WebBall.com - The 3 Stances for Catchers

Setting up behind the plate

It takes more than being comfortable to be in the right catching stance.

You need to be set so you can frame pitches with your body not just your glove, so you can block balls in the dirt, and gun down runners.

Your position is determined by the game situation.
Both rendered and wireframe animated versions show all 3 stances...

Stance	Purpose	Description
Sign Giving	Relaxed, comfortable position that gives the pitcher a good view of the signals but blocks first and third base coaches for stealing signs.	Rest on balls of feet with your heels up and your butt on your heels, supported. Keep your knees tight (slightly closed) and face the shortstop (or towards the left front corner of the plate) - assumes RH catcher. Use your right knee to block the view from first base, your glove will block third - keep the glove forearm relaxed so the wrist is down, and rest it on the knee, glove hanging over. Signalling hand should be tucked in tight to the cup - so it isn't down below the thighs. Keep the signalling forearm relaxed and resting on the thigh - you don't want the arm tensing or moving - let your fingers do all the inside outside movement.

Receiving	With no runners on, your role is to provide the best target for the pitcher, the best chance to get the calls you want.	Feet spread wide, down on the inside edge (toe to heel contact), with knees close to the ground - yes, this takes a lot of flexibility. Keep the chest vertical, don't slouch. Present a flat target with the wrist pulled back, fingers up. This is tiring so once the pitcher has the target, drop the glove briefly to relax - for a soft-hand catch. Keep the bare hand back behind the body, out of harm's way. Upper body needs to stay loose for sideways lean to get square to the pitch. Frame pitches only when close and almost always with the ball inside - see more on Selling Strikes.

Blocking and Throwing	With runners on, you need to be ready for both blocking pitches and making a consistent transition for the thrown down.	Set up with the knees out, feet flat, but keep the weight inside for leverage. You want your hips higher - level with the knees, and you can cheat the right leg back slightly (on the throwing side for RH). To get into this position from the sign-giving stance, try to do it with a two foot hop. The hop is harder to read from the side (i.e. bench or coaching box) so it isn't as obvious if you've set up for an inside or outside pitch. (In a shuffle the first leg lift would always be to the side you're shifting.) Keep the throwing hand in contact with the back of the glove (so it doesn't drift into vulnerable spot), and keep the thumb tucked in just in case. Blocking balls in the dirt is easier from this stance. See No Passed Balls for details. Finally, this is the position you want to be in for a jump-turn or step-turn pivot to Throw Out Runners.