Teaching the Catcher's Position

[johnlanza]

At what age do you really, REALLY start teaching the catcher's position? I ask this because I am in my last season as a coach in the coach-pitch division. Sure, in coach pitch (ages 5 thru 8), you get a stocky kid who can stop (or maybe even catch the ball in flight from one of the infielders) and place a tag on a runner at the plate. Do you wait until they move into the kid-pitch division before working on some other techniques? Since there's so much involved, it's probably a work-in-progress.

I've heard a lot of great reviews of Coach Weaver's catcher's DVD. Is this good material for teaching first-time catchers? Or is better suited for the more advanced players?

[ralanprod]

Well, it's never too young to teach good habits. Catching the ball properly, blocking, hustling down the line to back up first on infield plays, and catching pop-ups are things that can be taught even in coach-pitch. They may not be able to do everything properly at that age, but it's a good place to start. Of course there is the reality that the kid playing catcher in coach pitch likely isn't one that will be playing catcher once they move up to kid pitch. Still though, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be taught properly.

Coach Weaver's DVD is good for all ages. It's real value though is teaching the proper techniques - and how to teach them, to coaches. You can sit a kid in front of the TV and he will learn - but it's far more effective if the coach watches the DVD himself as well.

[Jake Patterson]

Call Jay at New England Catcher's Camp.... NECC has all you will ever need!

[tg643]

Coach Weavers online discussion were consistant with what two MLB catchers told my son.

[Roothog66]

Coach's DVD's are the only instance in which I can say that it is all you need. Everything is covered and everything is covered well. By the time you get through with it, there is next to nothing you can learn anywhere else.

[tcvander]

Call Jay at New England Catcher's Camp.... NECC has all you will ever need!

The only thing to say to that is dittio...

[AdamInNY]

I too bought the DVDs. I understand, they aren't geared toward a kid watching them, but I did put them on my son's ipod, and even the little bit he watched helped. Things like hand behind leg, not behind the belt, hand behind the mitt with a runner on, etc. All great. Biggest issue I'm having with the kids is they just don't have the leg strength yet. (7-9). They all end up on their toes or in the 'sign giving position'. Anyway, the videos are great.

Helped us in our first tournament of the year. Would never have gotten this ball.

[JCincy]

At what age do you really, REALLY start teaching the catcher's position?

As soon as they are willing to put on the gear and sit in the most frenzied position on the baseball field.

You have a ball traveling in your direction at who knows what speed and how much break it will make. Then you have a kid swinging a bat in your line of sight (and who knows what else the batter might do). Finally, you have someone right behind you, crowding your space. You are expected to catch the ball or least block the ball the majority of the time.

First, for the safety of the catcher you need to start teaching the fundamentals right away.You can't have a kid lunging at the ball, falling into the swing zone, turning his head away from the pitch and/or jumping up whenever a pitch hits the dirt. He needs to know where to set up, so he doesn't interfere with the batter, but he can't be too far back, because that can impact his ability to catch a strike.

[CatchingCoachJR]

John,


Our nationwide camp has an age minimum of 8-years old. If for no other reason than the younger catchers haven't yet begun catching actual pitchers and may not truly know if their legs can handle structured training. Having said that, earlier is almost always better when it comes to establishing a solid foundation of mechanics. Realizing there will be a threshold to how much of the information actually sticks is obviously necessary, but I have seen some 6 and 7-year old catchers with the spacial and body awareness to actually begin to adopt good muscle memory. A lot of it is just how the instruction is presented to them. Certainly not to self-promote, but the DVD is a good place to start. Whether it's an 8-year old or a college/professional catcher, the mechanics we teach are the same (obviously, there will be some advanced skills we won't teach a youngster until he shows he can handle it), but how you present the information is what is different.

When dealing with a younger catcher, focus primarily on their stance. That alone will solve some of the issues with other skills. Get them into a balanced and athletic position and you are ahead of the curve. Keep in mind, it will always be a work in progress, as the game will change so much from the younger ages to the upper levels. Catchers must adjust to the speed of the game and the growing list of positional responsibilities. Starting them out with a solid foundation early can only help the process.

[Roothog66]

A very young catcher can immediately be put on the right track by sitting down to watch the first section of the Weaver DVD. Beginning his catching career with the right stance and receiving skills will go a long way.

[mudvnine]

Good to see you here "CCJ", looking forward to seeing your continued postings here, from the wonderful shoes you have had to fill.

Also say "Hi" to Bobby for me, and remind him that he's "it", in the phone tag we've been playing recently......


All the best,
mud -

[CatchingCoachJR]

Thanks Mud! Check your PMs...

[Coach C]

At what age do you really, REALLY start teaching the catcher's position?

Start now!
My son started during 7u machine pitch, which was comprised of umpire and catcher standing off to the side and basically fetched the ball after it hit the backstop at 40 mph.The umpire worked with him after games and demonstrated what he needed to work on before he would let him sit, halfway through the season he did. I bought CC Catching DVD and we drilled off and on. At 9 he attended a clinic with Coach Weaver and a year later with Jay. As Jay stated the stance/mechanics are key. My son was always the little guy but he stuck with the drills and worked his tail off. He’s hit puberty @ 12 so the strength and size are catching up to the “engrained mechanics”. He is currently unmatched at the position in our league (dad thumping chest). The down side is he’s so good at it that he doesn’t get to play any other positions. I truly feel that NECC is “The” place to go if your son wants to master the position and do it at a young age. As a wise Catching Coach told me “Coaches should see him as a gift and not try to put their stamp on him by trying to change how he does it”. This is a battle that he has had for the past 2 seasons and so far he’s stuck to his guns and lets go in one ear and out the other. Every game this season there are always a couple of parents and coaches that come up to him after a game and compliment him on his catching. NECC Rules The Catching Planet.

[JCincy]

The down side is he’s so good at it that he doesn’t get to play any other positions.

Just an opinion... but if he is catching all the time, that means he probably is throwing more than most pitchers. I'd recommend he move around some for his arm's sake.

[johnlanza]

Thanks for all the replies.

Our nationwide camp has an age minimum of 8-years old. Starting them out with a solid foundation early can only help the process.

Thanks. I've placed my order, and I'm looking forward to this next chapter in my coaching "career".