|
|
 |
Basic Catcher Skills
To wear the tools of ignorance properly, a great deal of knowledge and skill are required. A young player must work on mastering basic catching fundamentals to become a complete catcher. The following is a quick synopsis of the basic skills.
STANCE
When in the catching stance, you should be in a comfortable crouch, compact and relaxed. Move your entire body to the location of the desired pitch, with your off-hand behind your back. Any time there is a threat of a runner stealing, your right foot should be a little behind the left (left heel to right toes), backside up, and the off-hand should be in a tight fist behind the glove.
When receiving the ball, be strong and smooth. Extend your arm and show the umpire the ball. Roll your wrists toward the center of the plate.
SETUP
Move to the location of the pitch as the pitcher begins his motion and not before. Get your glove up and give the pitcher a target as early as possible. Target the bottom of the zone of a called pitch unless the call is for a high pitch in which case the target will be the top of the zone.
SIGNALING
When signaling, you need to conceal the signals as you relay them to the pitcher. To do this, your legs should be kept closed, and protect the signs with the glove-hand hanging below the glove side knee. Your signal hand must also be kept in your crotch and not dangling below.
Signaling must be clear. Spread your fingers when giving signals. When communicating #2 or #3, use fingers that are separated rather than ones directly next to one another for easier viewing.
Also remember there are other ways of signaling. You do not have to use your fingers to relay the signs, a touch system or glove position system works just as well. Always allow the pitcher to give input.
FRAMING
When framing, you need to extend your arm, go get the ball, and hold the ball for the umpire to see. Roll your wrists toward the plate, but don't pull the ball. Roll and extend in a smooth manner and avoid jerking or snapping the glove. Only frame on strikes and borderline strikes. If the ball is outside the zone, just catch it and throw it back to the pitcher.
On low pitches, roll your wrists upwards. It is important to give the umpire a good view. The catcher and the umpire need to work together.
BLOCKING
When blocking a baseball it is important to get both knees on the ground as quickly as possible. Do not hop up and then hit the ground. Put your glove back against your cup with your fingers down. Do not put your hand on the ground because this will create a ramp for the ball to hit and continue in a forward motion. You want to create a barrier for the ball to bounce off.
The shoulders should be kept square to the ball. The eyes are fixed, tracking the ball from where it hit the ground to the point where it hits the catcher on the chest. As soon as you feel the impact of the ball you must pop back up into the catching position and then immediately fetch the ball. Use the scoop method (two hands) to gather in the ball.
PLAYS AT HOME
When making a tag play at home, your left leg goes on the corner of the plate with the toe aimed towards third base. You need to take away the front half of home and give the backside.
Your legs need to be bent but the knees should not be locked. Your left knee should be aimed at the runner. Stay low and catch the ball with two hands. You can protect the ball with your off-hand. In a swiping motion, bring the ball in low, pivot and drop the right knee and shoulders. With a continued swiping motion, graze the player, come up and show the ball. Remember, the catcher can take some impact, but should also give it.
FIELDING BUNTS
When fielding bunts, you need to always use two hands and scoop the ball. Don't try to pick it up. When the ball is down the first base line or up the middle, circle the ball and overstep it. The ball should be between your legs. Scoop the ball with your body angled towards first base. Next, step back from the baseline and throw the ball to the inside or the outside part of the bag, which ever is communicated.
If the ball is down the third base line, you need to come around it with your back towards first base and overstep, to scoop the ball with your body angled toward first base.
FIELDING POP-UPS
When fielding pop-ups, you need to find the ball and remove your mask, keeping it in hand, and turn back to the infield. Next, get under the ball and throw your mask away. You must call the ball at the point of climax. As the catcher, you need to remember that infielders have priority over the catcher on pop-ups because it is easier for them to catch.
HOLDING RUNNERS ON
As the catcher, you need to keep runners off balance. You need to be accurate, quick and strong. You need to be able to make snap throws. It is important to make the runners think. To hold runners on, the catcher must always communicate with infielders on pick-offs.
BEING A LEADER
As the catcher, you are the field general. You must be loud and direct. You always need to know the situation and direct others to act appropriately. You anchor the team from behind the plate. You must be the leader.
Catching is by far the most difficult and challenging position to play. Moreover, a catcher must realize that this position requires more than just physical skills. It also requires a catcher, to have 'leadership skills because they are an extension of the coach on the diamond. A wise person once said, "If it were easy everyone would do it." Well catching is certainly not something everyone can do.
Catching Drills
Blocking the Baseball
Catching is the most demanding position on the field and the most overlooked during practice. Catchers are often taken for granted as coaches spend time doing drills for hitting, improving defense, and pitching. Success in baseball depends on the team's strength up the middle, with the catcher as the starting point. And, the most important and toughest skill that a catcher has to learn is BLOCKING. The key to mastering blocking skills is practice. It takes much hard work to improve, but the more time you put in, the better you will be.
