Habit Get feet under you for every catch and throw

Goals
1) Catch the ball (two hands on non-pitches if possible)
2) Block the ball no matter what
3) Get feet under you for every throw

Target
• Flash sign, show target
• Relax glove, then show target again right before pitcher starts release.
• Hold target close to body during pitching motion (pitcher is focusing his eyes on it during motion).

Stance
• Throwing hand behind back with no one on.
• Throwing hand in glove area in running situations.
• Knee down is fine, but catchers should know that it will negatively impact abilty to block balls to the knee-down side. The new hybrid model is to start on both feet, and go knee down at the moment of catching the ball to get under the low pitch.

Catching the ball
• Catch the ball by moving the glove through the ball to extension. With a relaxed hand, finish with the elbow extended and stick it – this gives the pitch the best chance to be seen as a strike.
• Think framing less – think presenting more. Catch the outside of the ball with an extended elbow on borderline pitches.
• For high pitches, catch the ball close to your body as it allows the pitch to get lower.

Blocking
• The catcher must move his feet so his body will be in the center of where the pitch will go.
• Then, lead with the glove, and drop forward towards the pitcher onto knees. Hunch shoulders wide but facing inward, and tuck the chin face down and into the chest. Put glove between the legs with throwing hand behind it and let the ball hit the chest; or snatch forward to pick the ball (In general pick fastballs, block offspeed). Don’t be afraid of using the glove like a first baseman on balls way wide right or left.
• On balls to the side, footwork is crucial because the catcher needs to take a slight step to gain ground (towards right field for a ball to the right, or left field for a ball to the left) and surround the pitch before dropping to his knees.
 

Throwing
• Wait and do not begin to turn the body until the pitch is caught.
• Then, take a 90-degree jump turn with a jab towards second with the right foot.
• The ball is transferred by turning the mitt to face the body and taking the ball out early and back into the throwing motion.
• Release quickly with feet under you with a good follow-through. Throw through the fielder’s knee, not just to the base.