HANDS FIRST DRILL - MIDDLE:

PURPOSE: To help catchers reinforce leading the block with their hands.

Catcher sets up in their secondary (“Runner’s-On”) stance, sends their hands to a stationary ball set on the ground directly in front of them. They send their hands to the ground between their feet.

Once they hold their hands there for a second they either repeat the move to the ground with their hands a couple times or finish the block.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, feet close together in the back, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

STATIONARY BALL BLOCK - MIDDLE:

PURPOSE: To help catchers build muscle memory without allowing the visual side of their brain to interfere with the physical movement. Our natural reaction is to move out of the way of a flying object coming at us. By removing that element of the block, it makes it easier for catchers to focus on the actual physical execution of the skill.

Catcher sets up in their secondary (“Runner’s-On”) stance, sends their hands to a stationary ball set on the ground directly in front of them.

Once they get set in their “Runner’s-On” stance, they send their hands first and fire the block in one motion.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, feet close together in the back, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

HANDS DELAY DRILL - MIDDLE:

PURPOSE: Reinforce proper sequencing during the block.

Once they get set in their “Runner’s-On” stance, they send their hands to the ground in between their feet and wait to fire the block until their drill partner throws the ball into the ground.

Once the ball is released, they can fire the block.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, feet close together in the back, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

REGULAR BLOCKING - MIDDLE:

PURPOSE: Reinforce proper sequencing during the block while introducing a moving ball to the process. Allows the catcher to also experience the impact of the ball and work on body control before, during and after the block.

Once they get set in their “Runner’s-On” stance, their drill partner will toss the ball or drop it into the pitching machine.

When the ball is released, they can fire the block.

This drill can be done from front toss distance or at full speed.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

THREE STEP BLOCK TO THE SIDE:

PURPOSE: To help catchers build muscle memory and reinforce the proper sequence of a block to their side.

Catcher sets up in their secondary (“Runner’s-On”) stance, sends their hands to a stationary ball set on the ground in front of them to one of their sides.

Once they get set in their “Runner’s-On” stance, they send their hands to the ground behind the ball, but just slightly in front of their feet. We don’t want to send our hands forward, as out body will follow and we will then be pushing the ball forward as it hits us.

The chest should also remain pointed forward as much as possible to avoid turning in the opposite direction from where we want to end up after the block has completed.

After the hands are set, the catcher’s back knee should drive to the ground along the same line that their feet started on.

Once the back knee is on the ground, the catcher will complete the block by firing the front knee straight forward, allowing their body to close behind the ball towards the middle of the field.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

STATIONARY BALL BLOCK TO THE SIDE:

PURPOSE: To help catchers build muscle memory and reinforce the proper sequence of a block to their side without allowing the visual side of their brain to interfere with the physical movement. Our natural reaction is to move out of the way of a flying object coming at us. By removing that element of the block, it makes it easier for catchers to focus on the actual physical execution of the skill.

Catcher sets up in their secondary (“Runner’s-On”) stance, sends their hands to a stationary ball set on the ground in front of them to one of their sides.

Once they get set in their “Runner’s-On” stance, they send their hands to the ground and fire the block, making sure to pay special attention to the order their hands and knees hit the ground and the direction they are facing when the block finishes.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

HANDS DELAY DRILL - SIDES:

PURPOSE: Reinforce proper sequencing during the block while introducing a moving ball to the process, allowing the catcher to also experience the impact of the ball and work on body control before, during and after the block.

Once they get set in their “Runner’s-On” stance, they send their hands to the ground out to a predetermined spot off to their side. Once their hands are set they will wait to fire the block until their drill partner throws the ball into the ground.

When the ball is released, they can fire the block.

This drill can be done from front toss distance or at full speed.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

REGULAR BLOCK - SIDES:

PURPOSE: Help the catcher to see which parts of the skill need to be worked on the most, as well as build muscle memory.

Once they get set in their “Runner’s-On” stance, they send their hands to the ground out to a predetermined spot off to their side. Once their hands are set they will wait to fire the block until their drill partner throws the ball into the ground.

When the ball is released, they can fire the block.

This drill can be done from front toss distance or at full speed.

Once they complete the block, the catcher should make sure to fix each block into the preferred finished blocking position (Knees at a comfortable width apart, throwing hand with the thumb tucked inside place behind the glove, shoulders in front of the knees, forearms off to the side of their body, chin tucked, but the eyes up). By making those adjustments at the end of the block, they help reinforce the finished position and make it easier for their brain to develop the muscle memory of getting into that position.

Catcher’s should fix every block they fire in a training environment when they aren’t also practicing recovering from the block to make a play.

PITCH RECOGNITION DRILL:

PURPOSE: The purpose of this drill is initially NOT for the catcher to fire a fundamentally sound block. It is for them to make the correct decision when determining whether to block or receive a pitch.

The catcher will set up in their “Runner’s-On” stance and wait for the drill partner to toss the ball or drop the ball into the machine.

The drill partner will fire the ball in the air or the ground. If the ball is thrown into the air, the catcher needs to receive it properly. If the ball heads towards the ground, the catcher needs to read the pitch and do something with their body to indicate they made the correct decision.

This does not have to happen quickly, nor are we concerned with whether they blocked the ball yet.

In fact, the catcher should go into the drill knowing that they should be waiting as long as they possibly can to make their first move to the ball. Whether the glove leaving the ground to receive the pitch, or turning the glove over to block it, their first move should be one they are certain is the right one.

If they are asked to receive the pitch, the ball gets tossed aside and they prepare fo the next. If they block it, this is a good opportunity to work on recovering from the block and getting positioned to make a play.

Allow for a minimum of three pitches before moving onto the next drill or catcher.