| One
Knee Throwing |
Two
catchers kneel 30 feet apart on their left knees. After throwing the
ball back and forth for a few minutes, they move apart 10 more feet.
Continue throwing and moving back until the throws equal the distance
from home to second base. Emphasize proper shoulder and hip turn to
gain strength. Drill can be done with catchers kneeling on both knees
as well. |
Quick
Hands/
Framing |
Catcher 1 throws
tennis balls, incrediballs, or softballs from 20 to 30 feet to catcher
2. The balls are thrown high, low, inside, and outside. The balls
should be thrown close enough to the "plate" so that foot movement
is not necessary. Catchers should practice framing the pitch. |
| Quick
Feet |
Catcher 1 throws
tennis balls, incrediballs, or softballs from 20 to 30 feet to catcher
2. The balls are thrown inside and outside, high and in the dirt.
Catcher 2 takes jab steps to the left and right attempting to get
the middle of the body in front of the ball. If using softballs or
incrediballs, catchers should be in full gear. |
| Quick
Release |
Catchers position themselves
60 to 70 feet apart. Catcher 1 squats with ball in glove, then simulates
a catch and throwdown to 2B. Catcher 2 blocks the "plate" as she receives
the ball and applies the tag as if a runner is trying to score at
home plate. Catcher 2 then squats with ball in glove and simulates
throwdown to 2B. Continue for 10 to 15 minutes. |
| No Hands
Blocking |
Two catchers in
full equipment stand about 20 to 30 feet apart. Catcher 1 throws balls
in the dirt to the left, right and in front of "home." Catcher 2 practices
blocking the wild pitches with shin guards and chest protector using
proper technique and footwork only. |
| Fielding
Bunts |
Put catchers or
other fielders at each base. Put six balls in front of home plate.
First catcher pops up, fields "bunt" and throws to 1B, 2B, and 3B,
in turn, returning to the defensive position after each throw. Repeat
second set to each base and then rotate to next catcher. |
| Steal
Attempts |
Place two or more
runners with helmets at 1B and 2B. Put two or more shortstops in position
with second basemen as backups optional. Put a pitcher on the mound.
On the release of the pitch, runner on 1B tries to steal 2B and catcher
1 tries to throw her out. Everyone returns to positions. On the next
pitch, runner on 2B tries to steal 3B and catcher 1 tries to throw
her out. Repeat several times and then rotate catchers and shortstops. |
| Tag Play
at Home |
Place one or more
catchers at home and three to six outfielders spaced evenly around
the outfield. Give each outfielder one ball. First outfielder rolls
ball a few feet in front, picks it up and makes a strong throw to
home with catcher 1 simulating a tag; outfielder should end up at
the edge of the outfield grass after throw. Catcher then squats facing
outfielder and rises to throw ball simulating a long throw to second
base. After each outfielder has thrown one ball, catchers rotate.
Drill can also be performed with infielders at their positions. |
| Pick
Off Play |
Put infielders
and pitcher at their positions and 3 or 4 runners at 1B and 3B. Pitcher
pitches ball to catcher; on release of pitch, runner on 1B takes aggressive
lead while second baseman breaks hard to 1B. Catcher tries to pick
off runner. Shortstop covers 2B; runner attempts to dive back to 1B
or breaks to 2B and gets into a rundown. Repeat with runner on 3B
with shortstop covering. First baseman and third baseman should play
well in front of the bag so runners are enticed to take bigger leads.
After 4 throws, rotate catchers. |
Foul
Ball Communi-
cation |
Put catcher, pitcher, first baseman and
third baseman at respective positions. Coach is positioned behind
catcher. Coach throws a pop up behind catcher. Infielders call "up
1" if towards 1B, "up 3" if towards 3B, "up" if ball is straight over
home, and "back" if ball is straight back. The coach can substitute
other calls if desired. |
Cut-Off
Communi-
cation |
Put infielders
at their defensive positions. Put three to six outfielders with one
ball each, evenly spaced 10 to 20 feet beyond the edge of the outfield
grass. Pitcher (or first baseman) moves to cut-off position in front
of outfielder 1 who throws ball on a line to home. Catcher yells "cut"
and the base number to tell the cut-off to throw to a base (e.g.,
"cut 2"). Catcher says nothing if she wants the ball to come through.
Continue until each outfielder has thrown three balls. Rotate catchers. |
| Catcher
Flip to Home |
Put catcher behind
plate with six balls evenly spaced at backstop distance. On signal,
catcher goes to first ball and flips it to the pitcher or first baseman
covering home. Catcher returns to plate and runs down remaining balls
in turn. Catcher should retrieve ball with bare hand and flip it in
one motion along the ground so the player covering home can apply
the tag smoothly. Emphasize pitcher/first baseman's positioning as
much as catcher's technique. |
| 1st and
3rd Situation #1 |
Place runners with
helmets at 1B and 3B. On pitch release, runner steals 2B. Second baseman
moves to a position halfway between 2B and pitcher's rubber. Shortstop
covers 2B; third baseman covers 3B. Catcher looks at 3B and throws
there or to 2B if runner stays close to 3B. Second baseman watches
runner on 3B; if she moves off base enough to get out, second baseman
cuts and throws to 3B. Second baseman cuts off-line throws. She fakes
catch and throw to 3B if she allows ball to go through. |
| 1st and
3rd Situation #2 |
Place runners with
helmets at 1B and 3B. On pitch, runner steals 2B. Second baseman should
move to cut-off position and shortstop covers 2B; third baseman covers
3B. Catcher looks at 3B and throws there or to pitcher if runner stays
close to 3B. Pitcher looks at runner on 3B; if she moves back to 3B,
pitcher turns to look at runner going to 2B and throws for the out
if there is a play. Key is for catcher to make aggressive throw to
pitcher to tempt runner on 3B to break to home. If pitcher turns toward
2B, but makes no attempt at play and runner on 3B steps off the base,
she is, by rule, out. |