Coaches Corner: High Level Catch

HIGH LEVEL CATCH

Anytime you are talking about teams that win championships in any sport you always hear the term “Defense Wins Championships”. If you are going to start looking at the best teams in baseball you have to begin by looking at how they play defense. The majority of teams at any level, MLB, College, High School or even youth teams that are in the playoffs typically can really play defense. Most people look at a team and think that if their infield is good then their defense must be really good. Any team that is good defensively has guys that take pride in playing high level catch all over the field from the pitchers, to infielders, catchers and outfielders make good decisions on where and how they are delivering the baseball. High level catch is something that can be done every day without a coach or instructor there watching over you. It starts with how you get your arm loose before practice or games. You should develop a throwing program that you can do with a partner. Here is an example of an infield throwing program. This program involves not just the player throwing but also the player receiving the throw. It takes between 10-12 minutes everyday and it involves every play that an infielder may have happen to them in a game situation. The objective is to play high level catch! We do not want the ball to touch the ground. If it does then you should have penalties for those mistakes. This throwing program is used as a guideline there are things you may want to change or add to it as you go. If done correctly everyday your arm should be fully prepared for practice and games! Work everyday to play HIGH LEVEL CATCH!

Throwing Program

Any time that we begin our infield drills we do a series of throwing drills. We start with concentrating on fundamentals of taking the ball out of our glove and finding the seams.

Throwing Drills–

Both Knees – Wrist Flips                                                         10-15 Feet              1-2 Minutes

Throwing Side Knee – Wrist Flips                                           10-15 Feet              1-2 Minutes

Throwing Side Knee – Power Position                                    10-20 Feet              1-2 Minutes

Throwing Side Knee – “A”Ball at Mid Line                           15-20 Feet              1-2 Minutes

Square “Ten Toes” –                                                               20-30 Feet              1-2 Minutes

(Right Foot Drill – 2B Pivot)- Player Receiving the ball.

Power Throwing Position –                                                     30-40 Feet              1-2 Minutes

(Left Foot Drill – SS Pivot)- Player Receiving the ball

Fielding Position to Throw                                                       40-50 Feet              1-2 Minutes

(Cut and Relay)- Player Receiving the Ball

2 Shuffle Throwing                                                                  50-60 Feet              1-3 Minutes
90 Feet to Long Toss                                                             90-Max                    Fully Loose

(Catch ball in center of body and Exchange)

Long Toss Max-                                                                      Max 15 Throws       3 Days a Wk
One Hop Drill –                                                                        100-120 Feet          10 Throws

(Tag Plays-V & Swipe)

On the Run Throws (Start with ball in glove)                           30-40 Feet

(Catch/Exchange Full Arm Fake)- Player Receiving ball

Quick Hands & Quick Feet                                                       20-30 Feet

(Use different arm angles when we throw)

Everything we do should work out of the middle of our body and when we are receiving the ball we should work to exchange every ball and be in the throwing position. If you take pride in playing High Level Catch I can promise you your team will have a chance to play for a championship!