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Matt Mueller, Assistant Coach
Santa Clara University
http://www.santaclarabroncos.com
For Active.com
To keep runners from advancing bases and create less runs for the opposing
team, it's extremely important that your catcher keeps the baseball in front of him.
We do this drill quite often at Santa Clara University to help create proper technique
on balls in the dirt that are to the catcher's left and right.
The drill
Have a bucket of baseballs on home plate. The catcher starts from the outermost
edge of the grass and dirt circle around home plate. The coach will toss baseballs
at the catcher that simulate a ball in dirt to be blocked by the catcher.
Practice this drill in a circle around the home-plate area. Start the catcher moving in
a clockwise direction and continue the drill until the catcher blocks as many balls
as possible and he returns to where he started.
Next, the catcher should perform the same drill in a counterclockwise direction.
The goal for the catcher is to keep every blocked baseball within the circle. This
drill is designed to be done rapidly, and will give the catcher instant feedback on
whether or not he's getting around the baseball and keeping it in front of him.
Santa Clara University
http://www.santaclarabroncos.com
For Active.com
To keep runners from advancing bases and create less runs for the opposing
team, it's extremely important that your catcher keeps the baseball in front of him.
We do this drill quite often at Santa Clara University to help create proper technique
on balls in the dirt that are to the catcher's left and right.
The drill
Have a bucket of baseballs on home plate. The catcher starts from the outermost
edge of the grass and dirt circle around home plate. The coach will toss baseballs
at the catcher that simulate a ball in dirt to be blocked by the catcher.
Practice this drill in a circle around the home-plate area. Start the catcher moving in
a clockwise direction and continue the drill until the catcher blocks as many balls
as possible and he returns to where he started.
Next, the catcher should perform the same drill in a counterclockwise direction.
The goal for the catcher is to keep every blocked baseball within the circle. This
drill is designed to be done rapidly, and will give the catcher instant feedback on
whether or not he's getting around the baseball and keeping it in front of him.
Catchers Drill: Around the Bucket
Chip Baker
Florida State University
For Active.com
The catcher has to be, day in and day out, the most stable position on the field.
He's involved in every aspect of the game. He must be a "great communicator"
with the umpire, pitcher, teammates, as well as the coach.
This must be done with a level of consistency from the first pitch. Catchers need
to establish this method of communication and build on it during the game.
Catcher's pre-game routine
These series of quick, pre-game drills can be done before or after infield. Total
time of all these drills should be five minutes or less. Make sure you teach the
drills in practice before you throw it on the catcher before the game.
1. Spots: From a short distance, throw to the catcher in all locations. Corners, low
pitches, inside and outside pitches. Get him to concentrate on receiving the ball
and keeping the mitt in the strike zone. (Eight to 10 throws; use two baseballs to
speed this up)
2. Sways: Get the catcher's legs loose by throwing pitches outside of the strike
zone. Work on the swaying technique (opposite knee to the ground). This
improves receiving range. (Two or three throws each way)
3. Dead ball block: Put a ball on the ground where a ball would if he was blocking
a ball. Work on technique. Check body position for "holes": Glove, elbows,
shoulders. Move the ball around, work on going to his left and right. (Three to five
blocks)
4. Block: Throw balls in dirt or grass. Tell the catcher what pitch is coming and
have him work on the actual technique of blocking the ball. Again, this is an area
of teaching and building confidence' in the catcher's blocking ability. (Four to six
balls)
5. Live block and attack: Throw live fastballs and breaking. Have the catcher
make the decision on "catch or block". This gets him to focus on watching the
ball. After blocking, have the catcher attack the ball as if a runner is on first or
second. (Four to six balls) Note: don't beat him up before a game.
6. Hard crosses: This is the pitch that's near the outside edge of the batter's box.
The catcher throws his opposite leg or "crosses" his leg over to get the mitt to the
spot to knock down the ball. This is an extreme block -- just get a piece of the ball
to keep a run from scoring. (Two each side)
7. Quarter eagles: This is foot work in throwing. Quarter turn of the body with ball
loaded in mitt ... quarter eagle. Work on pitches all over the strike zone. Mix in a
pitch-out on both sides of the plate. Catcher can throw to additional player. This
drill will allow catcher to work on proper foot work on all pitches. Work on the
jab-step and no-step techniques. (Four to six balls; if no infield, throw more)
8. Plays at the plate: Throw 70'-90' throws to catcher ... Two or three bounces to
simulate a play at the plate. Have the catcher to turn to his left or right to simulate
throws from left field, center field and right field. Extra catcher can put "pressure"
on catcher. End with a good throw to "nail the runner" at the plate.
9. Remind catcher to "have fun!"
Florida State University
For Active.com
The catcher has to be, day in and day out, the most stable position on the field.
He's involved in every aspect of the game. He must be a "great communicator"
with the umpire, pitcher, teammates, as well as the coach.
This must be done with a level of consistency from the first pitch. Catchers need
to establish this method of communication and build on it during the game.
Catcher's pre-game routine
These series of quick, pre-game drills can be done before or after infield. Total
time of all these drills should be five minutes or less. Make sure you teach the
drills in practice before you throw it on the catcher before the game.
1. Spots: From a short distance, throw to the catcher in all locations. Corners, low
pitches, inside and outside pitches. Get him to concentrate on receiving the ball
and keeping the mitt in the strike zone. (Eight to 10 throws; use two baseballs to
speed this up)
2. Sways: Get the catcher's legs loose by throwing pitches outside of the strike
zone. Work on the swaying technique (opposite knee to the ground). This
improves receiving range. (Two or three throws each way)
3. Dead ball block: Put a ball on the ground where a ball would if he was blocking
a ball. Work on technique. Check body position for "holes": Glove, elbows,
shoulders. Move the ball around, work on going to his left and right. (Three to five
blocks)
4. Block: Throw balls in dirt or grass. Tell the catcher what pitch is coming and
have him work on the actual technique of blocking the ball. Again, this is an area
of teaching and building confidence' in the catcher's blocking ability. (Four to six
balls)
5. Live block and attack: Throw live fastballs and breaking. Have the catcher
make the decision on "catch or block". This gets him to focus on watching the
ball. After blocking, have the catcher attack the ball as if a runner is on first or
second. (Four to six balls) Note: don't beat him up before a game.
6. Hard crosses: This is the pitch that's near the outside edge of the batter's box.
The catcher throws his opposite leg or "crosses" his leg over to get the mitt to the
spot to knock down the ball. This is an extreme block -- just get a piece of the ball
to keep a run from scoring. (Two each side)
7. Quarter eagles: This is foot work in throwing. Quarter turn of the body with ball
loaded in mitt ... quarter eagle. Work on pitches all over the strike zone. Mix in a
pitch-out on both sides of the plate. Catcher can throw to additional player. This
drill will allow catcher to work on proper foot work on all pitches. Work on the
jab-step and no-step techniques. (Four to six balls; if no infield, throw more)
8. Plays at the plate: Throw 70'-90' throws to catcher ... Two or three bounces to
simulate a play at the plate. Have the catcher to turn to his left or right to simulate
throws from left field, center field and right field. Extra catcher can put "pressure"
on catcher. End with a good throw to "nail the runner" at the plate.
9. Remind catcher to "have fun!"
Catching: The Most important position