CATCHER

Item #

Situation

Required Play or Action

1	Foul Pop in Catcher’s area	Call for It. Pop-ups have enormous backspin on the ball. Adjust to the backspin by turning your back to the field of play. Most pop-ups will come back towards the field of play due to the spin so you will be in the best position to catch it. Take off your facemask immediately but throw it AWAY from the direction of the ball towards a fence. You can do this while keeping your eyes on the ball. You must keep your eyes on the ball until you have caught it. Do not throw the mask into fair territory. After the catch look around immediately for another play—other runners on base will be watching to see if you are prepared to throw after the catch. See Chart C-1.
2	Wild Pitch or Passed Ball	Throw off facemask just as above. Hustle to the ball and IMMEDIATELY be prepared to throw the ball either: · to home plate—a direct line drive throw/toss at the knees of the covering player · to another base affecting a LEAD RUNNER ONLY (secondary runners should be ignored 99% of the time) quickly crow-hop and release the ball-no big windup. THROW ON A LINE--arc’d throws will not get the runner out.
3	Catching with runners on base	Catchers should not be in the full squat position because too much time is wasted getting upright to throw. Rather, the catcher needs to be half-squatting with thighs parallel to (even with) the ground. This permits a quick step forward, throw, and release. Your bare hand should not be behind your back but rather behind your catcher’s glove in a fist position. This makes you more able to transfer the ball to your throwing hand, it’s in a better position to pull back to throw, and you are still protecting it by having it behind your glove (instead of behind your back, in a fist, when no runners are on base). See Chart C-2.
4	Fielding Bunts	Call the play, since 1B, 3B and Pitcher will also be rushing towards the plate. If the catcher is handling AND: the ball is directly on the 1^st base line (within a foot) then: · approach the ball in a straight line & pick up the ball with your bare hand · take one strong step towards the pitcher’s mound in order to get the proper angle to 1^st base so you won’t hit the runner with your throw · Do NOT think—just do. the ball is towards 1^st base but not on the base line then: · approach the ball in a curving fashion so that your back is to the pitchers mound once you reach the ball · position yourself so that your feet are on either side of the ball WITH YOUR LEFT FOOT TOWARDS 1^ST BASE. · scoop the ball into your glove and throw to 1^st. the ball is towards the 3^rd base side then: · approach the ball in a straight line and scoop up the ball · make a glove-side turn in order to set your feet towards 1^st base · point your left leg towards 1^st base & throw (for right-handed catchers). Take off your facemask even for bunts. Do not look at where the facemask is thrown. Even in bunt plays the facemask can partially obstruct your vision. Timing is everything when fielding a bunt. See Chart C-3.
5	General Bunting Awareness	Learn to recognize a bunting situation. Catcher should be in the “runners on base position” if you suspect a bunt. Otherwise, if surprised, KNOW THE BASERUNNING SITUATION. Be prepared to throw to the base that: · the lead runner is approaching · is a sure out. Throwing to 1^st base should be your “sure out” after there are no other options. This is tricky—don’t take too long looking around before you throw to 1^st. Take a quick look, decide, and throw. · has a realistic chance of being out in your opinion. If there are no options, then hold the ball and return it to the pitcher. Make sure that in your eagerness to throw out a runner you DO NOT CAUSE BATTER INTERFERENCE by leaning for the ball and accidentally causing the bat to hit your glove. If so, the batter will be awarded 1^st base.
6	Hit and Run	Same rules as # 5 above. You must read the situation, be positioned in a half-squat, receive the ball and quickly throw to the lead base that is being attempted. The batter will even swing at somewhat poor pitches so be prepared.
7	Play at the Plate	Throw off your facemask away from the field of play so that your field of vision is improved. Straddle the 3^rd base line standing just a bit towards the right side. Expect the throw to be waist-high so that you can adjust to a low or high throw. After catching the ball, IMMEDIATELY bring your glove to the ground so that the runner slides directly into your glove. It is best to apply the tag with two hands. There will probably be runner contact so you need to make sure that the ball doesn’t get knocked out of your glove. See Chart C-4.
