Techniques and Drills to Build Elite Catchers

with Leslie Huntington,
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Head Coach;
National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class of 2021;
2008 NCAA Division III National Champions;
4x WIAC Coach of the Year;
2008 NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year;
former Simpson College Head Coach;
1997 and 1999 D-III National Champions at Simpson;
over 400 career wins

Next to pitching, catching is probably the most specialized position required in softball. Catchers must perform a variety of skills and be the defensive backbone on the field.

In this video, 2008 NCAA D-III national champion coach Leslie Huntington will show you 17 drills that will work on your catcher's mobility, receiving ability, and ability to transfer the ball quicker on throws.

Mobility

Help your catcher become more mobile with seven exercises aimed at improving hip and lower body mobility. Increased mobility will help keep your catchers healthy while improving their catching skills. A catcher with increased mobility will be able to get into better receiving positions, particularly on low pitches, and can be quicker to block a ball in the dirt.

Receiving

Pocket awareness is crucial to all great catchers so they can control their glove action when receiving. Receiving has been shown to be the most important skill a catcher can possess. Help your catchers fine-tune this critical skill with eight drills to receive the ball in the most advantageous position to get the umpire to call a strike.

Transfers

There are many ways catchers can improve their pop times without focusing on improving arm strength. The most common way catchers lose time on throw-downs is on their transfer. A clean and quick exchange of the ball from the glove to the bare hand is often the difference between safe and out for a catcher trying to throw out a runner. Coach Huntington offers two drills to help your catchers make seamless transfers.

Coach Huntington provides numerous drills to get your catchers ready for game day. These exercises will help your catchers become more mobile, get more called strikes, and get rid of the ball faster.

49 minutes. 2020.