Who catches your pitchers in practice?

[absdad]

You wouldn't be from NorCal would you? I would DIE to get off the bucket!

No, I'm in Missouri. If only you were a little closer...

I would think there would be alot more bucket dads that would love to give their shins a break. On some of our local softball boards I don't see many catchers looking to work out with pitchers. I think my DD would benefit from the experience of working with different pitchers, and i'd still love to set something like this up.

 

[VAace21]

For my team I specifically work with my catchers, since I was a catcher myself. I usually ask the catchers to come out an before regular practice and work with just them and then have pitchers come a little later and when Im done working with catchers tell them to apply this to catching for the pitchers before while everyone else is warming up for team practice. This allows pitchers and catchers to practice more than one position.

 

[RADcatchers]

Like the topic!
Nice replies and suggestions!
Bump

 

[Carty]

I want my catchers catching the pitchers, I schedule time before practice for them. During this time catchers are working on stances, transfers, blocking when necessary. The same things I want them warming up with pregame. I set aside time just for catchers for fence drills, pop ups, etc.

 

[BrianTx01]

At 16U I don't even stick around for the whole practice. Usually go to local sports bar with some of the other dads.

At 16U generally bucket dad's are generally retired. If you do a bullpen in practice a catcher needs to catch them.

 

[marriard]

Bownets and several buckets of balls. Plenty of work your pitchers can get in without a catcher.

 

[Orange Socks]

DD was often asked to catch her pitchers on her teams and other pitchers on other teams that she knew. Coach also asked her to catch prospective pitchers in private tryouts.

TB Coach would also have P/C practices 1 hour before regular practice.

 

[RADcatchers]

imo
It's important for catchers to get to work with pitchers at practice ( or a set time to practice together)

because it develops familiarity.
And vice versa.

This familiarity is important to visual recognition, which includes seeing pitching mechanics, movement, & timing. While the catcher has to work on defensive mechanics and framing.
Just like a defensive player needs reps with the ball coming off the bat.



Myself as a highly trained catcher having the opportunity to catch highly trained pitchers,... those occasions when I was going to catch a pitcher for the first time
At minimum pregame warm-ups would help my visual familiarity.

If I did not get that pregame warm up with those pitcher that learning would be happening during a game.
Making my job more difficult.