Throwing:
For the young catcher making a throw to a base after receiving the pitch, the important factors to emphasize are:
Establish good body balance
Get a good grip on the ball
Throw the ball to the best of your ability
While the correct technique of throwing involves the two-step method, young catchers should use the three-step method of throwing until their arm has matured enough to produce an accurate throw with only two steps.
Three-Step Method (right handed throwing):
keeping the body compact and the knees bent to develop maximum push, move out quickly in the direction of the throw with the left foot
with the right leg the catcher plants and uses it as a pivot point as they turn the body slightly
with the left leg point toe directly towards the target and brace against it and drive forward with body and arm
eyes on ball and then target
throw overhand using the cross seam grip and start by cocking the arm in back of the ear
Tagging the runner: When applying the tag to a runner at home plate, the catcher should position themself with the heels of both feet on the edge of the plate. The catcher keeps their left foot in contact with the plate and with their right foot, moves to receive the ball. As the catcher catches the ball, they drop the left knee to the ground blocking the plate from the runner. The ball is gripped firmly with the bare hand and held snugly in the pocket of the glove. The catcher simply puts the glove in the path of the slide, showing the back of the glove to the runner. If there is no slide, the tag should be applied to the runner's midsection as they run towards the plate.
Catching Pop-Ups: For pop-ups in the general vicinity of home plate, the catcher should turn their back to the infield. Because of the nature of the rotation of the ball as it comes off the bat, the trajectory as it returns to the ground will be back toward the infield. Consequently, it is much easier for the catcher to turn around and have the ball come towards them than it is to have to chase after the ball as it sails away from them. As soon as the ball is popped up, the catcher should take off their mask and locate the ball. Once the catcher has moved to the general area of the play, the mask is discarded in the opposite direction , and the catch is made. The most secure method of catching the ball is by using both hands in the same technique as an outfielder. In situations where the pop-up is some distance from home plate, within the infield, the catcher should let the infielders make the play.
