CATCHING FUNDAMENTALS: DRILLS/TECHNIQUES/PREPARATION!

11:30AM – 12:15PM SHINNECOCK/NIPMUC ROOM

Mike ChurchDiamond Kings Baseball and Softball Academy

What is a catcher’s job?• Catch• Block• Throw• Field pop ups and Bunts• Direct traffic

Who is a good candidate for your backstop?• One of your better athletes• Natural leader• Decisive and instinctual

How do you know you’vefound a good catcher?

When you finally realize you never have to say anything to him or her

Proper Fitting Gear

Snug and high fitting chest protector Strap buckles on outsideBottom strap the tightestMask snug and cannot shake it around

OH BOY!!

THROWING LIKE A CATCHER

Catch, Feet, ThrowProgression--Catch, heart, right, left, throw Arm actionHigh transferPull the elbow back

THROWING TO BASES No faking pickoffs Catch the ball deep

Footwork Pop Two step Drop step Roll the knee!!

Throws to 3rd base and 1st base Footwork

FIELDING BUNTS

Footwork1st base

• 2 hand scoop into glove on right foot on first base line

• Drop step and throw• 2 hand/bare hand on left foot for 3rd

base• Pivot/turn and throw

2nd Base• 2 hand scoop into glove on right foot• Quick shuffle and throw

3rd base• Get rid of ball quickly• Doesn’t have to be pretty

RECEIVING

• Quarter turn, drop to receive• Catch glove flat• Inside pitch• Outside pitch• Low pitch• High pitch• Framing?

Receiving Video All Star Catcher’s Gear

BLOCKING

Different pitches call for different styles

1.Fall forward2.Replace the feet

Everything funnels back to the plate Middle Inside Outside

VIDEO

POP UPS

• Clear the umpire• Back to infield---P,

1st, 3rd• Hang on to mask• See ball in front of

your face at 11 o’clock

• Receive above head• Thumbs together

• Find the next play

DRILLS

• T drill• Rapid fire short toss• One eye short toss• Throwing to buckets

at bases• Pop up quick and

retrieve ball• Pop times Jamie Nelson

Tampa Bay Rays Drills

Blocking ProgressionWork Backwards• In blocking set up• Hands up• Secondary to blocking• Random catch/Block

Thank You!www.dkacademy.com