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! If you enjoyed this presentation please follow me on Twitter: @XanBarksdale Question and Answer? (aka Discussion!) • I’m done talking “at” you, now I want to talk “with” you!.