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Throwing Drills

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A catcher has to be challenged to approach every drill and every bullpen as if it's the most critical game situation he can be in.


Cross Drill (or T Drill)

Purpose:
to develop proper throwing footwork to increase accuracy and quickness on throws to second base. The drill can be done with or without a ball.

Materials:
tape, catcher's gear, baseball,

Procedure:
Draw a large inverted cross (or T) on the ground or if you are indoor on the rug. Using the proper ready position, begin with your feet on the line running left to right. This line is square to the pitcher. Both feet should be in contact with this line, with your left foot slightly in front of the right. Using the jab step or replacement method of throwing, stay low and make a throw down to second base. Stop in the cocked position and check your foot alignment. Both feet should be on the vertical line. If they are not, you are out of position. Try again and make an adjustment. Be sure you are not off balance and falling over. Repeat until both feet land on the vertical line.

You may also try this drill useing the rock-and-throw method, but you need to start with your plant foot on the horizontal and VERTICAL lines.

See Throwing Techniques for more info on proper techniques.

Tips:
1. Work on doing it correctly each and every time.
2. Work on getting faster each time you do it.

Extension:
An extension to the drill would be to use a ball and complete the throw down to second base. Have someone observe your footwork to see if they are correctly aligned.

Timed Throws

Purpose:
This is simply a quickness drill to improve your times and accuracy to second base.

Materials:
stopwatch, baseballs, a person at second base, someone to deliver pitches to you, and someone to time you

Procedure:
Have a coach or another player go through the motions of a pitcher in the stretch and deliver a ball to you as you crouch behind the plate. As quickly as possible receive the pitch and deliver a throw to another player or coach at second base. A third player or coach should be timing this throw to second with a stopwatch. The stopwatch should begin the moment the ball is caught by the catcher and should be stopped when the person covering second catches the throw (in other words glove-to-glove).

Times:
Measured in seconds to second base on a Major League Baseball sized diamond. Times will be affected by age, maturity level, arm strength, accuracy, and quickness. Every catcher's goal should be at the minimum under 2.0 seconds.
  • 1.8 or below = worldclass
  • 1.81 - 2.0 = very good *most college catchers and some high school catchers will be here
  • 2.01 - 2.1 = average
  • 2.11 - 2.2 = below average
  • 2.21 and below = poor
Extension: You can add some variables to this drill.
  1. Have the pitcher throw to different areas of the strike zone.
  2. Put a right or left handed hitter in the batter's box.
  3. Time the throw from glove-to-TAG instead of glove-to-glove.


Footwork Drills
Different Bases
Quickness Exchange Grip Drill
Partner Quick Drill
Long Toss
Snap Throws/Pickoffs
Catching 101
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