Can a skinny girl be an effective catcher?

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:-/ I am really interested in your opinions on this one. Most catchers at 14U and up seem to be big girls. But I don't see why they have to be. If the catcher does not drop the ball, frames well, blocks the ball (you don't have to weigh 150lbs to get in front of a small ball), has a quick throw down and can catch the ball and put a quick tag on .. why does she have to be big? I know there are plays at the plate where big and strong girls are sliding in .. but a catcher puts her glove and ball on them to make the tag ... not her body. Even for big girls I thought it was a bad idea to put your body in the way of a slide and take the chance of getting the ball knocked out. As you might guess my DD is small and catches .. so I am interested in what non-biased observers think. Should she find a new position???

 

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I tend to prefer the quick girls, with size not playing much of a role.

 

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You said your dd was small, is she also skinny? If she is both small (frame) and skinny I would look for another position. In my eyes a player that is both small & skinny is going to be lacking the endurance needed to be behind the plate for multiple games in the heat. I am not saying that you need a huge catcher, just someone with muscle mass.

There is occassional contact between a runner and the catcher and your dd will likely get hurt without the muscle to sustain such impacts. I have seen small, muscular catchers and tall medium build ones, they all take a beating sometime or another.

 

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DD is very skinny .. 80lbs and around 5' to 5'2" tall. Likely 0% body fat. However, I have to disagree that small & skinny = lack of endurance. I think it is just the opposite .. the heavy girls can't handle the heat, the skinny girls can play all day. I do agree that if there were contact at the plate she could get hurt, but so could any girl really. More motivation to make the tag correctly .. and all part of the job. Again .. I am likely defensive on this matter .. please continue to keep the opinions coming. THANKS

 

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I agree with Joe A. As long as they have an arm , I want quick over size. We tend to put large girls with no speed at first.

 

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my DD isn;t skinny (maybe last year our 12u catcher would be considered skinny) but is small....has played catcher this year at 14u,...now, she's got miles to go (which was quite evident in seeing a 14u catcher alongside her who plays 16's, that girl was a beast!) but being small has its advantages...

last year our 12 catcher could get to pop ups and bunts that maybe a larger catcher wouldnt get...a bigger girl might look imposing, but maybe slower (but not always the case, just ask a certain stingray catcher if she lacks any speed....)

okay, back to topic...if the girl is going to put in the work, why cant she play catcher? it just depends on lots of things...
what level of play?
what team?
is she going to share time--which may not develop her quickly, but allow her to learn from the others and be competetive for that playing time...
does she have the proper footwork and arm to handle the position?
and, yes, like ballmagnet says, maybe in a 6 game tourney like the John Wells, maybe a smaller girl gets burned out by the time the 5th game rolls around...we lost our 12u catcher last summer in Zanesville from dehydration, it happens...my own looked a bit achy in the legs during some games this year...bigger girls might get tired too, but maybe they mask it better/we don't think it will hapen since they are 6 feet tall

 

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At the younger ages, the "bigger girls" tend to catch I think because they don't seem to be as "quick" as "smaller girls". ?Mostly they are the better gloves but maybe not ?tall" enough" as a "coach" would like to play 1st. ?Over all they seem to be the better "all around" athlete?s. You no, able to handle any position in a pinch. ?Again, it starts with the coach at the early stages they want a girl that is intimidating behind the plate. I can't remember but I don't think anyone I know said they wanted to be a catcher on there first day of ball! ?The coach makes the catcher and it seems as if they tend to be the "bigger" girls. My DD played SS in coach pitch. Is "thicker" then the others on the team and so was asked to catch. She loves it. Has a great arm. Plays heads up and knows what is going on at all times. Now she wants to pitch! Would start on most roster ball teams. I think she can do both thru 12u then pick one. I confess, I think since she is "bigger" then others, she would have a better chance at catcher!

 

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I can't remember but I don't think anyone I know said they wanted to be a catcher on there first day of ball!

Well now you know someone who said she wanted to be a catcher on her first day of ball. DD at 9 years old figured out that if she caught, she would get lots of playing time and get to handle the ball alot. Smart girl. She is also like your daughter she plays heads up and knows what is going on at all times. I think that comes with catching. Even if catching does not work out in the long run it was a great decision because her hand eye coordination and throwing arm have really developed as a result. I am however starting to get it .. coaches want someone behind the plate who can intimidate .. but why? Do they really think girls will be afraid to hit the ball or run home if a big girls is behind the plate?? Seems to me that getting to bunts or pop-ups quickly and having a quick throw down would be of more value .. anyway, I guess certain coaches will always want the big girl and I will always feel like they are missing out.

 

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I agree ballmagnet, my DD hand eye coordination and throwing arm have really developed as well as her bat. She seems to be able to pick the ball up easy and since she isn't the fastest girl on the team, she needs to hit for power. Catching has really helped her game.

 

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Please don't get me wrong, I have seen some very excellent smaller catchers in games. I simply feel the traits you described would be more vaulable and more successful elsewhere. If it is your DD passion to catch, by all means encourage her. She will find a way to be successful if it is truly what she wants to do.

 

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Agree with most of the others. Size doesn't matter. Quickness and strength matter. The only other attribute I would add is fearless. This is where I think you get the larger girls beating out the smaller girls. It takes a lot of guts to be a 80 lbs catcher with a 170 lbs base runner bearing down on you (much different if you are the 170 lbs catcher with an 80 lbs base running coming at you).

 

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It is really hard to find girls that want to be catchers. Big or Small ,Large or Skinney find one that has a good arm ,can be a leader, can be a wall and one that can think the game while behind the plate. JMO

 

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i'll take the small, skinny, athletic, catcher with good form and ability over the big girl with no catching skills anyday.

 

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Coach Bill: Just had to add this because it made me chuckle inside. I was telling my DD an abridged version of my poll and the responses and she said to me ... Mom, remember when I was in 10U and that great big pitcher named *** from the *** team was running home. (The particular girl she was referencing was easily twice her weight probably more). ... remember she came running in and knocked me over and I rolled but I came up with the ball. .. I just laughed inside .. you don't have to be big to be fearless .. it was right then that I decided that I would never discourage her because most catchers are big .. maybe she can be the Mugsy Boggs of fastpitch. She is small, but she is competitive and athletic and now I know she is fearless .. well atleast when it comes to catching .. I just thought it was funny (probably sounded funnier in person than in print .. but you get the point). ?

 

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ROFL - Seen it happen many times. Thanks for sharing!

 

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My dd is tall and skinny and this year I quess people take her for granted about being a force behind the plate.
A PA team sent a girl who thought she would just run over her. Big mistake, we don't call her pitbull for nothing.
Girl got bounced hard for not sliding. dd understands the method of low shoulder wins and uses it regularly. If you are coming to the plate you better slide.

 

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i've watched evil dads daughter behind the dish - good quickness, strong arm, frames well, blocks very well and if you plan to come in standing (get the shovel ready) she will plant you

 

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Thanks for the compliment monroe she has really had a breakout year this summer. She is really pushing to improve and get stronger.

 

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opportunity goes a long way

 

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There is one saying and it applies to both softball and baseball that will always hold true. You have to be strong up the middle. That starts with a good catcher then goes to the pitcher, SS, 2nd base, and CF.

Any weakness in those postions and you have a problem. Some of the best catchers I have seen were slight of build. Quick as cats and smart. That last one being probably the most important aspect of the position. The catcher of all people has to have their head in the game at all times.

Elliott.