We’ve spent a lot of time here covering skills for youth catchers. There’s a lot for them to know from giving the pitcher signs, actually catching the pitch, to throwing out base runners. The question is how do we work on all of this during a practice? This article is going to cover some thoughts on how to do this.
Blocking:
First, a number of skills make a great warm up for the catcher. These include blocking and throwing down. For me this becomes a warm up prior to practices and games for catchers. This begins with working on blocking. The catcher gets behind the plate and then blocks to the middle of the plate 3-5 times. The catcher will then block to the lower left side of the plate 3-5 times. This will then be done to the lower right side of the plate 3-5 times. Finally, the catcher will block around the plate (move so that they block to each of the five corners of the plate, first moving to the left and then moving to the right).
Throwdowns:
There are three ways that I like to work on throwdowns and it requires this much work for catchers to be proficient with this skill. First, we work on the footwork and transfer during the catcher’s warm up. After blocking the catcher gets in their receiving stance behind the plate. The catcher then pops up and simulates a throw to second base, this includes simulating what to do with his hands. This will be done 3-5 times. Then the catcher simulates throws to first 3-5 times, then throws to third 3-5 times.
This skill is also trained in the batting cages. The catcher gets with a partner and gets in his receiving stance behind home plate. The partner tosses the ball to the catcher who pops up and throws it down the cage (this practices throws to second). After 3-5 of these home plate is turned so that when the catcher pops up and throws down the cage it is simulating a throw to first base. After 3-5 of those home plate is turned again so that we can simulate a throw to third base.
Finally, this skill needs to be trained with an infield and against baserunners. I like to begin with a batter and simulate a dropped third strike. The batter runs for first while the catcher picks up the ball and makes the throw. Then we will have baserunners steal bases while the catcher attempts throwdowns to the bases. This way we train offense and defense at the same time.
