Catcher Expertise Needed!

[MD Diamond Sports]

There are many talented coaches on this site. However, this is geared more towards the high school Varsity group, or catching instructors. Like all other high school Varsity teams we have lost our starting catcher to graduation. Last year's JV team played with a Freshman catcher. This means we will not be receiving a Junior catcher. In addition, we do not feel the Sophomore catcher is developed (Hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, and not a good enough pop time) enough to be our everyday starter. Our team is currently in a non high school affiliated winter camp right now. So, there is a possibility of creating (The best we can) a catcher. Here are a few questions that I have for the group.

1. Is the first step asking who has caught before?
2. Do we we eliminate our everyday starters in other positions, and look at the backups in each position to work as a catcher?
3. We know a catcher is important in high school Varsity, do we take a great athlete (at a single position) that has a decent backup, and work him as a catcher?
4. What other questions should we ask ourselves?

We understand that catchers need to be brought up through the years to be effective. However, in this situation we do not have that luxury. Please add you insight on this situation.

[mudvnine]

1. Is the first step asking who has caught before?
2. Do we we eliminate our everyday starters in other positions, and look at the backups in each position to work as a catcher?
3. We know a catcher is important in high school Varsity, do we take a great athlete (at a single position) that has a decent backup, and work him as a catcher?

Answers:
1. I would first ask who would like to catch. I'd rather have a player who wants to be back there, than a kid who feels that he's been forced there.

2. No, you find the best player for each position.

3. Yes, pretty much relates to the answer of question two.

On a related note, what happened to last year's back up catcher....did he graduate also? Interesting that you had no catchers in the classes between your starting senior, and starting JV catcher. Not a single Jr. or So. catcher at your school last year?

[skipper5]

There are many talented coaches on this site. However, this is geared more towards the high school Varsity group, or catching instructors. Like all other high school Varsity teams we have lost our starting catcher to graduation. Last year's JV team played with a Freshman catcher. This means we will not be receiving a Junior catcher. In addition, we do not feel the Sophomore catcher is developed (Hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, and not a good enough pop time) enough to be our everyday starter. Our team is currently in a non high school affiliated winter camp right now. So, there is a possibility of creating (The best we can) a catcher. Here are a few questions that I have for the group.

1. Is the first step asking who has caught before?
2. Do we we eliminate our everyday starters in other positions, and look at the backups in each position to work as a catcher?
3. We know a catcher is important in high school Varsity, do we take a great athlete (at a single position) that has a decent backup, and work him as a catcher?
4. What other questions should we ask ourselves?

We understand that catchers need to be brought up through the years to be effective. However, in this situation we do not have that luxury. Please add you insight on this situation.

IMO catcher position is so important that you shouldn't rule out converting an everyday starter in another position to being your catcher.

[MD Diamond Sports]

Answers:
1. I would first ask who would like to catch. I'd rather have a player who wants to be back there, than a kid who feels that he's been forced there.

2. No, you find the best player for each position.

3. Yes, pretty much relates to the answer of question two.

On a related note, what happened to last year's back up catcher....did he graduate also? Interesting that you had no catchers in the classes between your starting senior, and starting JV catcher. Not a single Jr. or So. catcher at your school last year?

The backup catcher will not be joining us this year due to disciplinary actions. You know how that goes with high school kids.

[Roothog66]

There are many talented coaches on this site. However, this is geared more towards the high school Varsity group, or catching instructors. Like all other high school Varsity teams we have lost our starting catcher to graduation. Last year's JV team played with a Freshman catcher. This means we will not be receiving a Junior catcher. In addition, we do not feel the Sophomore catcher is developed (Hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, and not a good enough pop time) enough to be our everyday starter. Our team is currently in a non high school affiliated winter camp right now. So, there is a possibility of creating (The best we can) a catcher. Here are a few questions that I have for the group.

1. Is the first step asking who has caught before?
2. Do we we eliminate our everyday starters in other positions, and look at the backups in each position to work as a catcher?
3. We know a catcher is important in high school Varsity, do we take a great athlete (at a single position) that has a decent backup, and work him as a catcher?
4. What other questions should we ask ourselves?

