C – The Catcher plays the most physically demanding position in all of baseball. Attributes of a good catcher include toughness, quick feet, strong and accurate throwing arm, thorough understanding of the game situation, and the mental ability to think several pitches ahead in the count to “set up” hitters. The catcher is the main decision maker for your defense. Only the catcher has a view of the entire field of play. Besides staying heads up in the game, your catcher must be unflinchingly tough as nails. Catcher is the most physically demanding position, requiring toughnes, agility, good hands, and quick and accurate throwing arm. It's a hard position to fill. At a young age, many kids will want to be catcher, because of all the action. At later ages, it's a hard position to fill because it's tough to play it well.
Beginner:
Make sure your young catchers begin in the proper stance, with their weight over their toes, not back on their heels. Teach them to catch the ball out front, arm slightly extended, but not stiff. Have a look at the stance of each batter, how deep or shallow they are in the batters box, and adjust the catcher so that they will not be hit on the glove hand with the swing, and so that there is not a large gap between the batter and catcher. Throwing to the pitcher with runners on base needs to be a conscious effort by your catcher to first look at each runner, the lead runner last, before throwing the ball to the pitcher.
At practice dedicate a portion of your time, 15 MINUTES, for your catcher’s in at least one of the following areas: STANCE, RECEIVING, BLOCKING, OR THROWING.
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