Catchers

[CallingCadence14]

They are still blocking they are just taking a straight line to cut off the ball.
The blocking technique is the same.Your just not rounding the route ,you're taking a direct route to the ball .You'll still be blocking it'll just be towards the infield keeping the ball to your front to field and make the play.It's not crazy.The world isn't flat!!Not asking you to follow me off a bridge .Think outside of the box.

[CallingCadence14]

I can't believe that others on here cannot see how simple it really is and makes the Catcher .10ths of a sec quicker?Or someone on here to dispute this?With proof.

[Coach11]

I can't believe that others on here cannot see how simple it really is and makes the Catcher .10ths of a sec quicker?Or someone on here to dispute this?With proof.

It's just a difference in phylosophy. A straight line may get the catcher to where the ball is headed faster.

But if she isn't able to control it once she gets there, it really doesn't matter, does it?

[CallingCadence14]

Why wouldn't the catcher have control they are still dropping and blocking they just aren't trying to round the ball ,they are merely cutting off the ball,like normal fielding and blocking forward to the infield .

[Coach11]

Why wouldn't the catcher have control they are still dropping and blocking they just aren't trying to round the ball ,they are merely cutting off the ball,like normal fielding and blocking forward to the infield .

The angles of deflection change dramatically.

A ball that hits the outer edges of the catcher or her equipment moving side to side is going to redirect off towards foul territory and away from the field of play.

By circleing around instead, you are increasing the chances of keeping the ball in front of you, or at least in (towards) fair territory.

[SnocatzDad]

Is it possible that the original intent of describing the smile (round) pattern of cather position was a visual aid to allow them to picture how their body should be positioned relative to the field of play? Picture mapping proper finishing position every 6 inches or so away from the center and that picture becomes a curve. However the path taken to each point on that curve is actually a straight line from the neutral position to that particular position

[Joe Dirt]

The bottom line is that the ball needs to stay in front of the catcher. I believe that getting around the ball and blocking towards home is the way to do it best. It doesn't literally mean making a half circle. It means that the catcher's outside shoulder is turned in towards first or third, keeping the deflection of the ball in front of her and in the field of play. If she moves laterally, with her shoulders going towards the dugouts, the deflection will very likely go that way as well. At least it increases the chances quite a bit. Just my two cents.