Catchers Throwing Mechanics And Drills

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© 2006 by Catch and Throw. All Rights Reserved

Catchers Footwork and Throwing Mechanics



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Catch and Throw is collaborating with the

National Pitching Association, the Titleist Performance Institute, and

Vicon Motion Systems for the Health and Performance of Athletes



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Catch and Throw Mission

The mission of Catch and Throw is to provide quality instruction and mentoring on and off the field for

the health and performance of catchers from little league to the

major leagues



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4 LEGS OF THE PERFORMANCE TABLE

• Mechanics– Proper mechanics of receiving, blocking, and

throwing to stay safe and healthy

• Functional Strength– Usable strength to support Receiving, blocking, and

throwing

• Nutrition– Recovery from day to day rigors of catching

• Mental/Emotional– Controlling emotions and understanding mental

aspects and interaction of the game



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Footwork and ThrowingMechanics



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Catchers Signature

• 3 Dimensional Motion analysis has Allowed us to Identify a Biomechanical Signature.

• What catchers do to throw a baseball.

• All skilled catchers have a bio-mechanically predictable signature, even though they look different doing it.



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Bio Mechanics of Catcher Throwing

Balance, Posture, and Body ControlBall TransferPositive Stride and MomentumOpposite and Equal ArmsHip and Shoulder SeparationStack and TrackStabilizing GloveRelease Point and Follow Through



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Balance, Posture, and Body Control

• Maintain Head over Belly button from reception of ball until the release of the baseball

• Maintain one posture throughout delivery of baseball

• Keep head still and Upright

• Control emotions• Lead with Butt not Head• Eyes up Chest Up



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Ball Transfer• Take Throwing hand to Glove NOT

Glove to Throwing hand– Would you ask infielders to take the glove

back to their ear?

• Take the body forward toward the Glove

• Must have ball in hand to throw– Dropped balls are inexcusable

• Separate Hands at Mid-Line of Body (SPINE)

• The Sooner that the ball is in the hand, the sooner the grip can be established

• Control of Ball vs. Grip



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Positive Stride and Momentum• Crow Hop • One forward Lane• Gain ground toward intended target

– second base vs. third base

• Lead with Butt to gain more Momentum and Direction



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Opposite and Equal Arms• Throwing arm and glove arm will mirror each

other from reception of the ball until ball release

• Last piece of balance and first piece of timing into foot strike

• Strength issues with Youth and HS Players• Gear and Glove Weights

– Catchers gloves are approx 2 lbs



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Hip and Shoulder SeparationSeparation is the optimal angle difference between

Front Hip and Back Shoulder• Eccentric Load• Big Hips + Small Shoulders• Big Shoulders + Small Hips• Equal Hips + Equal Shoulders• All 3 can be achieved by catchers of all ages



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Stack and Track• Keeping Low back and chest upright throughout

total delivery of baseball• Tracking body toward target online will allow

energy to transfer from hips to torso to the shoulders to deliver the baseball



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Stabilizing glove in front of body

• Determines consistency of Release Point

• As the ball is released, keep the glove in front of the body to ensure maximum force and timing directed onto the baseball



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Release Point and Follow Through

• Release Point will be out in front of front foot if all pieces are put together



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Consistency of Throws• Obsession with Stop

Watch– Did you or didn’t you throw

The Runner out

• 2.0 Magic number

• Quick throws• Accurate throws• Throw through the bag,

not to the bag



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Throwing Drills• Towel Drill

– Total body drill (Not a release point drill)

• Side to Front throws– Treating second base like third base

• Long Hop Throws– For Keeping Balance, Posture and

Momentum

• Close Catch– Trusting Release Point

• Pitch Out Drill– Teaches how to properly perform pitch

outs

• Throw to Bases with Small Standing Target– Aim Small Miss Small



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Towel DrillPurpose: Teaches the proper timing of body

mechanics. It is NOT a Release Point Drill. • Stride plus 5 steps• Square for foot to land in



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Side to Front Toss DrillPURPOSE: To work on Timing and Sequencing of Body and Feet in the Throw From Crouch.

SET UP: Start with Body Sideways - Work way from Side to Front

Start with the Ball in Glove and work to throwing ball to the catcher to throw to 2nd base

..\..\Videos\Catching Video\Side to Front Throws.avi

..\..\Videos\Catching Video\Catching Video 2007_02_08_09_31_03.avi



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THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Education

Catchers Throwing Mechanics And Drills