In need of bucket parent 101

[uncdrew]

Good on you!

Excellent you're getting in there and helping out. It's such a great bonding time with your DD (assuming you do it right). Here are my tips, in order of importance:

1. Do whatever it takes to not get badly hurt. Love that you've got all the gear. Perfect first step. Next, don't feel you have to catch every ball. The ones too inside or too outside I often just let them go. And the ones that bounce in front of me? Sometimes I bail out, sometimes I lift my legs over my head, sometimes I just move my feet out of the way. You'll get better at catching as she gets better at pitching.

2. Keep it fun for her. You are not a pitching instructor, so don't be barking orders at her. If you can find a way to gently remind her of some of the cues your pitching instructor says, that can help. Just be encouraging and positive. Most of the time, let her stop when she wants to stop. Some days are going to be hopeless and she can't find the plate. End those days quick with words like "You'll have bad pitching days your entire life. It's actually great when they happen with me so we can get them out of the way." If it's going bad and you press too hard, it'll get worse and everyone will be miserable.

3. Get lessons for her. Attend them and take notes (mentally or on your phone/paper).

 

[_MIA_]

sometimes I lift my legs over my head,

that I have to see

 

[Cornbread]

When she throws drop ball just hold your legs in the air

 

[LEsoftballdad]

I agree with what @Vertigo said. I used to be a bucket Dad until my daughter broke my toe. I realized that by sitting on a bucket, I was putting my feet much more in the danger zone than they would be if I was in a crouch. While squatting for an hour at 51 isn't ideal, using knee savers on my shin guards helps. I don't recommend them for young catcher's, but us older folks should use them.

The Liberty Advanced is fine for catching her until she gets north of 58 MPH. Once you get higher than that, you'll need a better quality mitt with more padding.

There was some great advice from other DFP members. Soak it all in and enjoy the moment.

 

[ArmWhip]

I sit on the bucket then move into a crouch when the windup starts.

 

[VaBird]

Or make your kid fetch it..

I played college baseball (Including the occasional game at catcher). If it goes by me, she goes to get it. Seems reasonable to me.

 

[_MIA_]

I played college baseball (Including the occasional game at catcher). If it goes by me, she goes to get it. Seems reasonable to me.

I do that when play catch with my son..bad throw=running down the street

 

[DryHeat]

I finally decided to wear safety-toe shoes with the shins and mask. Then you can just sit there on the bucket and the bad ones bounce off the armor (usually). When she starts throwing drops, this or very fast feet are important.

I sit on a stool that is quite a bit lower than the tall softball buckets. It makes it easier to place the target low and to get the mitt down to snag the balls in the dirt. But sitting that low makes it tougher to bail out, thus the safety toes.

 

[PJR202]

As my kid has gotten faster, I've realized that I'm not very good at catching. I use a cheap-ish catcher's mitt and remember my shin guards about half the time. Last time I caught for her I took a bad hop to the tibia so hard I wasn't sure it hadn't cracked. It made this awful sound I can only describe as someone getting hit in the face with a raw chicken breast. Once she clears 50 my skills are gonna become more of an issue. I'm thinking I might go to a mask soon regardless. We're gonna start working on a drop ball soon and at that point I'm gonna have to find a catcher other than myself.

Her former pitching instructor sits on an exercise ball. I did the same at home in the basement and it's much better on the back. There's not much stability in the way of lateral movement without falling over, but I just let those go by anyway. It's particularly helpful for the low ones to bounce off of, etc. I'm recommending the exercise ball and a decent quality mitt. I stopped using my field glove once she passed 40. Those shots to the palm and inner thumb suck.

Outside, I've always caught her from a crouch. I think I'm actually a little better that way and I don't have knee issues so I may keep at that one for a bit. That drop ball still scares me though.

 

[PJR202]

I finally decided to wear safety-toe shoes with the shins and mask. Then you can just sit there on the bucket and the bad ones bounce off the armor (usually). When she starts throwing drops, this or very fast feet are important.

I sit on a stool that is quite a bit lower than the tall softball buckets. It makes it easier to place the target low and to get the mitt down to snag the balls in the dirt. But sitting that low makes it tougher to bail out, thus the safety toes.

Do you wear construction boots or some other type of shoe?