catching

Players form two lines facing each other about 15 - 20 feet apart. The coach flips a ball to the first player. That player throws to the player across from her. That player immediately throws the ball to the next player in line across from her. This continues until the catcher receives the ball...

5X5 Drill Usually at the end of our practices we initiate the 5 x 5 drill. The drill is for infielders and outfielders including pitchers and catchers... Each infielders will get 5 grounders to play at their specific position..field a bunt or slap, field a grounder and turn two, field 3...

Blocking Drills 1) Shadow Blocking (No ball)-- Coach stands behind the catcher. Catcher assumes their stance. The coach tells the catcher what pitch is thrown and where. The coach will give the catcher a few seconds to get ready. When the coach claps their hands, the catcher will assume the...

CATCHER: Blocking Teaches catchers how to keep the balls in the dirt in front of them. Equipment: Catchers gear, tennis balls or safety balls. Catchers should have long sleeve shirts on to protect their arms. Procedure: The catcher assumes her stance. The coach or feeder throws the ball so...

CATCHER: Throwing to Third Base Helps to improve a catchers throws to third base. Equipment: Balls and catchers gear if desired. Procedure: One catcher is behind the plate, one is on the mound, and one is at second base. The pitcher throws the ball to the catcher who steps and throws to...

CATCHER: Throwing to Second Base Helps to improve a catchers throws to second base. Equipment: Balls and catchers gear if desired. Procedure: One catcher is behind the plate, one is on the mound, and one is at second base. The pitcher throws the ball to the catcher who steps and throws to...

CATCHER: Throwing to First Practices catching a pitch and throwing to first base as in a pickoff situation. One catcher is behind the plate, one on the mound and one at first base The pitcher throws the ball to the catcher, she catches it, steps and throws to first base. You may want to place...

CATCHER: QUICK FEET Helps a catcher develop quick feet. Catchers assume their stance with runners on base. On command from the coach they jump with their feet so that they are facing 90 degrees to where they started. On each command they jump another 90 degrees. They never come out of their...

CATCHERS: Throwing Footwork Teaches the catcher to get to the proper throwing position quickly and with proper technique. Equipment: Catchers gear and ball. Catchers pair up. One throws and one catches. The catcher assumes her stance as if there is a runner on base. Feet spread , rear end...

CATCHERS: TENNIS SOFT HAND Teaches the catchers to catch the ball properly. Equipment: Tennis balls or safety balls, catchers gear if desired. Procedure: Catcher assumes her stance without a glove. The coach or partner throws tennis balls or safety balls close to the strike zone. The catcher...

CATCHER: STANCE Show the catchers how to crouch properly, give a sign, and position themselves the right distance from homeplate. Equipment: Homeplate, glove, bat and catchers gear if desired. Procedure: Pair the players up as a catcher and a hitter. The hitter should take her stance at home...

CATCHING: CATCHER'S CIRCLE DRILL I have briefly detailed one of these drills on the fourm (I will post more later). However, there is one rule that I use with my catchers: They will perform every drill with chest protector & shin guards on (sometimes a mask but it can get pretty hot.) The...

CATCHING: CATCHER'S PADDLE DRILL I am a catcher for my high school softball team and would like to share a drill that benefitted me greatly. Have your catcher stand behind a plate in full gear. I find that this drill works best in a gym with a backstop or wall behind the catcher. Instead of...

CATCHING: HOOP DRILL You will need a hula-hoop and some softball. Place the hula-hoop upright over second base (a coach will hold it) and instruct your catcher to make her throw from homeplate through the hoop. This develops accurate throws. The second part of the drill, you can put a...

CATCHING: PING PONG DRILL I have been catching for 2 years now and I was taught the ping pong drill last year. The catcher is in FULL gear and the coach is at least 3 feet away throwing ping pongs at the catcher. The catcher does this drill first without a glove, then with a glove. It teaches...

CATCHING: POP-UP DRILL Here is a good catching drill that our catchers do at every practice. The catcher is in ready position with all the gear on. The player/coach stands behind the catcher. The person in back tosses the ball high into the air and yells "ball" and the catcher imediately throws...

CATCHING: REACTION DRILL I was a high school catcher and we had several drills we incorporated into practice. Two which I have just recently revived are reaction type drills: The purpose of the first is to get beginning catchers (or rusty veterans) used to seeing a flying object come directly...

CATCHING: REPETITION DRILL The best thing for catchers is repetion, throw 50 balls in the dirt for blocking the plate, make them throw 50 to second off the pitch. A good one for flies is have them crouch with the coach on his knees in front off her, with ball in hand stretched out so the...

CATCHING: WILD BALL DRILL Keep a full bucket of balls on the pitchers mound, and throw every ball in the dirt in front of the catcher. Vary the pitches - some to the glove side, some right at the catcher, and some to the backhand side. After throwing all the balls in the bucket into the dirt...

CATCHING: TRIO DRILL Hi, I've been playing softball for 6 years and just started catching 2 years ago. On our team we do a drill that involves the catcher, the pitcher and the short stop. What happens is the pitcher pitches the ball, when the catcher catches it the pitcher drops to the ground...