softgabby
Gear Empress
This post was inspired by a discussion I had in PM's with @RADcatcher about what I learned coming from a traditional catcher's stance to using the one knee down catcher's stance.
In terms of eligibility, I am academically a junior. But my playing eligibility is a sophomore. My school in the offseason got a new head coach but also a new catching coach. I would go to practice and I knew my coaches were watching what I was doing. I did pretty well using solely a traditional catcher's stance. I'm not the world's greatest framer or blocker but I've always thought my arm strength and accuracy has covered up my weaknesses...at least it has through high school and so far in college.
So, one day at practice, I got called into the coach's office and something was suggested to me. Trying the one knee down catcher's stance. I had a lot of reservations about using one knee down. My biggest reservations were blocking and how to make a quick strike to second (the longest throw for a catcher to make). I had started a thread on here after I had gotten back to my dorm room after practice stating my concerns. I'd gotten a bunch of great advice from our DFP family. But the advice that stuck with me the most was from @RADcatcher. We talked about using one knee down on the board and over PM's. I started incorporating what we had discussed at practice and eventually, I started feeling more and more comfortable using it. I also started incorporating more of what she was teaching me. I feel like I'm a better catcher for it. I really wish I had known about her and her methods when I started catching during my freshman year of high school.
Anyway, practicing with this all through the offseason during college, I've become so much more comfortable using this method of catching and it has become another tool in my toolbox. I learned that we don't start with the knee down and put the knee down when we shift toward the ball. It's a little harder moving when you're only 5'2 but I'm starting to make it look more effortless. I learned how to block more effectively and am working with some drills she sent me videos of on youtube. These made so much sense to me. I'm also learning to move faster behind the plate. I thought I was kind of fast behind the plate. But I saw where I could get faster behind the plate.
My biggest weaknesses behind the plate have to do with framing balls and leaping to get to pitches that sail way up in the zone...especially when you are only 5'2. The leaping, I'm trying to get better leaping ability by doing strength training, plyometrics, and some light parkour. I'm not sure how I'm going to work on getting better at framing pitches. I know I'm not the greatest framer in the world...but I'm serviceable about getting to pitches and trying to make them look good.
In terms of eligibility, I am academically a junior. But my playing eligibility is a sophomore. My school in the offseason got a new head coach but also a new catching coach. I would go to practice and I knew my coaches were watching what I was doing. I did pretty well using solely a traditional catcher's stance. I'm not the world's greatest framer or blocker but I've always thought my arm strength and accuracy has covered up my weaknesses...at least it has through high school and so far in college.
So, one day at practice, I got called into the coach's office and something was suggested to me. Trying the one knee down catcher's stance. I had a lot of reservations about using one knee down. My biggest reservations were blocking and how to make a quick strike to second (the longest throw for a catcher to make). I had started a thread on here after I had gotten back to my dorm room after practice stating my concerns. I'd gotten a bunch of great advice from our DFP family. But the advice that stuck with me the most was from @RADcatcher. We talked about using one knee down on the board and over PM's. I started incorporating what we had discussed at practice and eventually, I started feeling more and more comfortable using it. I also started incorporating more of what she was teaching me. I feel like I'm a better catcher for it. I really wish I had known about her and her methods when I started catching during my freshman year of high school.
Anyway, practicing with this all through the offseason during college, I've become so much more comfortable using this method of catching and it has become another tool in my toolbox. I learned that we don't start with the knee down and put the knee down when we shift toward the ball. It's a little harder moving when you're only 5'2 but I'm starting to make it look more effortless. I learned how to block more effectively and am working with some drills she sent me videos of on youtube. These made so much sense to me. I'm also learning to move faster behind the plate. I thought I was kind of fast behind the plate. But I saw where I could get faster behind the plate.
My biggest weaknesses behind the plate have to do with framing balls and leaping to get to pitches that sail way up in the zone...especially when you are only 5'2. The leaping, I'm trying to get better leaping ability by doing strength training, plyometrics, and some light parkour. I'm not sure how I'm going to work on getting better at framing pitches. I know I'm not the greatest framer in the world...but I'm serviceable about getting to pitches and trying to make them look good.