Step 1) Feet shoulder width apart Step 2) Knees pointed at pitchers shoulders Step 3) Fingers on inseam Step 4) Protect signal from 3B coach Step 5) Watch for peaking from batter Phase II: Distance from Batter Step 1) Glove to elbow rule Phase III: Shifting/Swaying Step 1) Split plate down middle to adjust to the side of pitch Step 2) Shift over as late as possible Step 3) Keep ball in middle of body Illusion- Inside/outside pitches can pull glove momentum away from zone, appearing to the umpire as far outside. Phase IV: Primary Stance [no runners on base] Step 1) Feet shoulder width apart with weight on balls of feet, Toes with slight angle (Swaying Purposes), heels off ground (stay low & wide to absorb) Step 2) Glove elbow flexed and outside of knee, still out front of body (relaxed) Step 3) Throwing hand (thumb tucked) behind hamstring area Phase V: Secondary Stance [runners on bases] Step 1) 1st Priority is the BALL! Step 2) Right foot instep into left foot, on the balls of feet Step 3) Butt higher up Step 4) Feet are wider than shoulder width Step 5) Throw hand behind glove for quicker exchange Appendix A: Framing (1/4 Turns) Note 1) Wrist relaxes at pitchers breakpoint Note 2) Pull ball back into middle of body [No Excessive Pulls] Note 3) turns, turning ball into middle of body, to aid in umpires decision Appendix B: Blocking-Block it, dont catch It! Note 1) Dont be tight, be relaxed Note 2) Legs and feet spread out, trying to minimize V hole. Note 3) Head down- Chin to chest Note 4) Fork glove position in V hole. Note 5) Try to kill ball back toward pitcher or home plate. Note 6) Slump-Angle shoulders, get angled AROUND ball. Note 7) Drive off opposite playside leg. Note 8) Collaspe playside knee and swing butt around with slide.
Appendix C: Fielding the Position
I. Bunts A. Rounding to the ball-square to 1B (communicate with 1B) B. Dont scoop- Sandwich ball when straddling it C. Bring ball to chest, Step and Throw II.
Trailing runner to first with no runners on.
III.
Calling plays from home plate
IV.
Plays at the plate
A. Anchor left heel at front tip of plate. Always give base runner back tip. Toes up 3B line for knee give, Do not straddle plate. B. Stay low and look for hops. C. Catch it, ball in meat hand inside glove. Runner coming in, collapse back knee with left knee still up, tag with backside of glove.
Appendix D: Popups- Be like an outfielder
Note 1) Find ball Note 2) Throw mask when ball reaches its peak Note 3) The ball will spin back toward the infielder, catcher must turn back to infield, so the ball will back spin toward him. Note 4) Two hand catch with flexed elbows Appendix E: Throwing- Stay low for a low throw I. Jump Turn- stay behind plate A. bow and arrow & T Position B. Close up front side C. Butt out D. Flexed arms and legs E. 4Seam Grip F. Fingers on top of ball (wrapped) G. Dont step on plate II.
Jab Step- quicker catcher/less arm strength
Pop time of 2.3 or below
Appendix F: Drills and Demonstrations
Plate work (blocks, force plays, plays at plate)
Pop ups Blow out, blow back Communication ( Lining up cutoffs, where to throw) Receiving ( Swaying, shifting, turns, framing) Throwing to all bases