Catching - How much is too much?

[Powerball Tournaments]

Question for you all - how much should a catcher catch in a tournament, lets say with anywhere frrom 4-7 games being played. I know that typically you'll see the catcher play corner infield when they are being relieved in order to rest their arm, but when the catcher is making just as many throws as the pitchers he is handling, where do you all suggest the line be drawn?

Thanks

[vonkeitz]

As in all things. It depends. A catcher can probably catch a double-header IF his team breezes through the games with few balls in the dirt, walks, and baserunners (= few throwdowns). Weather is hugely important of course. Catching 3-4 innings in massive heat and humidity is much harder than on a 75 degree beautiful day.

The legs will also get gassed, not just the wear on the throwing arm. So, again, as in all things, it is situational- and player-dependent.

[tg643]

In preteen travel we typically had two games per day. I alternated two players between catcher and center. Starting in 13U I had three catchers. It was possible to have three and sometimes four games on Sunday. No catcher ever caught back to back games. Because we had a DH and an EH all three could still start. Sometimes they started their off games in the outfield. I've never been a fan of catching and pitching in the same day. Or catching and playing short due to the possibility of off balance, in the hole, long throws to first after catching once on the large field. Part of the decision making process are the weather conditions. I'm not catching a kid in the evening who dehydrated himself catching on a hot afternoon. A catcher's throwing count can't be compared to a pitcher. Most of his throws are not hard throws. I'm more concerned about e catcher's body and legs.

[Powerball Tournaments]

I was more concerned with the repetitive motion of the throw, not the velocity.

[tg643]

I was more concerned with the repetitive motion of the throw, not the velocity.

I never saw 150 tosses back to the pitcher as a issue. A catcher only makes a handful of hard throws in a game. I was more concerned about the wear and tear on the rest of their body.

[Mur5]

Please take my answer with a grain of salt.

As a youth catcher that often caught doubleheaders I noticed my legs giving out before my arm ever did. But I guess it would depend on a lot of different factors other than innings/games played. I grew up playing in Southern California with the temps in the 70-80's and little humidity (for the most part).