Catcher Basics and Drills
Dynamic warmup - Watch Video
- Elbow to Instep
- Backward lunge extension
- Side lunges back & forth
- Hip flexors touch ground
- Cross feet squat
- Fire hydrants side & circles
- Knee bent in front, opp leg back, lay forward
- Hockey goalie
- Ankle rotation
- High knees
- Butt kicks
- Side shuffles with arm swings
- Carioca high knee
Squat walks (toss a ball is optional) - Watch Video
- Forward
- Side outward
- Side inward
- Backward
Basic stance setup - Watch Video
- Relax/sign stance
- Receiving stance
- Throwing stance
Framing (partner up)Always adjust back to center
Watch Video - Framing Setup
Watch Video - Framing Drill
Watch Video - Framing Drill 2
- Letter C barehand
- Small ball in hand
- Big ball in hand
- Heavy balls
- Baseball toss back & forth both in good stance with bare hand
- Same now side shuffle
- Pitching machine framing (not shown on video-but good option)
- Hip sway (don’t stab, eyes behind glove, umpires view important)
- Beat the ball to the spot, work glove around & back to the middle
- Work ground up
Transfers - Watch Video
- Kneeling fingers up, thumb parallel to ground
- Standing toss partners don’t reach go with pitch
- Squat foot work transfers
- All bases
- Shuffle to transfer hands high like a shortstop
- Moving forward squat transfers to catch drop, last throw
- Obstructed view
Blocking - Watch Video
- Glove leads the way
- Drop to both knees
- Belly button to the ball
- Chin down
- Glove blocks the 5 hole
- Forget about catching the ball “BLOCK IT”
- Get big
- Slight lean forward with shoulders
- Exhale when ball makes contact with chest
- Quickly get to feet and recover ball
Bunts - Watch Video
- Pickup ball with both hands
- Get around side of ball
- Create angle to 1 st base
- Be vocal
Other Videos
Catchers you are the captain/QB of the team. You need to be a leader: strong, aggressive, non-stop hustle, and have a great attitude! Your team will follow your lead. Your positive attitude will be contagious! Make the difference!