Basics, I think...

deaconspoint


The game of baseball is about the fundamentals---don't let him get away from that--it will make him a solid palyer---now is the time to instill the fundamentals

At our HS, if you dont back up 1st - you are running poles!

Do everything right early and he will be way ahead of his peers. As I said in another post - no crow hop for throw to second....he might not record many outs now but he will later.

I played catcher from little league all the way up to college ball, and it was instilled in me by my coach and father that if possible, always back up the first baseman. I think that it's about much more than just catching an errant throw, it's also about discipline. Being a good catcher involves a lot of discipline. It's also about being a team player and leader. The catcher is/should be the leader in the field.

quote:

Originally posted by 316sports:
The catcher is/should be the leader in the field.

I agree totally. They have the whole field in front of them, plus, and I say this with the most respect possible, pitchers are just not that bright. I've never met a smart one.

I dont catch, but i play second, and we are all about backing up first with no one on base. The second baseman runs to backup and so does the catcher. I think it also keeps me in the game sometimes to get moving more when im not getting much action during the game.

Well said. You never want your catcher falling asleep. (It will happen more than you know). It keeps them mentalliy in the game.

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One of the fundamentals that my son and I work on is backing up first base on a ground ball with no one on.....
I notice when watching many HS and college games that I don't see this done very often.

Oh, it's still done. We were at a college game last week and my son got tired of me pointing it out every time. My son is still one of the few catchers I see backing up first, it's pretty obvious a lot of catchers in youth ball aren't getting much coaching.

Just because other people aren't doing, NEVER means you shouldn't. One day, I guarantee, the backing up will help. And it will all be worth it...Also, it really makes a catcher stick out, when he runs with all the equipment- he gets noticed- alot of hustle points...

Absolutely the catcher should back up on throws to first. And when the out is made, the first baseman tosses the ball to the catcher, and around the horn it goes.

It looks great.

Rob, I like the idea of tossing the ball to the catcher for rounf the horn....I'm going to suggest that to our coach - that is cool.

Yes, it does look great. It also has a sort of well-oiled machine aspect about it.

quote:

Originally posted by Catch43:
Just because other people aren't doing, NEVER means you shouldn't. One day, I guarantee, the backing up will help. And it will all be worth it...Also, it really makes a catcher stick out, when he runs with all the equipment- he gets noticed- alot of hustle points...

That is what I keep telling him. Continue to do the little things that others may not and you will have more fun doing what you do. Just imagine making that play. Being in the right spot when the ball gets by the first baseman and the runner makes the mistake of trying for second. He knows that the more times he is in the right spot the better his chances are to get to see how it feels to make that play. Right now he just seems to get a lot of enjoyment out of doing something few others are even attempting. Each time he comes trotting back to the plate he has this big ole grin on his face.

I like the idea of the catcher starting around the horn. Kind of a way to recognize him for working hard on a relatively easy play.