Need Advice

The catcher should cover the ground ball hit to the infield if nobody is on base otherwise the catcher stays home...

 

Catchers

We're all getting on the same page here. With my team, I give the catcher almost complete control, I am the one that calls the pitches. I believe and so do many college softball coaches, that the catcher has a lot more to do rather than worry about what the hitter hit, where she hit, and what was the result. I keep detailed pitching charts in my dugout on every pitch. This let's the catcher concentrate on the "on-field" situations. Also, with me calling the pitches, it take the heat off of my pitcher and catcher if the pitch I call ends with a bad result, with that, I am the only one at fault. Covering first is a lost art. It is a needed part of a catcher's mechanics that is missing in today's young players. To get my catchers ready for their job in the game, they have to do all of their pre-game (not the stretching) with their shinguards on. In practice, all of their running is with their shinguards on. This not only gets them used to the feel, but also helps to strengthen their legs. Let's get back to teaching these young players the proper way to play this sport and not just react to their particular raw talent. Teaching is still a major part of coaching at this level, even the "studs". Because without teaching proper mechanics, it is a coaches fault when a play on the field breaks down, even for the highly talented player.

 

Catchers

"Agreed, the catcher does control the game................In conjunction with the calls of the coach. When is the last time you saw a coach give TOTAL control, icluding pitch selection, to his catcher at the high school level"

From what I have seen over the years quite a few coaches should give more control to the catcher . Sometimes it is just a fact of mixing up the calls,nothing but having the batter GUESS what is coming especially in Hs where most teams don't have in depth scouting reports on each player as the college levels do. As far as running to back a throw up at first I think a complete waste of energy ,that postion is TOUGH enough with out sprinting to first on every ground ball.A VERY few College and HS teams have a catcher sprinting to cover and usually colleges have a couple of catchers and the catch every other game but HS doesn't have this . This is the most demanding position on a team and often times doesn't get the CREDIT DUE

 

Catchers

HSFan, that's where you are mistaken. I have umpired Women's College Softball for 14 years now and it is rare to see a catcher NOT cover the throw coming to first, even if they only have one catcher. I think what people are thinking when it relates to sprinting to first, is that the catcher runs all-out chasing the runner down the line. This is not what shadowing the runner means. Proper mechanics is for the catcher to first, take an angle actually towards the first base dugout, second, only trail about half way down the line. Her job is to actually keep the overthrow from entering the dugout if possible and to be there when the ball takes a bad hop off of the first baseman. ANY catcher should be able to do this. The prime senario, when the backup is correct, is to have the second baseman near the foul line about 10 feet past first, still in fair territory, the right fielder in foul territory about 20 feet past first, and the catcher in foul territory, near the dugout and about 20 from first closer to the plate. PLEASE, let's don't sell our kids short, players will produce what is expected of them, expecting less from them only leads to a player not living up to their potential.

 

Agree, college coaches will come unglued if that play is not covered. I appreciate you going into detail about why the catcher would cover the throw, didn't think it would need to be spelled out..

 

A coaches decision to let the catcher back up the first baseman is to his or her discretion, personally we keep the catcher at home and have the right fielder back up the throws to first,but if you teach the catcher to back up along with the right fielder that just gives you a better defense in case the throw is bad to the first baseman.....I don't see anything wrong with the catcher backing up the first baseman as long as there are no other runners in scoring position. As for the catcher's mit in the strike zone, I see positives and negatives, interference calls could be bad if there are runners in scoring position, especially if the bases are loaded and that (1) run could win the game, but on the other hand it does give the umpire a better look at the strike zone and the pitcher may get more strikes called her way if the catcher knows how to frame the mit properly...at any rate a good catcher will also look at the batters stance and watch her swing and give pointers to the pitcher after each inning telling her to adjust the drop ball on this batter or bring the rise ball into this batters fist,etc.........I agree the catcher needs to be the leader on the team.......she must have the knowledge to run the team while on the field.....A catcher of poor caliber could cause a team to lose many games..On the other hand a catcher that hussles and is well versed on what her duties are to be on the field can cause a team to prosper and bring much wins to the table.....High School Teams is another subject...It's too early to make people mad......... It's Just Monday !!!!


Softball Guru

 

A Lot Of Good Advise

I would like to thank all of you for the advice given. I have a lot of respect for educators, coaches and mentors and agree that a head coach has the final say. Additionally, catchers are "Field Generals" and always need to be in sink with their coaches. Hussel, Attitude and Determination can never be taught and should never be squelched, proper mechanics however can and should always be taught. I also would like to thank you nc2aump, for breaking it down clearly.

 

I was trying to help.

If you don't think your daughter can be taught properly by anyone but you, then you are doing both you and your daughter a disservice by second guessing her HS coach - just have her quit. At some point in time your daughter may play for another travel team and then what - you second guess that coach also?

The point is, your daughter is going to be exposed to all sorts of coaching philosophy and techniques if she continues to play and moves to higher levels. If you continue to second guess her coaches you will either drive a wedge between you and the coach or you and your daughter - neither is of benefit to your daughter.

Your daughter has to play the way her coach tells her or suffer the consequences for not doing so. I think you should rethink all of the second guessing.

 

Some athletes are blessed to play on HS teams that have skilled players and knowledgable coaches. Some, more cursed than blessed. Sometimes the team is lacking either one or both. To say it is frustrating for the serious athlete to try to play softball with a group of girls who can't catch, throw, hit or field a ball is an under statement!! To have a coach who either spends all of their time "trying to remediate' the unskilled players, or doesn't have a good knowledge base of the fundamentals of the game is equally frustrating to say the least. Either way the Serious athlete always pays a price:they don't play to their potential! We have been in this situation and in the beginning we thought it was character building time. Years later, still building character.....NO!
This being said:
Every serious athlete needs to learn to adjust to different coaching styles. Whether (as a catcher) squeezing the plate, running down first, drop and blocking, throw down timing or running pick-off plays, every coach has their preferences and own style that works for them. Scenarios and situations vary from coach to coach and team to team. Try to be supportive and not make negative comments about the coaches style to your DD, you will relieve alot of "her" pressure. Opportunities arise when your DD can tell the coach what she is used to doing and ask to try it out. Sometime the coach may come to you to talk about the team, practice they just had or the game they just lost. When/if that happends its always better to have open communication not hampered by previous complaints. You could start with "I guess I don't understand".
If he doesn't talk to you he already knows how you feel, is getting it from all directions or doesn't care...he's the coach! :banginghe