High school
Catching
All positions
Intermediate
Top 5 Catcher Blocking Drills (Preset, Lateral Slides, Twist, Inchworms, Rapid Fire)
Five progressive blocking drills from Catching Made Simple (Coach Bougie) to build proper hip/shoulder position, lateral mobility, reaction, and game-like blocking from various stances.
- Equipment:
- Partner
- Duration:
- About 10 min
- Setting:
- Indoor or outdoor
- Players:
- Partner
Coaching notes
Start with pre-set position work, add lateral slides for movement, twist for reaction, inchworms for single-knee mobility, and rapid fire for conditioning and speed. Focus on hips back, shoulders forward, toothpick arms, glove tuck.
Objectives
Eliminate passed balls by mastering body position, lateral slide technique, reaction to off-line pitches, single-knee blocking, and rapid recovery.
Coaching cues
Hips high then back; shoulders rolled forward over legs; toothpick (straight) arms; glove outside body on laterals; lead with glove; toe up on shin guard; thumb burrito on glove.
Common errors
Hips too forward causing ball kick; wide/narrow base; stabbing instead of sliding; not leading with glove; poor recovery weight forward.
Steps
- 1. 1. Pre-Set Blocks: Kneel, hips back, glove down, add ball
- 2. 2. Lateral Slides: Side to side patterns 1-1, 2-2
- 3. 3. Twist and Block: React to side tosses with twist
- 4. 4. Inchworms: Single knee push/slide both directions, lead glove
- 5. 5. Rapid Fire Side to Side: Multiple balls quick blocks