We understand that catchers need to be brought up through the years to be effective. However, in this situation we do not have that luxury. Please add you insight on this situation.

Good opportunity for motivation. Find one or two of those decent backups who would welcome the opportunity to contribute more and see if they would dedicate themselves to the position. Let your Soph split time unless you're keeping him at JV. It is late to develop a catcher, but a kid dedicated to learning the position could become serviceable enough.

[MD Diamond Sports]

IMO catcher position is so important that you shouldn't rule out converting an everyday starter in another position to being your catcher.

I also believe in this, however I feel that you should have a good backup to take his place. We feel that we have two great shortstops (Athletes), one a Junior, and the other a Senior. However, which one do you put there?

[MD Diamond Sports]

Good opportunity for motivation. Find one or two of those decent backups who would welcome the opportunity to contribute more and see if they would dedicate themselves to the position. Let your Soph split time unless you're keeping him at JV. It is late to develop a catcher, but a kid dedicated to learning the position could become serviceable enough.

This is a great outlook. I think our backup shortstop has the drive, and motivation. The Sophomore is not ready. He would be brought up in case of an emergency.

[mudvnine]

The backup catcher will not be joining us this year due to disciplinary actions. You know how that goes with high school kids.

Ah yes, unfortunately all too well. Not so much disciplinary, but academic eligibility.

So then I have to lean along the lines of "skip".....I solid catcher is IMO as if not more important than any other position on the field.

Get yourself the best backstop you can, and build your way around that.

[ralanprod]

Tough situation. I would say you could answer your questions in many different ways and not be right or wrong.

To me, the first thing you have to do is try to find out who is willing to play the position. It's physically the toughest, and most aren't willing to go through what it takes to play the position at the HS level.

It would be great to have someone step up who is willing to try, and who has caught some before. Probably not too likely for you though.

It's easy if you put it to the players this way... "Some of you (and you know who you are) are going to be spending a lot of time on the bench. I need a catcher. If you are tired of sitting on the bench and not starting, this is your shot. The position is tough. You will frequently be exhausted, overheated, and in pain. However, you will be feeling those things on the field, while others sit on the bench rested, cool, and comfortable. All those interested meet me at home plate."

[tg643]

The best source I've seen for catching information is catchingcoach.com. I had several conversations with the founder before he died. His advice is consistent with what a MLB catcher taught my son. I haven't been to the site in quite a while. It had a virtual camp.

As for your situation, if you don't have a catcher you're comfortable with, put one of your best athletes back there. Did you know Buster Posey was FSUs shortstop before he moved to catcher? Being a good team player an all- conference shortstop from Tennessee transferred in. FSUs catcher graduated. Posey volunteered to move.

My son had gravitated away from catcher to short in middle school. The high school varsity coach told him his best chance to start as a freshman was if he caught.

[MD Diamond Sports]

It's easy if you put it to the players this way... "Some of you (and you know who you are) are going to be spending a lot of time on the bench. I need a catcher. If you are tired of sitting on the bench and not starting, this is your shot. The position is tough. You will frequently be exhausted, overheated, and in pain. However, you will be feeling those things on the field, while others sit on the bench rested, cool, and comfortable. All those interested meet me at home plate."

Do you have copyrights to that? Mind if I use it haha! :applaud:

[mudvnine]

I also believe in this, however I feel that you should have a good backup to take his place. We feel that we have two great shortstops (Athletes), one a Junior, and the other a Senior. However, which one do you put there?

The junior (if both SS are truly equal), explaining that you'll have him back at SS next season. But again, that is if he really wants or is willing to go behind the plate. Some kids just aren't cut out to put on the "tools of ignorance".

[MD Diamond Sports]

Now, if you have ever been in this situation which makes a better catcher, and infielder or outfielder? Does infield footwork assist with catching?

[mudvnine]

Now, if you have ever been in this situation which makes a better catcher, and infielder or outfielder? Does infield footwork assist with catching?

Willingness to put his body parts in front of a round, hard object, traveling in speeds up to 90mph.....having a strong arm with quick release doesn't hurt either.

[skipper5]

Now, if you have ever been in this situation which makes a better catcher, and infielder or outfielder? Does infield footwork assist with catching?

Infielder. Especially, SS.