Building a Relationship with your Catcher

by Xan Barksdale The Presentation is Available for Download at:

! Why is a Catching Guy Speaking at a Pitching Event?

• Catchers spend 4x as much time in the bullpen as pitchers

• Catchers have a unique perspective that no one else does

• Catchers are the “Air Traffic Control Center” Don’t Believe Me?

Article: Why Can’t Pitcher’s Be Managers?, WSJ 10-23-13 What Is The Biggest Disservice in Baseball?

• Coaches having to coach pitchers AND catchers

• Not because of knowledge, because of time

• 2 most coaching intensive positions

• P’s require most attention, C’s closely follow The Ideal Catcher

• Can receive, block, throw, hit…and manage a pitching staff! Every Good Relationship is Based on Two Things…

• Communication

• Trust Lack of communication GIGO Garbage In, Garbage Out

• The only thing worse than no information is bad information!

• If you’re not utilizing your catcher you are ignoring what he sees

• Your catcher must trust YOU!

• Jeremy Baltz What do Catchers Know?

• Their information isn’t necessicarly “better”, but it is different.

• Where is the hitter in the batter’s box? Is he striding open/closed?

• 2 sets of eyes/ears is always better than one! Communication is a 2-Way Street

• Conversation

• Give and take

• Both parties give and receive information

• Don’t talk “at” your players, talk “with” them Who Do Catchers Communicate With?

• Pitcher

• Pitching Coach

• Umpire Areas of Emphasis Today:

• Communication with the pitching coach 4 Times to Communicate with Pitching Coach

• Bullpen Sessions

• Pre Game game-plan

• Mid Game Adjustments

• Post Game reviews Different Players Have Different Personality Types

• Some guys are quiet and don’t want to communicate

• Some guys have no problem being loud

• All GREAT players are excellent communicators

• When you cross the lines you must make decisions quickly, and communicate those decisions with other players.

• There are no other options Force Players to Communicate

• Bullpens (positive, encouraging, etc.)

• PFP (mine, take it, 1, 2, etc.)

• With Adults (trainer, coaches, teachers/professors, adults, etc.) 70-90% of Communication is Non-Verbal! Catcher’s Are REQUIRED to Have Good Body Language

• When the team is winning or losing

• When they’re having a good day or a bad day

• No matter what is going happening on or off the field

• Here’s why…

Mirror Neurons

• Mirror Neurons - Cells in your brain that allow you to mimic feelings, emotions, attitudes

• Recordings of people laughing at sitcoms

• You yawn when you watch others yawn

• “Product of your society”, people pout together!

• Catcher’s body language plays a huge role on team’s atmosphere Remind Your Catchers of This:

• During the game, everyone on the team is looking at them!

• In the bullpen

• During PFP and team defense Ways to Make a Catcher Feel Appreciated

• Ask for their opinion!

• Praise them in the bullpen when they do something well

• Have the pitcher shake their hand after a bullpen

• Let the team know how valuable they are (bullpen catchers)

• When people feel like their work is important (appreciated) they give better effort! “The Shameless Plug” CallingPitches.com “The Shameless Plug(s)” NeverMissASign.com “The Shameless Plug(s)” Catching-101.com “The Shameless Plug(s)” Catching-101.com/Store Thank You!

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@XanBarksdale Question and Answer? (aka Discussion!)

• I’m done talking “at” you, now I want to talk “with” you!