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CATCHER
EVALUATION CHECKLIST
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EXCELLENT:
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GOOD:
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NEEDS
WORK:
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SKILL:
STANCE
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Feet are a little wider than shoulder width apart, toes pointed
out.
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Remains on the flat of their feet, with weight up toward
the balls of feet
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Arms are relaxed, elbows outside the knees and flexed when
receiving the ball.
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Throwing hand is fisted with thumb inside fingers.
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Throwing hand is behind the back with no runner on base.
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Throwing hand is behind the glove with runner on base.
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Head is near the glove and facing directly toward the pitcher.
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Head is above the shoulders and hips below.
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Uses her body as well as her glove to set up behind the portion
of the plate in which the pitch is being called.
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Shoulders and chest are upright and tall if receiving a high
pitch.
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Shoulders and chest are leaning over, getting low to receive
the low pitch
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Feet are lined up evenly, not staggered.
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Sits as close to the plate as possible, adjusts on different
hitters.
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EXCELLENT:
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GOOD:
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NEEDS WORK:
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SKILL: RECEIVING THE
PITCH
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Catches the pitch with one hand.
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Moves and receives the pitch with the body behind the ball.
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Frames pitch by pulling the CLOSE pitches into the strike zone.
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Doesn’t try to frame every pitch. (Keep strikes strikes!)
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Moves behind the ball getting lead foot out first.
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Moves diagonal to field of play to receive the ball, so that if it
is low, she can block and keep the ball in the middle of the field.
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Balls in the dirt are blocked by her body, yet catcher maintains
balance.
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When blocking balls in the dirt, she is leaning with the upper body
over the ball and chin down. Causes balls to drop right in front
of her.
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When catching, brings both glove and ball up to her ear to get into
position for quick throw.
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Reaches into the glove to get the ball, does not flip it into throwing
hand.
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When blocking balls in the dirt, she catches the ball between her
legs with both hands (throwing hand behind glove - pinkie to pinkie).
Gets the fingers down to the ground, not the back of her hand.
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When blocking, gets knees to the ground as quickly as possible.
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Replaces her feet with her knees to absorb the ball.
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When blocking side to side, gets an aggressive push off with legs
toward the direction of the ball.
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Receives very low pitches with glove fingers pointed down. If it
is out of the dirt, tries to “pick flowers” with glove fingers pointed
up.
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Receives high pitches with glove fingers pointing up.
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Keeps body down to aid in calls - doesn’t rise up with the pitch
if she doesn’t need to.
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Turns pinkie in (right handed catcher) on inside pitches (to right
handed batter) to frame for strikes.
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Turns thumb in (right handed catcher) on outside pitches (to right
handed batter) to frame for strikes.
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Has quick hands. Beats the ball to the spot (doesn’t wait and jab
at the pitch).
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EXCELLENT:
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GOOD:
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NEEDS WORK:
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SKILL: THROWING
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Gets into throwing position quickly using either pivot hop (for younger
catchers) or pivot (for more advanced catchers).
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When in the throwing position her weight is on her back foot.
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The movement of the throwing hand is efficient and comes directly
back near the throwing hand ear.
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The throw is an overhand throw with vertical spin.
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The throw has a very short take back.
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Catcher has a quick release.
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The catcher has a strong arm.
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Catcher follows through with her hand and trail leg.
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When throwing out runners at first on a bunt or pass ball, the catcher
stays low and can use sidearm throw when appropriate.
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Catcher rounds the ball getting her chest over it and in a position
to scoop up the ball on a pass ball or wild pitch.
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Picks up the ball with both the glove hand and ball hand in a scooping
or raking action on pass balls or wild pitches.
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Angles her body to the base the runner is advancing to
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| EXCELLENT: |
GOOD:
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NEEDS WORK:
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SKILL: DEFENSIVE SITUATIONS
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Fields the bunt with two handed scooping motion next to the back
foot.
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Prior to fielding the bunt has feet lined up in direction of anticipated
throw.
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When throwing she takes a one step throw, does not shuffle or slide
into the throw.
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Catches pop ups on throwing side facing foul territory. Glove fingers
are pointed up.
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First step to the pop up is to the side in which it is hit.
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Finds the pop up and then throws the mask. Mask is throw away from
where she is fielding the pop up.
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Backs up plays at first base with no one on
base.
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Communicates and lines up cut-off for throws home.
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Communicates to infield and calls plays in the infield.
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Blocks balls on throws home.
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Sets up about a foot up the foul line with the left foot on the foul
line and is squared to the throw when receiving the throw home.
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Uses a two handed tag on the runner coming in at home plate.
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Blocks the plate when a runner slides at home.
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Throws each pitch back to the pitcher’s left shoulder as a practice
throw to second base.
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Throws knee high on the inside corner at second base for a steal
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Throws low inside to first or third for a pick off throw.
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Uses correct footwork on force outs at home and throws back to first
or third.
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Knows the rules!
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Has knowledge of pitching techniques, control, and how different
pitches are thrown.
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Communicates with the pitcher in a positive approach.
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Learns the opponents weaknesses and tendencies.
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Calls the correct pitch for the situation.
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Works well with the umpire and is aware of his strike zone.
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Knows each pitchers strengths and weaknesses and adjusts calling
the game to the particular pitcher on the mound.
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Gives energy to the pitchers and changes according to the pitcher’s
needs.
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Knows how to motivate each pitcher.
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