Shadow Blocking (No ball)
Coach stands behind the catcher. Catcher assumes his stance. The coach tells the catcher what pitch is thrown and where. The coach will give the catcher a few seconds to get ready. When the coach claps their hands, the catcher will assume the blocking position and hold. The coach or other players will check their form to make sure the catcher is in a good position. The drill can be varied by giving the catcher less time between pitch and location and the clap, or the catcher will go on verbal commands only.
Sit and Get Hit
Coach gets on one knee from a short distance. The catcher assumes the blocking position with his upper body in a "C".
The coach will throw the ball in the dirt and off the chest or mask of the catcher. The catcher learns the feeling of balls coming off his body (harmless) and learns to position himself correctly so that the ball drops to the ground in front of him..
Toss to the Dirt
Coach stands on the mound. The catcher assumes their stance. Coach will throw balls in the dirt and the catcher will block, retrieve, and get their body in a position to throw.
Lift and Drive
Side-to-side blocking using small steps and progressing into larger "lift and drive." When the ball is to the left, lift and drive with the right leg, always keeping shoulders square towards the field and keeping the ball in front.
When the ball is to the right, lift and drive with the left leg. (Coach throws the ball 10 times to each side while standing half-way between the mound and home plate.).
Up-Downs
Lay out five balls five feet apart. The catcher will shuffle to each ball, assume the blocked position, get up and shuffle to the next ball. The object is to work on quickness down to the ball and up from the ball. Make sure the catcher's hands are moving in the correct position on the way up. The drill can be varied by having the catcher not only go down all five, but moving to the other side and returning to where they started.
Hands Drill
The catcher should start in the down position with a ball placed in front of them. When the coach says go, the catcher fires their hands out to the side and away from the ball, gets to their feet quickly, rakes in the ball and gets their body in a position to throw the baseball.
Zone Blocking
Acceptable activity for when practice is getting monotonous and the catchers need a change of pace. Assign three zones and points for each (5, 3, -5). The first zone should be 3 feet by 3 feet starting at the catcher's feet, the second zone should be 5 feet by 5 feet starting at the catcher's feet, the third zone is anything outside zone two. Catcher assumes stance while the coach stands on the mound. The coach will throw balls in the dirt. The catcher should block, retrieve the balls in a zone and then get their body in a position to throw. Each catcher gets an established number of trials. Add up points and assign a winner.
Batting Practice
There is no substitute for blocking live during an established period of time during batting practice. This prevents the catcher from sitting back and creating bad habits during batting practice.
Bullpens
The bull pen should be utilized not only by pitchers preparing to enter the game, but also by catchers as well. The catcher should report to the bullpen in full gear and have their game face on. No balls should ever get by a catcher in the bullpen. Take pride in your abilities.
Catching Skills
Giving Signs
An area that is commonly overlooked when teaching young catchers is giving signs. It is just assumed that a player will be able to flash a few fingers and be on his way. This couldn’t be further from the truth. There are many catchers that are not proficient at sign giving. A small problem such as this can lead to game time problems.
A catcher should give slow, controlled finger movements. There is no need to rush. The pitcher should be able to see the signs easily and in a relaxed manner. The catcher's hand should be placed back against the cup. The fingers should be pointing down. If the fingers are at an angle, it will hard to see from 60 feet 6 inches. The last thing you want to have happen is for a catcher to call a change-up and have the pitcher get confused and throw a slider. Be sure the fingers are not placed too low. The hand should not be so low that the on-deck hitter or individuals behind the catcher can see the signs. Another area of concern is to close off both knees.
The knees should be facing toward the pitcher. If the knees are open, the coaches in the coaching box may be able to see the signs and relay them to the hitter. There is nothing wrong with stealing signs if the catcher is doing a poor job. Close off the knees and make the hitters beat you the hard way. Also, have as little hand movement as possible. Don’t give away location of pitches with loud arm and hand movements. The key to sign giving is to be slow, deliberate, and subtle.
The catcher's glove hand should always be in the same position when giving regular signs and switched when giving alternate signs when a runner is on second base. For example. If a catcher rests his glove on his left knee whenever he gives regular signs, then the catcher should dangle his glove to his left side when using alternate signs. This gives a visual message to the pitcher that different signs are being used. A third set of signs can be signaled by the catcher's glove being held behind his back. If the catcher feels that the pitcher is unaware of sign-changing, then the catcher should call time out and have a mound conference.
Setting Up For Pitches
A sure give-away to a hitter is for the catcher to give his signs and immediately set up inside or outside. A catcher should give the sign and location for the pitch he wants, and move to the location as the pitcher begins his motion. An important point is that the catcher should get his glove up and give the pitcher a target as early as possible. Again, don’t give away the location too early, but still give the pitcher a reference point to focus in on.
When a catcher is setting up for a fastball to be thrown right down the middle, the catcher should cheat slightly to the backhand side. The reason for this is that it is easier to move and catch an errant pitch to your glove hand side than it is to your backhand side. Unless you are calling for a pitch up in the strike zone, your glove should target the bottom of the zone. If the call is for low in the strike zone and if the target is mid-thigh and the pitcher hits his target, the ball may land 400 feet away. However, if the target is at the knee, the pitcher has a greater chance of success if he hits his spot. Both are low targets, but one could result in a homerun.
