| One Knee Throwing |
Two catchers kneel 30 feet apart on
their left knees. After throwing the ball back and forth for a few
minutes, they move apart 10 more feet. Continue throwing and moving
back until the throws equal the distance from home to second base.
Emphasize proper shoulder and hip turn to gain strength. Drill can be
done with catchers kneeling on both knees as well. |
Quick Hands/
Framing |
Catcher 1 throws tennis balls,
incrediballs, or softballs from 20 to 30 feet to catcher 2. The balls
are thrown high, low, inside, and outside. The balls should be thrown
close enough to the "plate" so that foot movement is not necessary.
Catchers should practice framing the pitch. |
| Quick Feet |
Catcher 1 throws tennis balls,
incrediballs, or softballs from 20 to 30 feet to catcher 2. The balls
are thrown inside and outside, high and in the dirt. Catcher 2 takes
jab steps to the left and right attempting to get the middle of the
body in front of the ball. If using softballs or incrediballs, catchers
should be in full gear. |
| Quick Release |
Catchers
position themselves 60 to 70 feet apart. Catcher 1 squats with ball in
glove, then simulates a catch and throwdown to 2B. Catcher 2 blocks the
"plate" as she receives the ball and applies the tag as if a runner is
trying to score at home plate. Catcher 2 then squats with ball in glove
and simulates throwdown to 2B. Continue for 10 to 15 minutes. |
| No Hands Blocking |
Two catchers in full equipment stand
about 20 to 30 feet apart. Catcher 1 throws balls in the dirt to the
left, right and in front of "home." Catcher 2 practices blocking the
wild pitches with shin guards and chest protector using proper
technique and footwork only. |
| Fielding Bunts |
Put catchers or other fielders at each
base. Put six balls in front of home plate. First catcher pops up,
fields "bunt" and throws to 1B, 2B, and 3B, in turn, returning to the
defensive position after each throw. Repeat second set to each base and
then rotate to next catcher. |
| Steal Attempts |
Place two or more runners with helmets
at 1B and 2B. Put two or more shortstops in position with second
basemen as backups optional. Put a pitcher on the mound. On the release
of the pitch, runner on 1B tries to steal 2B and catcher 1 tries to
throw her out. Everyone returns to positions. On the next pitch, runner
on 2B tries to steal 3B and catcher 1 tries to throw her out. Repeat
several times and then rotate catchers and shortstops. |
| Tag Play at Home |
Place one or more catchers at home and
three to six outfielders spaced evenly around the outfield. Give each
outfielder one ball. First outfielder rolls ball a few feet in front,
picks it up and makes a strong throw to home with catcher 1 simulating
a tag; outfielder should end up at the edge of the outfield grass after
throw. Catcher then squats facing outfielder and rises to throw ball
simulating a long throw to second base. After each outfielder has
thrown one ball, catchers rotate. Drill can also be performed with
infielders at their positions. |
| Pick Off Play |
Put infielders and pitcher at their
positions and 3 or 4 runners at 1B and 3B. Pitcher pitches ball to
catcher; on release of pitch, runner on 1B takes aggressive lead while
second baseman breaks hard to 1B. Catcher tries to pick off runner.
Shortstop covers 2B; runner attempts to dive back to 1B or breaks to 2B
and gets into a rundown. Repeat with runner on 3B with shortstop
covering. First baseman and third baseman should play well in front of
the bag so runners are enticed to take bigger leads. After 4 throws,
rotate catchers. |
Foul Ball Communi-
cation |
Put
catcher, pitcher, first baseman and third baseman at respective
positions. Coach is positioned behind catcher. Coach throws a pop up
behind catcher. Infielders call "up 1" if towards 1B, "up 3" if towards
3B, "up" if ball is straight over home, and "back" if ball is straight
back. The coach can substitute other calls if desired. |
Cut-Off Communi-
cation |
Put infielders at their defensive
positions. Put three to six outfielders with one ball each, evenly
spaced 10 to 20 feet beyond the edge of the outfield grass. Pitcher (or
first baseman) moves to cut-off position in front of outfielder 1 who
throws ball on a line to home. Catcher yells "cut" and the base number
to tell the cut-off to throw to a base (e.g., "cut 2"). Catcher says
nothing if she wants the ball to come through. Continue until each
outfielder has thrown three balls. Rotate catchers. |
| Catcher Flip to Home |
Put catcher behind plate with six balls
evenly spaced at backstop distance. On signal, catcher goes to first
ball and flips it to the pitcher or first baseman covering home.
Catcher returns to plate and runs down remaining balls in turn. Catcher
should retrieve ball with bare hand and flip it in one motion along the
ground so the player covering home can apply the tag smoothly.
Emphasize pitcher/first baseman's positioning as much as catcher's
technique. |
| 1st and 3rd Situation #1 |
Place runners with helmets at 1B and
3B. On pitch release, runner steals 2B. Second baseman moves to a
position halfway between 2B and pitcher's rubber. Shortstop covers 2B;
third baseman covers 3B. Catcher looks at 3B and throws there or to 2B
if runner stays close to 3B. Second baseman watches runner on 3B; if
she moves off base enough to get out, second baseman cuts and throws to
3B. Second baseman cuts off-line throws. She fakes catch and throw to
3B if she allows ball to go through. |
| 1st and 3rd Situation #2 |
Place runners with helmets at 1B and
3B. On pitch, runner steals 2B. Second baseman should move to cut-off
position and shortstop covers 2B; third baseman covers 3B. Catcher
looks at 3B and throws there or to pitcher if runner stays close to 3B.
Pitcher looks at runner on 3B; if she moves back to 3B, pitcher turns
to look at runner going to 2B and throws for the out if there is a
play. Key is for catcher to make aggressive throw to pitcher to tempt
runner on 3B to break to home. If pitcher turns toward 2B, but makes no
attempt at play and runner on 3B steps off the base, she is, by rule,
out. |