How much is too much - Catcher?

How much should be expected out of a travel ball catcher? I am especailly in the role starting in 10U and progressing to 12U , etc...

How much drop off in hitting and defense do you see in a multi - game catcher in travel ball? How many catchers do you need to see on a 10U roster, 12U roster, etc...? When you rest your catcher, do you sit them or allow them to play another position?

Thanks, in advance for your opinions.

 

Younger age groups need more than two catchers for those hot summer weekends. A good way to burn out a young catcher is to put them in a situation where there's no possibility of rest. With three, they can definitely play another position while not catching.

Older age groups can get by with two good catchers. They can also play other positions, but more bench rest time should be figured in if you have only two and its a hot day.

Playing with only one catcher is always extremely risky as she is always one foul tip away from broken fingers.

 

tired and worn

and when an overused catcher gets weary, a good opposing coach will take advantage w/ more running, steals, bunts out in front of home plate, etc.

 

Personal Exprience...

This weekend I caught all 5 of our games...4 Saturday 1 Sunday...In 16 and under...Saturday was hard at the end of game 4 and all game 5...But that was nothing compared to the next morning...Talk about sore...But after the first inning I felt pretty good...I have been in touroments where I caught all Saturday and Sunday...Not saying its not hard...But I think its do-able for most catchers...Not saying its healthy...After about 4 games I can defintly tell my speed on the bases slows and my throws can suffer to...But It's not to bad...The thing that is manly affected is my mental game...I make throws I wouldn't normally make and make some shakey desions...

 

You're tough as a pine knot KC.

 

Thanks...I try...I wouldn't sit out there and do it if I didn't love it...

 

Interesting comment about fatigue's effect on the mental game. Mental lapses are perfectly normal when exhausted. All the more reason to have back-up players available. Its one thing to make a game costing mental mistake because of exhaustion, but its something else for that college coach to be watching an exhausted player make uncharacteristic mistakes and then mark her off the list.