to cover | | | | their body, not just throwing their glove out at |
| home play? And these are just a few of the | | | | the ball. |
| possible scenarios the catcher faces every inning. | | | | Young catchers may tire out after two or three |
| It seems like a lot to put on a young player. In | | | | innings, each especially if it's hot out. Be sure to |
| my experience, good quality players will quickly | | | | have two or three players working out at the |
| pick up on the position with good coaching, plenty | | | | catcher position. No player should be a catcher |
| of practice at, and of course experience. This | | | | exclusively at a young age. You are doing the |
| means scrimmages before the season starts to | | | | player a disservice as a youth baseball coach by |
| get real game situations. It's not fair to the player | | | | not having them play other positions. The catcher |
| and team to expect your catcher to perform | | | | position is by far the most physically challenging on |
| with out plenty of game time practice. So get on | | | | the field. Be sure to always encourage and praise |
| the phone and call some other youth baseball | | | | your catchers often. Use their example of hustle |
| coaches and scrimmage. Remember it's only a | | | | and determination to inspire the rest of your |
| scrimmage, you don't have to win. The purpose | | | | defense. Let your team know they should be |
| of the scrimmage is to evaluate your players and | | | | giving the same effort as your catcher. |
| the positions they may be playing. By making the | | | | Do not set up to early for inside or outside |
| practice not to use my best pitchers in a | | | | pitches. This will give away pitch location. Advance |
| scrimmage against teams I will be playing later if | | | | coaches may relay this information to the hitter. |
| possible. Or I'd limit their work to an inning at the | | | | You will help the hitter by letting them know the |
| most. With catchers, I give them this much work | | | | location. Signal to your catcher the location you |
| as I can in a scrimmage, especially if they are | | | | what, and have them move into location as the |
| new to the position. | | | | pitcher goes into the wind up. Even at young age |
| Some basics about catching. A catcher will begin | | | | groups if is not too early to teach pitchers and |
| work in either a relaxed stance, or a ready | | | | catchers to change locations of pitches. Having a |
| stance. Begin your relaxed stance by squatting | | | | practice for catchers and pitchers only several |
| with your feet about the shoulder with a part. | | | | times during the year will help with this training. |
| Have your catcher keep their hips and shoulders | | | | There is too much information to go over during |
| square to the pitcher and their feet slightly | | | | your normal practice. If possible, use team budget |
| staggered. Encourage your catcher to stay low | | | | money if you have it available, for some catching |
| and in a comfortable position. Youth baseball | | | | and pitching lessons. |
| coaches should instruct your catcher to keep the | | | | Encourage your pitchers and catchers to be |
| glove hand relaxed with the palm pointed toward | | | | focused during drills and warm-ups. How you |
| the pitcher. Show the catcher how to catch the | | | | practice is usually how you will perform in the |
| ball with arm slightly bent, like a shock absorber. | | | | game or scrimmage. Do not encourage your |
| Your catcher should catch with their throwing | | | | young catchers to frame pitches. There is an art |
| hand behind their back when there are no base | | | | to framing pitches. Inexperienced or young |
| runners. Always encourage your catcher to give | | | | catchers who frame pitches will most likely just |
| the pitcher good low targets. Tell them to have | | | | upset the umpire. I will be sending more |
| fun, stay relaxed, and stay low. | | | | information on how to frame pitches with out |
| The ready stance is where the wait is now on | | | | showing up the umpire in upcoming newsletters. |
| balls of the foot instead of the instep. To not tell | | | | Finally, your inter -action with the umpires as a |
| your catcher to raise their entire body for this | | | | youth baseball coach will go along way toward |
| creates more area for passed balls. The ready | | | | how the game will go for you and your team. |
| stance is just a slightly raised squat from the | | | | Please remember to be a positive role models |
| relaxed stance. The hips and shoulders must | | | | your players and parents. Do not ride the umpire |
| remain square to the pitcher, with the right foot | | | | from the first pitch of the game. It upsets the |
| slightly behind the left. It is important to keep | | | | umpire and set a bad example to your players. It |
| your glove hand relaxed, with your throwing hand | | | | reinforces to your players that it is OK to engage |
| and a fist behind catcher's glove. | | | | game officials over every incident. Remember this |
| Now that we have gone over the very basic | | | | is just a kid's game, even if it is an important |
| catchers stances, I would like to address catcher | | | | tournament game, no one else outside your team |
| set up. Many youth catchers set up too far off | | | | really cares if your team wins or loses. Riding the |
| behind the batter. This is a natural tendency for | | | | umpire rarely helps your team, it just |
| most players new to catching. This is a bad habit. | | | | embarrasses your players and parents, and gives |
| You must encourage your catchers to move as | | | | youth baseball more negative publicity. So be a |
| far forward as possible without your glove | | | | calm, confident, positive leader to the best of |
| interfering with the swing of the batter. You may | | | | your ability for that day and have some fun with |
| have to adjust your catcher if players have long | | | | this great game of youth baseball. Thanks for |
| swings, which they sometimes do in the lower | | | | your time, Coach Chip. |