Is there any catchers training or drills to increase the range of a catcher when blocking?
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Just work on it. Here's a drill I used to do and still do. Set up like 6 cones (markers, baseballs, whatever you have) they should be in lines of 3 from left to right. so by now there should be two lines directly in front of you of three cones each left to right. each cone should be 3 feet or so away from the other cone.
CONE 1 is going to be the first cone in the front row, at cone 1 you will drop straight down to block directly in front of cone 1. after blocking infront of cone 1, explode up (without using hands, use just your legs) and quickly set back up and slide/block towards cone 2 to your right.
From cone two explode up quickly, get set as quickly as you can, and shift/slide/block, whatever you want to call it towards cone 3.
Explode up from cone 3 using just legs and get set at cone 4 which is right above cone 3. block cone 4 then slide on over to cone 5, then slide to cone 6 and repeat this sequence about 3 times or so then rest and maybe repeat it again. now you said that you wanted to develop range but this will give you the "quickness and explosiveness" you need to block those pitches to your side. range is useless if your too slow. just try to be quick.
btw, heres how the cones should look
6 5 4
1 2 3
and remember the only straight away/right in fron of you blocks are 1 &4, the rest are side to side blocks. hope this helps a little bit, just try it and see what ya think.
CONE 1 is going to be the first cone in the front row, at cone 1 you will drop straight down to block directly in front of cone 1. after blocking infront of cone 1, explode up (without using hands, use just your legs) and quickly set back up and slide/block towards cone 2 to your right.
From cone two explode up quickly, get set as quickly as you can, and shift/slide/block, whatever you want to call it towards cone 3.
Explode up from cone 3 using just legs and get set at cone 4 which is right above cone 3. block cone 4 then slide on over to cone 5, then slide to cone 6 and repeat this sequence about 3 times or so then rest and maybe repeat it again. now you said that you wanted to develop range but this will give you the "quickness and explosiveness" you need to block those pitches to your side. range is useless if your too slow. just try to be quick.
btw, heres how the cones should look
6 5 4
1 2 3
and remember the only straight away/right in fron of you blocks are 1 &4, the rest are side to side blocks. hope this helps a little bit, just try it and see what ya think.
golden glove,
thats a good drill Ive done something very similar to that before
thats a good drill Ive done something very similar to that before
I've caught my whole life and currently instruct catchers in the north east. The biggest problem I see with young catchers is that they don't get down quick enough, especially on fastballs. I see that many times their first movement is up, which will slow them in getting to the spot where the ball is thrown.
If the pitch is out to the left, they should kick out with the right foot and angle their body back towards home plate. The shoulders should be square to home to keep the ball from kicking off to the side.
Jumping rope and box drills will help with lateral movement.
If the pitch is out to the left, they should kick out with the right foot and angle their body back towards home plate. The shoulders should be square to home to keep the ball from kicking off to the side.
Jumping rope and box drills will help with lateral movement.
