Catcher receiving and framing

Setup

1. Every catcher wears full gear for every rep: helmet with mask, throat guard, chest protector and shin guards.
2. The coach kneels or sits on a bucket about 10 m in front of the plate and throws firm underhand or overhand tosses. Move back to a pitcher at the league's distance later.
3. The catcher sets up in the receiving stance behind the plate. A second catcher waits to the side, out of the line of the ball, in gear.
4. Start with softer reduced-injury balls if the catchers are new to it.

How it runs

1. The coach throws ten balls to the middle of the zone. The catcher receives each one and holds it still for a count of one.
2. Then ten to the edges: low, glove side, arm side and high. The catcher catches the outside half of the ball and sticks it.
3. The catcher throws the ball back to the coach after each catch.
4. Swap catchers every 20 balls. The waiting catcher calls 'stick' or 'drift' on each catch.
5. Finish with five random locations; the coach calls ball or strike after each one.

Coaching points

• Receiving stance: feet wider than the shoulders, weight on the insides of the feet, glove out in front of the knee, elbow relaxed.
• Throwing hand behind the back or behind the glove, safe from foul tips.
• Catch the ball out front, before it gets to the body. Let the glove give a little, then stop it still.
• On edge pitches, catch the side of the ball nearest the zone and stop the glove there. Don't drag it back across the plate.
• Low pitches: turn the glove fingers down and catch the top of the ball, then hold it.

Common mistakes

• Stabbing at the ball, so the glove moves before the catch.
• Pulling a ball obviously across the plate; umpires notice and call it a ball.
• Letting the glove drift with the pitch out of the zone.
• Throwing hand hanging loose beside the glove.