What are some good drills to work on to decrease time to 2nd? Or even to 1st and 3rd?
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First it starts with the feet. If you don't have good feet then it's all a toss up as to how good you will be.
Here are the things I do with my catchers
1. T Drills - Paint a big letter T on the ground and have them stand on the _ with the | extending away from the middle of their body. Have them get in the squat with ball in glove and work on transferring the ball to throwing hand while gaining ground on the T so that their feet are now on top of the | part and away from the _ part (does that make sense?)
Make sure to avoide the 3 - 9 to 12 - 6 problem. Imagine that you're standing on a clock face with your feet on the 3 - 9 spots. When transfer happens and they are in the throwing position you don't want the feet in the 12 - 6. This means you didn't gain ground and are throwing all upper body. You want your right foot on the dead center of the clock and the left foot on the 12.
2. T Drill Offset to the Left - now you're going to work on pitches that are outside and making sure you end up in a good gaining ground throwing position. This time be on the left side of the _ and the | on your right foot. Ball in glove to work on transfer once again. This time jab step with right foot to start the gain ground at catch. Then bring the left foot around to end up on the 12 spot and both feet on the | part of the T.
3. T Drill Offset to the Right - basically same drill as above but on the other side. Jab with left foot hard to gain ground and then bring the right foot to land in the center of the clock.
4. Shuffle 123 Throw - Get into a squat and come out using the T drill foot work. Once they come out they take 3 shuffles and then throw to partner on third shuffle. Purpose of this is to teach some muscle memory for the throwing position. It will help them stay low and explode using the legs.
5. One Knee Transfer and Throw - have them get aboout 7 or 8 yards apart on right knee. Have them catch the ball and transfer and throw back to partner. This drill will help them develop the shorter / tighter arm circle that catchers need. It also helps to teach them to catch the ball deep. One thing you don't want is to catch the ball far away from your body. Catching it close will allow for a quicker transfer and cut down on time.
6. Deep Bag - have them make 5 - 6 throws at the normal bag to make sure they are loose. Then take a throwdown bag and put at the OF grass directly behind 2B. Now they have to use proper technique to get the throw there in the air without bouncing. Doesn't matter how high they throw as long as it gets there and is on the bag. Have them do about 10 throws here then move back to the normal bag for about 5 - 6 throws. You will be amazed how much stronger the throws are just from this. Do it enough then you will be throwing much better.
7. Jumprope - have them do all kinds of things with a jumprope. Two feet, one foot, boxer shuffle, side to side - etc.... This is what you need for the throw to 1B. It's going to help all throws but mainly for 1B.
8. Throws to third - get with 3B and have spare catcher stand in as RH batter. Have them work on a jab step behind the hitter with left foot. Then work on a jab step with right foot on outside pitches.
9. Stopwatch - this is the absolute BEST thing to measure improvements. No matter the throw if you establish a starting point then you have something to measure improvement.
We took a freshman last year who had never caught and put him back there. His first times to 2B were around a 2.8 - 2.9. We did these drills last year and this year and he's now down to a 2.2 consistently and several 2.1.
Here are the things I do with my catchers
1. T Drills - Paint a big letter T on the ground and have them stand on the _ with the | extending away from the middle of their body. Have them get in the squat with ball in glove and work on transferring the ball to throwing hand while gaining ground on the T so that their feet are now on top of the | part and away from the _ part (does that make sense?)
Make sure to avoide the 3 - 9 to 12 - 6 problem. Imagine that you're standing on a clock face with your feet on the 3 - 9 spots. When transfer happens and they are in the throwing position you don't want the feet in the 12 - 6. This means you didn't gain ground and are throwing all upper body. You want your right foot on the dead center of the clock and the left foot on the 12.
2. T Drill Offset to the Left - now you're going to work on pitches that are outside and making sure you end up in a good gaining ground throwing position. This time be on the left side of the _ and the | on your right foot. Ball in glove to work on transfer once again. This time jab step with right foot to start the gain ground at catch. Then bring the left foot around to end up on the 12 spot and both feet on the | part of the T.
3. T Drill Offset to the Right - basically same drill as above but on the other side. Jab with left foot hard to gain ground and then bring the right foot to land in the center of the clock.
4. Shuffle 123 Throw - Get into a squat and come out using the T drill foot work. Once they come out they take 3 shuffles and then throw to partner on third shuffle. Purpose of this is to teach some muscle memory for the throwing position. It will help them stay low and explode using the legs.
5. One Knee Transfer and Throw - have them get aboout 7 or 8 yards apart on right knee. Have them catch the ball and transfer and throw back to partner. This drill will help them develop the shorter / tighter arm circle that catchers need. It also helps to teach them to catch the ball deep. One thing you don't want is to catch the ball far away from your body. Catching it close will allow for a quicker transfer and cut down on time.
6. Deep Bag - have them make 5 - 6 throws at the normal bag to make sure they are loose. Then take a throwdown bag and put at the OF grass directly behind 2B. Now they have to use proper technique to get the throw there in the air without bouncing. Doesn't matter how high they throw as long as it gets there and is on the bag. Have them do about 10 throws here then move back to the normal bag for about 5 - 6 throws. You will be amazed how much stronger the throws are just from this. Do it enough then you will be throwing much better.
7. Jumprope - have them do all kinds of things with a jumprope. Two feet, one foot, boxer shuffle, side to side - etc.... This is what you need for the throw to 1B. It's going to help all throws but mainly for 1B.
8. Throws to third - get with 3B and have spare catcher stand in as RH batter. Have them work on a jab step behind the hitter with left foot. Then work on a jab step with right foot on outside pitches.
9. Stopwatch - this is the absolute BEST thing to measure improvements. No matter the throw if you establish a starting point then you have something to measure improvement.
We took a freshman last year who had never caught and put him back there. His first times to 2B were around a 2.8 - 2.9. We did these drills last year and this year and he's now down to a 2.2 consistently and several 2.1.
Sounds great. Thanks for the help coach!
No problem and hope it helps. Let me know if you have any questions.
This is a great list, very logical. I shared it with my son as he is planning what he will work on this summer and in the offseason. Thanks for sharing.
