Catcher's Drills

-- CATCHERS RECEIVING/EXCHANGE DRILLS --

Sign Giving Stance to Secondary Stance


1. Sign Giving Stance - Left knee pointed inside the shortstop and right knee pointed inside the 2nd baseman.  Sign is given in the crotch, easy to be seen by the pitcher, but not either coach on the 1st or 3rd base side.  Left wrist rests on left knee and glove is an extension of the knee.

2. Relax, breathe, visualize - After giving the sign, relax, breathe, and visualize the pitch/play.

3. Secondary Stance - Hop into the secondary stance.  The timing of this is something that will vary based on the pitcher and when he needs to see a target. 

Rapid Fire

  • The purpose of this drill is to soften the hands and improve glove positioning when receiving the ball

Angled Rapid Fire

  • The purpose of this drill is to soften the hands and improve positioning when receiving a pitch on the inside or outside corner.
  • Catchers will start to sway with the pitch as if it were a slider or sinker.

BLOCKING DRILLS

BLOCKING PROGRESSION 1
  • Catchers are already on their knees and hands are in between their legs on the ground
  • Upper body is leaning forward
  • When it is time to block, the catchers should be working on blocking the ball with their belly buttons.  If this is done successfully, it should be a very soft block and the ball will stay very close to the catcher.
BLOCKING PROGRESSION 2
  • Catchers are in secondary stance but their hands are in between their legs on the ground
  • Knees should go towards the ball - we’re not kicking the legs out
  • When it is time to block, the catchers should be working on blocking the ball with their belly buttons.  If this is done successfully, it should be a very soft block and the ball will stay very close to the catcher.
BLOCKING PROGRESSION 3
  • Catchers are now in secondary stance and block the baseball as they would in a game-like situation
  • Again, stress blocking with the belly button, having the hands between the legs, upper body leaning forward