Catcher specific practice

Wow! Where do I start?

signal stance, signal calling, steal stance, receiving drills, steal footwork, glove/ball exchange work, blocking, calling a game/reading hitters, handling pitchers, fielding plays (bunts), tag plays at the plate, blocking the plate, calling plays/pickoffs

That is just a sample of what we have covered at this point.

Redbird

Have you ever seen any good LH catchers?

Thats because most coaches, even at the select/travel team level just don't know how to coach them so they don't.

Here's a good place to start

http://www.brescia.edu/athletic/project.htm

Get him a few private lessons. Once you see how its done you can work the drills with him yourself, it's not as complicated as pitching or hitting mechanics.

There is a LOT to learn but start with blocking and throwing.

quote:

Originally posted by Callaway:
Redbird

Have you ever seen any good LH catchers?

Not one after age 10, there were two in the majors I know of but never saw them play.

Here's a neat site showing the history of left handed catchers in the MLB.


http://members.tripod.com/bb_catchers/catchers/catchleft.htm

I'm a left handed catcher and I'm a junior in high school starting on varsity.

Wow Congratulations! I'd like to see you play, so I can say that I have seen a good left handed catcher over 10, The Company I work for is head quartered in Cupertino, maybe I will get a chance. Lefty catchers are rare. Please don't misunderstand, written words can do that. All of my sons catch so I really appreciate the skills of a good catcher, as do some of the pitchers parents around here.

bkekcs,
I work a lot with my son, who is also a catcher. Though he did not link this himself, catching coach has an excellent site for catching.. New England Catching Camp

You could also stop by My Catching Pages

Lefty Catcher..... Best of luck!!! There are many things going against you as a lefty backstop, but with perseverence and practice you can prove any neighsayers wrong!!!

HotCornerDad,

quote:

Originally posted by HotCornerDad:
Wow Congratulations! I'd like to see you play, so I can say that I have seen a good left handed catcher over 10, The Company I work for is head quartered in Cupertino, maybe I will get a chance. Lefty catchers are rare. Please don't misunderstand, written words can do that. All of my sons catch so I really appreciate the skills of a good catcher, as do some of the pitchers parents around here.

I go to St. Lawrence Academy in Santa Clara and our schedule should be on Maxpreps.com pretty soon. You can check there to see if you can go to any of my games.

I personaly have never seen a lefthanded catcher in HS or above. But if you can get the job done fine. We work posistion play everyday in practice which includes catchers. We start with specific stretching and then throwing with all gear on. I have always said you never throw in a game with no gear on then why do you do all your throwing with no gear on. We do alot of our pre practice throwing with our gear on and alot of throwing drills as well. Then we go over our 1 stance 2 stance and 3 stance. We work on recieving drills and framing. Then we work blocking drills and setting up drills. We work on recovering blocks and throws. We work on recovering third strikes and throws and home to first dbl plays. We work on blocking home plate and one hop throws to the plate for tags. Like RedBird was posting there are so many things you can work on. We spend 20 minuets a day on catcher specific drills and situations. There are days we spend longer. Throwing mechanics, foot work on throwing etc. I love working with catchers because it is a posistion that a kid really has to want to play in order to be good at it. They are the hardest working kids in any program in my opinion. But I am biased. Good Luck