Catching question???????

You have put this so well. I don't know if there is actually any more I can add to it. I have been a catcher since I was a little girl..... not going there... lol... but if you think about it.. it does take extra time to take off the helmet and find the ball as to not taking off the helmet and immediately finding the ball. You take off the helmet then have to find the ball. ok. let me explain. popup catcher goes immediately up and sees the ball and catches the ball with her mask on. popup catcher sees the ball takes her mask off... 9 times out of 10 the eyes close in taking off the mask... natural reaction. Then she has to find the ball again.... time lost. For me... I teach my girls to leave their helmet on. It is your choice and quickness on reaction from the catcher herself.

good post Pirate!

 

as it was great to meet you too!

 

I think this is the trend now in baseball and softball.

With the correct mask I don't see the reason to remove it.

 

You are right about TB coaches.. we do have a tendency to stay up on the changing of ways of this wonderful game. There are still a lot of old school HS coaches out there that their way is the only way! NO I'm not saying all coaches are that way. If I had the opportunity to coach HS ball... that would be awesome... but I am always looking for better ways to do something! That is why I am glad I am now affiliated with the Lady HeartBreakers! Rick is such a great coach!

and Oh my gosh.. I sooo wish I had the equipment that is now out for catchers when I was playing HS and college ball. I had to use a first baseman's mit to catch with they hadn't made catchers mits for us yet. ok.. so I dated myself just a tad... lol. I actually swiped my daughter's new TPS composite bat for fielding practice yesterday WOW... technology is absolutely wonderful!

 

my 2 cents

Great thoughts everyone! I think catcher's should try it both ways IN PRACTICE, to judge which way they like it best. The game is evolving so much every year. I do feel that long balls to the outfield and/or high pop ups where the batter swings hard should result in the helmet off and at the fence. Thanks everyone!

 

Being from the old school.......

....I thought that getting rid of your mask was the right thing to do. I'm lefthanded, had a LH catchers mitt but never really got down to brass tacks of catching as do all the players who love that position. So, as I do more and more, I asked my DD what she thinks or has been instructed to do. Like it or not, right or wrong, DD has been taught to NEVER take your mask off until you hit the dugout.......and her instructors?........Jenny Topping, US Olympic Gold Medalist, Miranda Ervin, NCSU All ACC, and others. DD was just learning more about the game than going to every camp/clinic to be a SS/2B. My opinion of the "mask" is old school. Listen to the kids and teachers, they'll set us straight. Damn, now I owe DD $20.

 

See above.....

.....and I hate when I'm SHOWN I'm wrong!.......but don't worry TBR, I'm getting used to it.

 

Hey

"Love is never having to say U are sorry!" Oh U are just saying U were wrong!

Hey Guru has been real sick! We need to all say a prayer for him as I miss his post!

 

U can read????....

......I'm sorry, I thought you couldn't. Love means admitting when I'm wrong and coming out of my corner with more than just the JAB you took! LOL. DDs, yep, the very ones that we send to camps/clinics/training have valuable insight if we'll just listen. Me included!
I hope the BEST for B. Guru!

 

Keep It ON!

The hockey style masks are designed to be left on. The masks that go with the skull caps (mainly baseball) should be taken off and tossed to the side as those masks will slide around on your face and will block your view.

Ken Erickson (one of the Olympic team coaches and coach of South Florida) says the mask should be left on for two additional reasons. The first is that pop ups in softball don't go as high as they do in baseball, so there is less time to find the ball and get in position to make the catch. (Ex:Catchers make a lot more plays on short pop ups around the plate in softball than in baseball) But Ken did say that if the catcher has enough time, it is OK to toss the mask to the side, but hold it in your hand until the ball starts coming down then toss it away.

The second reason to keep the mask on is the safety factor. The additional protection for the catcher's head/face is very important in case she gets "blown up" on a play at the plate.

With this said, getting a catcher to leave the hockey style mask on is a different story. I have been trying to get my DD to leave hers on for years, but the habit of pulling the mask off has been too ingrained for too long. Maybe her coaches at UNC can get her to leave it on. Those college girls are fast, big and fearless.