Knee savers? Pros, cons?

[bbrages]

I recently bought a second-hand set of catcher's gear for my nine-year-old, as he had shown some interest.

The set did not come with "knee savers". Should I get a pair? Do they help learning the correct receiving stance? Is there a drawback to them?

[Coach C]

My son wore them @ 8u. He took them off at a clinic @ 9 and they have not been on since. I don't think there has been any scientific proof that they are beneficial to young knees. If he is using correct mechanics the only time he "sits" on them is sign giving.

[CircleChange11]

I recently bought a second-hand set of catcher's gear for my nine-year-old, as he had shown some interest.

The set did not come with "knee savers". Should I get a pair? Do they help learning the correct receiving stance? Is there a drawback to them?

To me, this is just one of those issues that simply doesn't matter all that much. If your catcher is more comfortable wearing them, then wear them. If you don't like them, don't wear them. Many times it seems to end up being sort of a macho debate among male adults as to whether their kid wears knee-savers or not.

I tend to focus my energy toward making sure catchers block balls in the dirt, frame strikes, and throw runners out (or keep them from stealing).

Quite frankly, to me, it's like wearing batting gloves, wrist bands, etc. If they make you more comfortable, wear them. There's no scientific research that shows wearing wrist bands makes a player perform better, yet many wear them.

My kid wanted to try them, likes them, wears them. Doesn't really matter to me one way or another.

If he is using correct mechanics the only time he "sits" on them is sign giving.

Disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8srQswjerWM&feature=plcp

He looks to be in good catching position AND sitting on his knee savers.

[Coach C]

Disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8srQswjerWM&feature=plcp

He looks to be in good catching position AND sitting on his knee savers.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

[Rufus67]

If he's going to wear them you might want to consider strapping them onto the lower straps on the shin guard. I believe if they're on the upper they end up pushing the knee forward and that could cause problems. Don't know if it's medically true or not but it seems to make sense so my son's are on the lower straps.

Also, if they're on the upper, it's more difficult for the catcher to get into a no-runners-on stance.

[ralanprod]

Until Jay shows up...

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/April-NECC--Tip-of-the-Month-.html?soid=1100652011732&aid=O9GS805CPSA

Should answer all of your questions.

[bbrages]

Disagree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8srQswjerWM&feature=plcp

He looks to be in good catching position AND sitting on his knee savers.

Note that this guy is wearing the "savers" on the high calf position -- this is a no-no?

I'm really not so much concerned about the question of long-term injury. What I was really wondering was if the Knee Savers help promote a good receiving stance, if they are an aid that would help develop good technique. It sounds like they are not.

For what it's worth, I don't really think my son -- at least this one -- is going to end up being a catcher. Too thin and gangly, too good at pitching, not really a tough "contact" player. Still, he's enjoying trying and maybe as a pitcher he'll have more sympathy for the guy on the other side of the dish.

[The Flush]

Note that this guy is wearing the "savers" on the high calf position -- this is a no-no?

I'm really not so much concerned about the question of long-term injury. What I was really wondering was if the Knee Savers help promote a good receiving stance, if they are an aid that would help develop good technique. It sounds like they are not.

For what it's worth, I don't really think my son -- at least this one -- is going to end up being a catcher. Too thin and gangly, too good at pitching, not really a tough "contact" player. Still, he's enjoying trying and maybe as a pitcher he'll have more sympathy for the guy on the other side of the dish.

Size does not matter. My 9YO is the youngest, smallest kid on his 10U all-star team and has been proven to be the best catcher on the team. There really has not been much contact to speak of anyway.

As far as whether knee savers are good or bad, I don't know. My son uses them because they came with the hand me down gear he was given this year. My only concern is whether it could lead to a cather being lazy and sitting back on them too much with runners on. They do not appear to affect receiving the ball though.

529468_4331110085436_119438770_n.jpg

[bbrages]

[ATTACH]111601[/ATTACH]

Keep in mind that I don't know anything about catching, but doesn't he seem like he's pretty far behind the plate?

[CircleChange11]

Note that this guy is wearing the "savers" on the high calf position -- this is a no-no?

Since this guy is my son, my ears perked up. Found this in the e-mail (link in this thread) from Jay at NECC ...

Dr. Farrago made it very clear that the Knee Savers MUST be worn on the lower strap settings to avoid putting pressure on the back side of the knee joint. He gave the example of placing a tennis ball behind your knee and duct taping it there and then attempting to crouch. The damage done from placing those pads directly behind the knee will far outweigh the damage done over time while playing the position without them.

Okay, Knee savers are coming off.

I placed them high because that's where catchers "sit". If they're "low" then what's the point? The only youth catchers I see sitting ON the knee savers in the "low" posiiton are youth catchers that are "on their toes" (which IS a no-no).

The kid in the video (my kid) is blessed to have a "squatter's lower body". He's been able to squat like catcher (feet flat, weight on inside, sitting "between his legs") since age 5.

As a dad/coach, this will remove a distraction as he's always readjusting them (you can see it before each pitch) because as he squats and sit on the "inside" his thighs push the knee-savers "outside". So, he's always "pulling them back in".

I can safely say that the knee savers don;t prevent or assist him from getting into a good catcher's squat and being able to stay balanced while swaying (something we've started working on), now that framing and blocking are pretty much habits.

In the runner's on position his thighs have no contact with his calves, so that's not a concern ... nor should it be for any catcher.

Thanks for the information.

[CircleChange11]

Keep in mind that I don't know anything about catching, but doesn't he seem like he's pretty far behind the plate?

Yes. I would tell him "2 hops up", as in "2 small catcher hops toward the plate". Low strikes, at that distance, are likely to bounce before he catches them ... perhaps even turning strikes into called balls.

[CircleChange11]

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.

Curious as to what you are disagreeing with ....

1. Him being in a good catching position.

2. Him sitting on the knee savers.

[The Flush]

Keep in mind that I don't know anything about catching, but doesn't he seem like he's pretty far behind the plate?

That is the one thing he needs to be reminded of from time to time.

[The Flush]

Aren't knee savers really only supposed to be used for pre-pitch comfort anyway? It should not matter if the catcher is on his toes during pre-pitch, as long as he gets ready for the pitch. It does appear that my son can sit on them in the low position without being on his toes, but he should not do that with runners on. I am sure that he is not always using them correctly. They really should not affect receiving the ball.

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[mudvnine]

Curious as to what you are disagreeing with ....

1. Him being in a good catching position.

2. Him sitting on the knee savers.

Him sitting on knee savers in the wrong location, but I think you've addressed all of that in your above post......"Okay, Knee savers are coming off. I placed them high because that's where catchers "sit". If they're "low" then what's the point?"

Exactly.