Once the pitcher gets ahead in the count, the catcher should set up differently than if the pitcher is behind in the count. If an outside pitch is called, the catcher should set up off the plate about three inches. Having command of the strike zone will increase the chances that the umpire will give you the outer half. The same holds true for the inside pitch. The only difference is that instead of setting up three inches off the plate, you only need to set up one inch off the plate. It is important to remember one of the cardinal sins of baseball; never hit the batter when you have them down in the count.
Once a pitcher falls behind in the count it takes away some of the latitude from the umpire and the catcher. If the catcher calls for a pitch away, he needs to set up on the outer third of the plate. You want the pitcher to hit the outer third, or the black. Again, the same holds true for the inside pitch. You don’t want to fall behind even further. Set up on the corner and give the target on the plate.
When a breaking ball is called, the catcher can still cheat slightly to the backhand side. Again, he must target the bottom of the zone. The glove must be at the knees. Mentally, the catcher must assume the ball will be in the dirt. Always be ready to block all balls in the dirt.
When the pitcher gets ahead in the count and a breaking ball is called, the catcher will set up on the plate and want the ball down, or in the dirt. You want the hitter to chase the breaking ball and get himself out. Again, be ready to block all balls in the dirt.
When the pitcher is behind in the count, the catcher should set up on the plate and target the bottom of the zone. In this case the catcher wants a breaking ball thrown for a strike.
An important tip to the pitcher and the catcher; if you are going to miss, miss down and toward location. You won’t get hurt if you miss down. However, if you miss up in the zone, bad things will happen.
Throwing Footwork
Before going into detail about throwing footwork, we need to talk about a good exchange of the baseball from the glove to the hand. It is important to emphasize this area. A common misconception is that a catcher grabs the ball out of the glove. There should be a slight flip of the ball from the glove, to the hand. The flip should not be visible, or travel a great distance. If you are standing to the side of the catcher, the flip should not be seen. It will be concealed by the glove and hand working together. The hand will move into the glove during the flip. The flip will then occur within a matter of inches.
THROWS TO SECOND BASE
There are two types of throwing footwork to be addressed: jump pivot and load and throw. Each type will be determined by the location of the pitch and the arm strength of the individual.
If a ball is thrown right down the middle of the plate or towards the glove hand, a catcher that does not posses great arm strength will utilize the jump pivot. The jump pivot allows for a quicker release and is recommended for catchers with quick hands and a lack of great arm strength. The catcher will quickly shift his feet from being parallel to second, to perpendicular to second. The catcher
will not move toward the right handed hitter nor away from the left handed hitter. His back foot will end up where his backside started, while his front foot will end up where his glove started. A common error is for the catcher to move towards his glove and fall off balance. The catcher should assume a pole is running through the middle of his body. He wants to shift around the pole, not spin away from it. Another key is to make sure the catcher does not stand straight up on his first movement. Stay low and in a strong, athletic position. This will assist the catcher in staying on top of the baseball and throwing downhill toward the base.
If a ball is thrown right down the middle of the plate or towards the backhand, a catcher that possesses arm strength will utilize the load and throw. Catch the baseball while shifting weight to the back leg. Again, the catcher must square his body to second. The catcher must still utilize a quick glove/hand exchange with the baseball and stay low to the ground in a strong, athletic position. The catcher must get into a position where weight is on the back leg and the shoulders are squared to the base to which he is throwing. If the alignment is off, or the catcher has already stood up, the power that he possesses in his throwing arm will be lost.
It is important to mention at this time that a catcher should be proficient in both skills. The location of the baseball will dictate which footwork will be used. The only exception is on a ball thrown to the middle of the catchers body. On this throw, the catcher will determine which throwing footwork will be best for him.
THROWS TO THIRD BASE
A catcher can utilize three methods of throwing to third base. He can take a jab step towards the backhand and throw over a right handed hitter, or shuffle behind a right handed hitter. The location of the pitch, height of the hitter, and arm strength and size of the catcher will determine which throw is best.
On pitches that take the catcher toward his backhand, the jab step is an appropriate throwing position. The catcher will simply take a jab step with his outside foot, plant his foot, stay low, point the shoulders to third, and make a strong and accurate throw. This will clear him from the hitter and give the catcher a lane to throw in.
On a pitch that is down the middle, the catcher can use one of two methods, depending on whether there is a right or left handed hitter, and how tall the right handed hitter is in relation to the catcher. The catcher should plant his back leg, step towards third with the front leg and throw over the top of the hitter. The object is to have a lane to throw in without the hitter getting in the way and disrupting the throw. If the hitter is taller than the catcher or the pitch takes the catcher towards the glove hand side, the catcher can utilize a quick shuffle outside the hitter and create a throwing lane. Again, stay low, athletic, square the body to the base and make a strong and accurate throw to third.
| |
|
