CATCHING

Our catcher is our "field general." The catcher is the only player who has everything in front of her. She has to have courage to take the foul tips off her body and to stand her ground for the collisions at home plate. She has to be able to communicate with the other players, so she can tell them where to throw the ball. The catcher is the most important defensive position on the field. If you have a good catcher, you can have a good team defense. I want the players who we designate as our catchers to study the handbook daily until they know it like they know their names.

The Catcher's Equipment

 The catcher's equipment is sometimes called the "tools of ignorance," but nothing could be further from the truth. The catcher must be one of the smartest players on the field, but since his job is also the one with the most danger, she gets some special protection.

·         Shin guards

·         Chest protector

·         Helmet Mask and throat guard

·         Catcher's Mitt

The Sign-Giving Position

 ·         Wrap the glove hand around left knee to hide the sign from the third base coach.

·         Point your knees at the pitcher to keep the first and third base coaches from looking in and stealing your signals.

·         Keep your right hand held deep in your crotch, so no one can see the sign except your pitcher and middle infielders (second base and short stop).

·         Don't have your fingers so low that the opposition can see them. Make sure the hitter isn't looking back trying to steal the signal.

How to Get the Proper Distance From the Batter

You need to be far enough behind the batter so you don't get hit with the bat and called for catcher's interference. If the batter hits the catcher with the bat while swinging, it is called catcher's interference, and the batter is awarded first base. You need to be as close to the batter as you can get without getting hit with the bat. When the catcher is close to the batter it allows the umpire to get a good look at the pitch. A good catcher who is set up close to the batter can steal some of those borderline pitches for her pitcher (get them called strikes when they may have been balls) by framing them for strikes. A good rule of thumb on how to set up is: You should almost be able to reach up and touch the batters back elbow with your catcher’s mitt.

The Receiving Position Stance With No Runners On Base

 After giving the sign, the catcher assumes the receiving position. With no one on base and if the batter isn't a threat to bunt, you can catch in whatever position you feel most comfortable in. We call this our primary stance.

·         Feet are shoulder width apart. With no one on base, I want your "meat hand" (the one without the glove on it) to be held behind your back with your thumb folded inside the other fingers, so you don't catch a foul tip of it.

·          Catching arm should be outside of the knee.

·         Catching arm should be out in front with the elbow slightly flexed (not fully extended and not in right next to your chest protector).

The Receiving Position Stance With Runners On Base

With runners on base or a bunting threat at home plate, we have to be in position to field the bunt or make a throw to get the runner trying to steal. We call this our secondary stance.

·         Feet wider than shoulder width. Weight up on the balls of the feet. Right toes about even with left instep. Legs parallel to the ground. Butt up and stay low to give the umpire a good view of the pitch.

·         The meat hand now comes out (with thumb still folded inside the other fingers) to a position just beside the right leg.

·         Make sure you catch the ball before you try to throw it. Remember the position you're playing is CATCHER.  

Framing A Pitch

Framing the pitch is the art of catching the borderline pitch (a pitch that could be called a ball or a strike) so that it gets called a strike for your pitcher. Framing is a short, fluid move back into the middle of the body with the glove after you have caught the ball.

Blocking The Pitch in the Dirt

We do not expect our catcher to catch every low ball in the dirt, but we do expect him to block them so they don't get through to the backstop letting runners advance.

·         Technique for blocking the low pitch right in front of you

·         Fall to your knees.

·         Glove into the ground like a "pitch fork."

·         Meat hand behind glove.

·         Relax your chest.

·         You are not trying to catch the ball; you are trying to block it.

·         Your chest protector acts as your glove

·         Keep your body square to the ball.

·         Hunch your shoulder forward.

·         Keep your chin down, so the ball doesn't fly up and hit you in the throat.

·         Direct all balls back toward home plate keep the ball in front of you! If it's in front of you, you can still make a play.

·         Technique for blocking the ball in the dirt inside or outside

·         Jab step with the near-side foot

·         Drive off the opposite leg Stay low Get "around" the ball

·         Direct the ball back towards home plate

How to Field Pop Fouls

The important thing to remember is the idea of "infield drift". What this means is that any foul ball will tend to drift back toward the infield.

    ·         Technique for fielding foul balls

    ·         Find the foul ball.

    ·         Turn your back to the infield.

    ·         Throw your mask far enough away so that you don't trip over it. (Don't laugh, it's happened even to major-leaguers!)

    ·         RELAX! You've got more time than you think.

    ·         Raise your mitt above your chin.

    ·         Catch the ball with two hands above your chin. Do not catch it "basket style" in front of your waist.

    ·         Your elbows and knees act as shock absorbers to give a little when you make the catch.

 How to Field Bunts

 How to Field Bunts down third base line

    ·         We have two options on bunts down the third base line.

1.        Small jab step with left foot go out and round off the ball. Get your plant foot (right foot) behind the ball, scoop and throw.

2.        Head directly toward the ball. Get your right foot over the ball. Spin toward first base and make the throw.

·         How to Field Bunts back toward the mound (but a ball that the catcher can get to)

·         Head straight out toward the ball.

·         Round off the ball when you get to it.

·         Square up to first base.              

·         Make the throw.

·         How to Field Bunts down the first base line

·         Head straight toward ball.

·         Scoop the ball up.

·         Either step into the infield to get a better angle on the throw or step into foul territory to get a better angle on the throw.

·         You must make sure you don't hit the runner with the throw.

When to Scoop the Bunt into Glove vs. When to Bare hand the Ball

 Team rule: If the bunt is rolling, I want you to scoop it up into your glove with your bare hand (glove hand and bare handwork together). If the bunt has stopped rolling, I want you to think of either a "cork screw" or a "pitch fork" as you "screw" it or "fork" it into the ground as you pick it up with your bare hand