Catchers: Tips, Drills, Information, Catching Equipment, Catchers Gear
Cutoffs, and Plays at Home
Calling A Game
Misc. Situations and Plays
A proper stance is fundamentally important to
being a good catcher. There are two basic stances to learn, a relaxed
stance and a ready stance. Click the images for more information on
A general stance most catchers use with the bases empty and less than
two strikes is called a relaxed stance. The relaxed stance begins by
squatting with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your hips and shoulders
square to the pitcher and your feet straight across or slightly staggered.
Stay low and in a comfortable position. Relax your receiving arm (mitt
hand) and point your palm at the pitcher. Place your throwing hand behind
your back or behind your shoe. Present the pitcher with a good low target.
Read more about a relaxed
Use the ready stance with
runners on base and/or two strikes on the batter. In both cases you
need to be ready to block a wild pitch or quickly throw out a base runner.
The ready stance is simply a raised squat where the weight is now on
the balls of your feet instead of the instep and your butt is slightly
raised. Keep your hips and shoulders square to the pitcher, relax your
receiving arm, and point your palm at the pitcher. Place your thowing
hand in a fist behind your mitt. Present the pitcher with a good low target.
Read more about a ready