From calling pitches and defenses to working with pitchers and umpires, catchers have a wide range of responsibilities that require intelligence, tact, softball sense, and above all, leadership. One of the most important qualities for a catcher to posses is the ability to lead. A coach needs to develop a catcher’s leadership ability and a catcher needs to accept her role as a leader and work on those skills. A catcher is often the best athlete on the team and she must be a smart softball player. On each play the catcher must know:
1) The situation.
2) Past performance of the hitter.
3) Speed and aggressiveness of base runner (if there is one).
4) How to set the defense.
5) Watch the 3B coach’s signals to the hitter and runner.
6) Call the pitch to be thrown and the location of the pitch.
All before the pitch is thrown!
The Catcher’s checklist:
Giving Signals
Throwing Technique and Footwork
Pitch-Outs
Fielding Bunts
Dropped Third Strike & Passed Ball/Wild Pitch
Tag Play
Handling Pitchers
Back-Up Responsibilities
Catching the Pitch
Blocking Pitches in the Dirt
Calling Pitches
Framing Pitches
Throwing out Baserunners
Catching Pop-ups
Back-up Responsibilities
Take Charge!
Catcher’s Videos:
Throwing to Second Base
Framing
Catcher’s Footwork