Improve Your Team’s Pitching And Defensive Performance …teach your catchers proper positioning in relationship to the batter

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Nov 16

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Would we like to increase the number of strikes our pitchers throw? …improve our pitchers’ confidence; reduce the number of past balls and wild pitches in a game; improve the quality and effectiveness of our Team Defense.

We can accomplish all these objectives by teaching our catchers to position themselves better in relationship to the batter’s stance. Most youth catchers set up two, three, even four-plus feet behind the batter. A catcher who is positioned properly, has their glove even with the back of the batter’s rear foot when presenting a target.

The picture to the right and in the first picture below, the proper relationship of the catcher to the batter is illustrated. The other two pictures illustrate the distance commonly seen between a youth catcher and a batter. …perhaps these look familiar?

Training a Catcher to Position Themselves Correctly

It is understandable that kids set up so far from the batter - they don’t want to get smacked by the bat. Before we start working with a young catcher, we must see the situation from their perspective. They are kids, relatively unfamiliar with the path of a swinging bat. Most are in no hurry to experience unnecessary pain or injury; self-preservation is a pretty standard approach to life. 😊

Ideally you have two catchers to work with; one works at the catcher position while the other stands in as the batter. If working with one catcher, you stand in as the batter. (A helmet and mask are needed when taking kids through this training routine.)

One catcher gets in their stance a couple feet behind home plate. Have them fully extend their glove arm. Make a perpendicular line across the batter’s box, even with the front of their glove, or make a mark on the ground where a batter will stand. We want the catcher’s glove, when the arm is fully extended, even with the back edge of the batter’s rear foot.

After establishing where we want the batter to stand, allow the catcher to stand up and rest for a moment.

Have the other player stand in as a batter (no bat). The catcher squats back down and confirms their relationship to the batter’s stance is correct. Then they can rest their arms on their knees. For 20-30 seconds, have the catcher take in this environment; looking up at the batter, looking at the batter’s stance and their feet.

This is an exercise for catcher to gain a sense of how ‘close’ they set-up in relationship to the batter.

Next, ask the batter and catcher step back out of their stances. The batter gets back into the box, but in a slightly different location, forward or back. The catcher, who now has a sense of where to position themself in relationship with the batter, gets back in their stance. Again, have them fully extend their glove arm to confirm they are the correct distance from the batter’s rear foot.

Then have the catcher stand up and back away a couple steps. The batter changes their position in the box, forward or back a few inches. The catcher steps forward and gets back in their stance. Repeat this a few times. The catcher is learning to adjust the position of their stance based on where each new batter stands in the box.

Switch up the players and repeat the routine. Explaining to the kids, the catcher’s relationship to the batter, and running them both through this exercise can be accomplished in less than ten minutes.

A Kid Catcher Needs to Feel Safe

Once your catcher(s) are familiar with setting up in the correct spot, it is time to demonstrate they are safe sitting that close to the batter.

One of the kids puts on their helmet and mask standing 4-5 feet back from home plate. You stand in the batter’s box holding the bat in a batter’s stance; the catcher walks-up, gets in their stance and confirms they are the proper distance from your rear foot.

Have them look up at you (and the bat) while you make a very slow swing. Then make a another. Before making these swings remind the catcher they have protection on and reassure them they are safe.

On the second swing, stop when the barrel of the bat is a bit past the catcher’s head. At this point we reach the critical moment in the training process… ask them to describe the relationship (distance) between the bat and their head. Then ask them which direction the barrel of the bat will travel from that spot (“forward”, of course, will be their answer; forward away from their head).

The key to them gaining a clear understanding they are safe; is they verbalize this fact. In effect they are explaining to their self, convincing themself, that they are safe when positioned in the correct relationship to the batter.

Positive Results of Correct Catcher Positioning

Increased Strike Calls

At all levels of play, the closer the catcher can receive a pitch in relationship to the batter, and the strike zone, the better chance those pitches are called strikes.

Note: The Strike Zone is defined as the space over home plate, which is between the batter’s armpits and the top of the knees. The strike zone, in relation to home plate, remains the same regardless of where in the batter’s box the batter stands.

We want the umpire as close to the strike zone as possible. Quality pitches caught closer to the strike zone have an increased chance of being called strikes.

Pitchers with Greater Confidence

When the catcher sets up too deep, the pitcher is forced to throw each pitch further than necessary. A catcher positioned 2’-4’ closer to the pitcher makes a huge difference from the pitcher’s perspective, visually. The closer the catcher is to the pitcher, the more confident the pitcher is going to feel on each pitch.

Older pitchers can deliver off-speed pitches (which travel on more of a downward plane) with less concern of the ball bouncing in front of the catcher (giving base runners the opportunity to advance). A significant factor in executing an off-speed pitch is throwing it with maximum confidence.

Additionally, when the catcher is too far behind the batter, a pitcher is forced to throw off-speed pitches on a higher plane, so the ball reaches the catcher. Pitches that are higher in the zone, especially off-speed pitches, are easier for the batter to hit …and hit further.

Fewer Past Balls and Wild Pitches

All pitches travel on a downward angle to the catcher. The shorter the distance between the pitcher and catcher, the fewer balls in the dirt; we reduce the number of past balls and wild pitches.

Reduced Arm Stress

The shorter distance a pitcher is required to throw the ball, the less stress on the arm. A few extra feet per pitch, on a 50-60+ pitch outing, adds up to considerable unnecessary stress on a pitcher’s arm. The same goes for the catcher throwing the ball back to the pitcher(s) over the course of a full game.

Improved Team Defense

The role of the catcher extends far beyond receiving pitches. The catcher is an integral part of the team defensive unit; required to make throws to bases on bunted balls and balls tapped in front of home plate; when runners attempt to advance via a steal and on blocked pitches in the dirt.

The closer the catcher is to the field of play the quicker they can field balls, and they are closer to the bases when making throws. Shorter throws are more accurate; getting to the ball quicker and throwing a shorter distance can make the difference between an out or safe call on bang-bang plays.

The catcher is the leader of the defense. When not receiving pitches, we want the catcher in their ‘defensive position’, which is in front of home plate. It is from this point they communicate with the defense and run the game. Developing the habit in our catchers of getting to their ‘defensive position’ the moment the ball is put into play usually requires a lot of reminding from a coach. The closer the catcher sits to home plate, the quicker they will develop this important habit.

In addition to leading the team, it is critical for the catcher to be in their ‘defensive position’ when making plays on runners attempting to score.

Make Catcher Instruction a Priority

At all levels of play, given the unique nature of this position, the catcher often gets lost in the shuffle of the many aspects of the game needed to be taught during practices. Yes, I saw it at the highest levels of NCAA Division-I and as a professional player.

We want to make a conscious commitment to ourselves, prior to the start of pre-season practices, to work with our catchers each day. It begins with the simple step of adding “Catcher’s Work” to our Practice Planning.