1. CATCHING THAT HELPS YOU WIN GAMES!

2. FOUR QUALITIES OF CATCHERS WHO HELP YOU WIN Receive well. Block well. Throw well. Effective field presence.

3. RECEIVES WELL Keeps strikes in the zone. Gets a percentage of balls off the black. Gives a big, low target to the pitcher. Gets under the low pitch. Is not prone to mental lapses.

4. WHY? Get more strikes. Pitchers are confident about throwing to corners. Move the innings faster.

5. HOW?  Soft hand drills (especially early).  Angle work (balls that do not come straight in).  Balls on the black and low balls.  Tracking drills.  Left knee balls.

6. BLOCKING BALLS Managing balls in the dirt.

7. WHY? We want to minimize bases we allow. Pitchers do not fear throwing breaking pitches in the dirt.

8. HOW? Basic blocking sequence everyday that emphasizes key fundamentals. –Glove down. –Head down. –Move side to side flat to downhill. –Read balls in the dirt. Low reps with high intensity.

9. THROW EFFECTIVELY ACCURATE THROWS IN ADEQUATE TIME

10. HOW? Footwork (Daily.) Exchanges (daily). Throwing during individual and team time. (2 or 3 times a week).

11. FIELD PRESENCE Pitcher/catcher relationship. Umpire/catcher relationship. Body language and hustle.

12. BODY LANGUAGE Hustle in practice and games. Bounce. Head stays up and does not drop. Positive regardless of the score but could unload on players or even the team on occasion. Will not show up the coach, umpire or pitcher.

13. WHY? Pitcher and team can concentrate on the objective. Sets the tone and attitude. May inspire the team. Gain favor with the umpire.

14. UMPIRE RELATIONSHIP Trust between the catcher and umpire. Call umpire by name..not “Blue”. Do not ever show up the umpire…that is the coaches job. Bounce and move the game along. Do not hold a pitch too long especially if it is a ball.

15. MORE UMPIRE RELATIONS Be honest but choose your words. Example: “You really @#$#ed up that call.” “I thought it was a pretty good pitch.” Be sincere, not phony. Never run off the field until the ump calls the 3rd strike. Give the umpire a good view. Ask for feedback.

16. PITCHER RELATIONSHIP BULLPEN (ECC or Encourage, Care and Communicate). BETWEEN INNINGS (ECC)

17. WHY? Good catchers allow the pitcher to concentrate on the job at hand. More confident pitcher. Pitcher does not feel like he is by himself.

18. Bullpens Receiving skills. Blocking reads out of stretch. Exchange and footwork to bases out of stretch. Relationship and communication with the pitcher. Signs and set up.