Fastpitch Softball Catcher Drills

The position of catcher in softball is an important one, second perhaps only to the pitcher. Catchers are usually the ones calling the fielding plays (positioning) and the pitches, and they are the only ones with an entire view of the field. They are responsible for blocking wild pitches and framing pitches around the strike zone to get favorable calls. They work to keep base runners close to their bags and throw them out when they attempt to steal. There are a variety of drills that can help catchers improve in these areas.

  1. Garbage Can Pick-Offs

    • Collect three plastic garbage bins and place them at first base, second base and third base where runners would typically be picked off by catchers (ie. left of first base, right of second and third). Get a pitcher on the mound, a catcher behind the plate and a batter (or any bystander) in the batters box. Have the pitcher deliver pitches to the catcher, and the catcher aim to “throw out” runners by making their tosses to the various garbage bins. Emphasize the importance of proper foot work, and a quick release.

    Wild Pitch Drill

    • Have the catcher assume their regular crouched position behind the plate- throwing arm behind their back, glove out in front of them to present a target to the pitcher. From the mound throw a bucket of balls at the catcher in the dirt. Have the pitchers block the balls-the object is to keep the balls in front of them. When blocking balls the catcher’s knees should be on the ground, their glove should be down and open between their legs and their chest and chest protector should be held at a 60 to 45 degree angle from the ground to ensure that rebounds are directed in front of them.

    Pitch Framing Drill

    • Have the catcher and a pitcher assume their positions behind the plate and on the mound. Instruct the pitcher to throw balls at different locations just outside the strike zone. Instruct the catcher to make the catch while trying to make each pitch look like a strike. To do this effectively the catcher should move the ball to the closest point of the strike zone as he closes his glove around the ball. The catch and re-positioning should be one fluid movement and the re-positioning should not be exaggerated—don’t try and pull a ball that’s far right of the plate into the center of the strike zone; instead aim to paint the right hand corner of the plate. The catch should be made with palm of the glove facing down and the ball completely hidden from view. This will get the umpire to consider the position of your glove rather than the location of the ball in determining if the pitch was a strike or a ball.