Catcher covering first

[jneas]

I've been 'lurking' here for a while now and want to extend kudos to everyone who participates on this site. I've found many of the discussions to be quite informative - and those that might not be overly informative have at least been entertaining!

Now, after the required 'buttering up':

At what age do you teach (and therefore expect) your catchers to backup 1st base?

[TG Coach]

Little League. It's never too early to learn how to play the game properly.

[Jake Patterson]

I've been 'lurking' here for a while now and want to extend kudos to everyone who participates on this site. I've found many of the discussions to be quite informative - and those that might not be overly informative have at least been entertaining!

Now, after the required 'buttering up':

At what age do you teach (and therefore expect) your catchers to backup 1st base?

Catching Coach???

[cubsphill]

Little League. It's never too early to learn how to play the game properly.

i second this.

its more important in little league when kids are missing the 1bman.

[BallCoach06]

I agree. The quicker they learn this, the better. Don't just be a spectator. Go back up.

[ralanprod]

My kid started doing it at 7 after seeing a college game in person.

It was funny as hell watching him try to run with all the gear on, but it paid off a time or two.

I think teaching kids to back up each other is one of the things youth coaches miss the most.

My son's coach this season really stresses making good backups, and it's really nice to see for a change. If you teach them correctly when they are young, it's a habit they will always have with them.

[jneas]

Thanks to all for verifying my beliefs.

Don't just be a spectator. Go back up.

One of our focus points this year will be that everyone moves on every play.

[TG Coach]

My kid started doing it at 7 after seeing a college game in person.

It was funny as hell watching him try to run with all the gear on, but it paid off a time or two.

I think teaching kids to back up each other is one of the things youth coaches miss the most.

My son's coach this season really stresses making good backups, and it's really nice to see for a change. If you teach them correctly when they are young, it's a habit they will always have with them.

When I coached 13U travel I discovered a lot of pitchers stood on the mound and spectated or got in the way of the cutoff. In preteen ball the fences were so close to the field a lot of players were never taught to back up. Or the stud pitcher was taking cuts from the mound because his coach was more into the stud handling the ball than teaching the game properly.

[CoachB25]

When I coached 13U travel I discovered a lot of pitchers stood on the mound and spectated or got in the way of the cutoff. In preteen ball the fences were so close to the field a lot of players were never taught to back up. Or the stud pitcher was taking cuts from the mound because his coach was more into the stud handling the ball than teaching the game properly.

TG Coach, this is because people typically take infield without the pitcher on the mound as well as having the catcher fill the role of shagger and not catcher. There are many ways to over come this. The way I do so for teams I coach is to do the concept of "Multiple Infield." It is too long and drawn out to be presented here but the basics is that infield starts with the pitcher throwing a pitch. Do not confuse this with situational infield/outfield since runners are not running. Catchers' have to be trained early to understand that they run the show. Hustling to back up first base is just the beginning.

[TG Coach]

Catchers' have to be trained early to understand that they run the show.

I still remember the line from my high school coach: "Billy is our catcher. He's in charge. He leads. You follow. If Billy wants a hot dog, he'll tell you if he wants mustard and relish. Then you go get it."

I played for a Casey Stengel clone. My dad had the same coach.

[Catchingcoach]

I have always taken the approach that as the pitcher begins his windup the following question should go through all 9 players minds, "What do I do if the ball comes to me? and what do I do if it does not come to me?"

Every player has a job to do on every play, catcher included. I reccomend starting as early as possible. Some kids will actually make it down to the proper position. Some of the kids may not be athletic enough to actually get all the way in the proper spot, BUT they need to know they are not a spectator when there is no one on base.