Practice Tips  •  Drill Ideas  •  Useful Links

• Put the catcher(s) in their stance behind a home plate.
• Have the pitcher roll the ball to either side of the catcher.
• The catcher should remove their mask and should run toward the ball.
• The catcher should then slide on their shin guards and pick the ball up in one motion.
• The catcher should “show the ball” to the pitcher and should make a firm throw.

Tip: Coach should make sure that the catcher(s) run directly toward the ball and gets into position quickly. If the ball is close enough to home plate where an underhand flip is more practical, teach the catcher how to flip it to the pitcher vs. throwing it to them.
Back to top


B. Bunt Drill
This drill is used to teach the catcher how to properly field a bunt.

Equipment Needed: Baseballs or softballs, catcher’s glove, and catcher’s equipment.

Drill Procedure:

• Put the catcher(s) in their stance behind a home plate.
• Coach bunts a ball down either the 1st base or 3rd base side.
• Catcher fields the bunt and throws the ball to the appropriate base.

Tip: Coach should make sure that the catcher is scooping the ball with his glove hand and taking the ball to the throwing hand. Coach should also pay attention to footwork and short-arm action.
Back to top


C. Pop-Up Drill
This drill is used to teach the catcher how to catch a pop-up behind home plate.

Equipment Needed: Baseballs or softballs, catcher’s glove, catcher’s equipment and a home plate.

Drill Procedure:

• Put the catcher(s) in their stance behind a home plate.
• The coach throws a ball straight up behind home plate.
• The catcher should remove their mask and should run toward the ball with their back toward the infield. The catcher should find the ball before throwing theri mask down. This is for safety and for keeping the mask out of the way.
• The catcher should then make sure that they turn their body away from the field to catch the ball. Foul balls will generally travel back toward the field.
• Coach can use a pitching machine to throw higher pop-ups and to get more spin on the ball if one is available.

Tip: Coach should make sure that the catcher takes off their mask first before running toward the ball. They should also make sure that they turn their body away from the infield and discard the mask after they find the ball.