8	Intentional Walk	Stand up and point in the 1^st base direction. The pitcher will pitch the ball about 3-4 feet OUTSIDE to make sure that a ball is called AND the batter can’t hit it. The catcher needs to shuffle sideways (quickly) to catch the ball. After 4 such throws the batter walks. This is only done on directions from a coach unless you have been given permission to call it yourself. The catcher is responsible for relaying the play to the pitcher through a sign. See Chart C-5.
9	Pitch-out	Same as above but the catcher waits until the last moment before rising out of a squat position and moving outside of the strike zone. This is generally done when a steal by the LEAD RUNNER is anticipated. The pitch-out puts you in position to strongly throw her out. This is only done on directions from a coach unless you have been given permission to call it yourself. The catcher is responsible for relaying the play to the pitcher through a sign. See Chart C-6.
10	Dropped 3^rd strike	The batter will attempt to reach 1^st base if the 3^rd strike is dropped or gets by the catcher. The catcher must: · Always be aware of the ball/strike count · Be prepared to quickly pick up the ball barehanded and chase the runner and tag her OR throw to 1^st baseman who will step on 1^st to get the force out. If the batter successfully reaches 1^st base the out WILL NOT BE COUNTED that resulted from the strikeout. · If the bases are loaded the catcher merely has to step on home plate to get the force-out. A throw to 1^st base is not necessary.
11	Stealing Home play with runner on 1^st and 3^rd base	This play attempts to get the runner at 3^rd to steal home and be tagged out by the catcher or by a rundown between 3^rd and Home. The catcher throws the ball to either the 2^nd baseman or the shortstop when the runner on 1^st base is expected to steal. Either the 2B or SS (whichever one is the called play) breaks towards the pitchers mound, catches the line drive throw and immediately throws back hard to the catcher. This should cause the 3^rd base baserunner to either retreat to 3^rd, be tagged out at home or be caught in a rundown. This is only done on directions from a coach unless you have been given permission to call it yourself. The catcher is responsible for relaying the play to the pitcher, 2B & SS through a sign. See Chart C-7.
12	Backing up a play at 1^st base with no one on base	The catcher must get out of the squat position and run down the 1^st base line to act as a backup to the 1^st baseman when a sharp hit is made into right field. The throw from RF to 1B (if a slow runner) might be poor; the catcher needs to back it up and be prepared to throw to 2^nd or 1^st if necessary. The pitcher can fill this role instead.
13	Throwing out runners attempting to steal	Catchers are in the half-squat position. You must catch the ball and QUICKLY transfer the ball to your throwing hand, take a strong step forward and throw a strong overhand. Aim for the knees of the covering fielder. Remember that a line drive throw that reaches the base on one bounce is better than an arc throw. NEVER THROW TO 2^ND BASE TO CATCH A STEALING RUNNER IF THERE IS ALREADY A RUNNER ON 3^RD BASE (unless #11 above is the called play). Doing so will surely cause the run to score.
14	Blocking Bad Pitches	A routine part of the catcher’s job is to block poor pitches. This is done by having your body and glove jointly be the blocking barrier. Blocking pitches that are too far inside or outside or bounce directly in front of the plate can make the difference between winning and losing the game because baserunners will advance if the ball gets by the catcher. See Chart C-2. There are three other “rules of thumb” for blocking poor pitches once you have identified them as being “poor”: · Your job is to block a poor pitch—not to catch it. Too often a catcher will try to “catch” a wild/poor pitch, swipe at it, and have the ball go over or under their glove. The ball then goes back to the backstop ensuring that the runner safely steals the base. Your 1^st priority is to block the ball. Your 2^nd priority is to pick it up (barehanded) and be ready to throw. · Begin to shift your body towards the path of a bad pitch BEFORE IT HITS THE GROUND. If you wait until the ball hits the ground before you move it may be too late to block it. · Don’t take off your facemask when attempting to block a poor pitch. It may take a bad hop and hit your face. Protect yourself. If, however, the ball gets by you and goes to the backstop, you may throw off your facemask to improve your vision.
15	Calming down your pitcher or reinforcing the play	Call time out --- tell her to focus one-pitch-at-a-time and ONLY on the catcher’s mitt. Remind her of the count/# outs/where the play is. If the entire infield is in the huddle, then reinforce all of the above making sure that each player knows what they are going to do if the ball comes to them.