Catcher blocking and throwing out base stealers

Setup

1. Every catcher wears full gear for every rep: helmet with mask, throat guard, chest protector, shin guards and cup.
2. A pitcher or a coach throws from the mound. Use a coach on flat ground in front of the mound for the blocking reps, so pitchers save their arms for the steal reps; pitches count toward any pitcher's daily total.
3. A stand-in batter in a helmet stands in the right-handed box and does not swing. Runners in helmets take leads off first.
4. The shortstop and second baseman decide who covers second before each rep (usually the second baseman against a right-handed batter). The pitcher ducks or steps aside on the throw.
5. Catchers warm up their arms with a throwing programme before any throw-downs, and stop at any arm pain.

How it runs

1. Blocking (8–10 reps): the coach throws balls in the dirt straight on, to the glove side and to the throwing side. The catcher drops to the knees, glove between the legs, chest over the ball, and keeps it in front. Runner on first reads it and only goes if it gets away.
2. Recover: after each block the catcher scrambles to the ball and pops up ready to throw, so the runner stays put.
3. Throw-downs (6–8 reps): the pitcher comes set and pitches; the runner steals on the first move. The catcher receives, transfers and throws to the bag. The coach times from glove to glove (pop time).
4. Mix the two: the pitch may be in the dirt or a strike, and the runner may go or hold. The catcher reacts to what happens.
5. Rotate catchers every 4–5 throws to protect their arms and legs.

Coaching points

• Blocking: the aim is to keep the ball in front, not catch it. Drop the knees, tuck the chin, round the shoulders and angle the body back toward home plate.
• On balls to the side, move the outside knee first and angle the chest in so the ball bounces toward the plate.
• Throwing stance with runners on: slightly wider and higher than the no-runner stance, weight on the balls of the feet.
• Catch the ball out front and bring the glove to the throwing hand near the throwing shoulder; a fast, clean transfer beats arm strength.
• Footwork: a short replace step under the body, then step toward second. Throw over the pitcher's head to the bag, knee high.
• A pop time under about 2.1 seconds is strong for senior club catchers; accuracy to the bag matters more than raw speed.
• Batter in the box: never wait for the batter to move. Step to clear a lane and throw; a batter who leaves the box or gets in the way of the throw can be called for interference (check your competition's rules).

Common mistakes

• Trying to pick the ball in the dirt with the glove instead of blocking with the body.
• Turning the head or closing the eyes at the bounce.
• Standing tall before the catch to get a head start on the throw, and missing the ball.
• A long, looping arm action from a crouch that adds time.
• Throwing to where the covering fielder is, not to the bag.