California Aces

1. QUICK HANDS - this is catching the ball and getting it back to the right shoulder throwing position as quickly as possible. For a catcher this means, a right hander should practice catching a ball and bringing both the right throwing hand and the left glove hand back to right ear throwing position as quickly as possible after catching the ball in the glove.

Practice bouncing a rubber ball, tennis ball, or an Incredible off a concrete wall, catching it and practicing shifting you feet and getting you hands into the throwing position as quickly as possible. Repetitions will help increase you speed. It's not always how hard a catcher throws, but often how quickly a catcher catches the ball and releases it that determines whether a runner is thrown out or not.

Also, while you are sitting watching television, you can take a bundled up sock and practice tossing it up in the air, catching it, and then getting your hands quickly into the throwing position.

2. THROWING TO A BASE - Most young catchers tend to take too many steps before releasing the ball. If right handed, practice catching the ball taking one step with the left foot and releasing the ball. (Except the throw to third where you may take your first step toward first base with the right foot and then a step toward third base with your left, and then releasing the ball.)

3. LATERAL MOVEMENT & BLOCKING - Your basic set up and receiving position is fine, but most young catchers have a tendency to want to reach out to the side and catch a ball with their glove rather than move in front of the ball and block it with the body; just in case they happen to miss it with their glove. Also, most young catchers have slow lateral movement out of the catcher's receiving position and therefore find it difficult to move over and get in front of the ball and block it on a pitch outside the strike zone.

Don't feel bad if you are slow or feel that you are slow, most catchers start out this way. It is Suggested that you do the following work outs: 1) stand flat footed, then move so that all of your weight is now on the balls of your feet; then jump straight up using just your tip toes to push you upward. When doing this try to jump as high as you can. Do this ten times in rapid succession. Rest two minutes. Then, repeat the exercise three more times. 2) Set up three five gallon buckets in row. Each bucket is separated by a distance of two feet. Then start at one end of the buckets, jumping sideways directly over and clearing bucket one, then sideways over bucket two and then sideways over bucket number three (Going from over bucket one to over bucket three as quickly as you can); when you clear bucket number three then reverse yourself and jump back over the buckets to your starting position. Rest two minutes. Then repeat the process ten times. Do this exercise at least three times a week. 3) Get into your normal catching position, with all of your catching equipment on, BUT WITHOUT A GLOVE and get someone to throw Incredible or regular softballs toward you but into the dirt to your left and right and practice quickly getting in front of the ball with your body square to the pitcher and your shoulders in a slight curve and block the ball with your chest protector or shin guards, without using your glove, then pick the ball up quickly and practice throwing to a base.

4. THROWING TO A BASE - Most young catcher's throws to second have too much elevation. Don't catch the ball and then stand up straight and then make the throw. Practice receiving the ball, rising up only to a slight crouch, as you shift your feet so that (for right hander) your left foot and left hip are toward second base and your right foot and right hip are facing toward the backstop; simultaneously you will bring the glove with the ball back to the right shoulder; then while taking one step with the left foot, the body will rotate and you will take one step toward second base, throw the ball and follow through. (NOTE) The right throwing arm does not go all the way back behind you, but is placed right by the right ear. The throw and FOLLOW through with the body will give speed and accuracy to your throw.

5. FIELDING BUNTS -- remove the mask and throw it behind you. It may sound foolish, but you need to PRACTICE getting the mask off you head in a hurry and discarding it away from the direction you are going to run. With new style (hockey type) helmets, no need to remove. Quickness is the key and quickness comes from practicing doing it over, and over, and over. On a rolling ball, practice using the glove and your bare hand to help you field a bunt (the crab or double shovel approach). Only if the ball has stopped rolling and there is no other way to make the play do you pick the ball up with your bare hand. Again, practice getting into your normal catcher receiving position and have someone stand behind you, where the umpire normally is, and tossing the ball over your head as bunts.