How many games should a catcher catch?

[Tucson]

Let's say she is 14. The games are normally 90 degrees and she wants to be back there every game, even if it is 5 a day.

[DonnieS]

Thats a tough question. I hurt a catcher recently by not asking her 'how you doing kid' after each game - she is one of those gutsy kids that plays until she drops. I had 2 other catchers there but I needed them at other positions. She had caught 4 games back to back - when we got to the 5th game, I saw tears on her face and said 'whats going on' - she said 'Coach - I cant go another - Put me somewhere else - but I cant catch anymore. I felt awful - I worry about the pitchers and totally forgot about her. Catchers put in as much work as the pitchers. What I should have done is rotated them - but the kid who is catching is going to be going to bigger and better things - as long as her stupid coach doesnt hurt her. My experience tells me probably 3 games - but if I rotate them properly - and make sure that each kid understands how to call games - that was the mistake I made. My regular catcher is getting pretty good at calling games and I didnt want to break up the timing between her and the pitchers - so I overlooked how hard it is to do that job. Big mistake.

[Tucson]

That's the scenario, exactly Donnie.

I come from a world where we only carried one catcher. In my ASA days, there was always one catcher. (I guess they were never sick or had a life outside of softball.)

On the college team that I coached, same thing. I can remember one day, my catcher laying on the ground with craps in her calves. I told here that was enough, I would have 3rd catch. She refused to give up. I went to her mom and she said DD is an adult. So, she continued to catch.

But, I have a nephew that was "all that" and caught every game of his HS career. Now, at age 45 he can barely get around. He was also captain of the football team. He has so many knee problems, now, and says that he wishes every day that he hadn't caught.

[Judd]

error on the coach

I think some kids will push it to far as well. You may need to pull them out even if they say they can keep going. For example I had a pitcher barehand a grounder and jam her finger. She swore she was fine and she could still pitch. After 5 pitches she asked if we could have a bag of ice ready when she came in but she refused to come in. She finished the inning and sat the rest of the game against her will

[texasfastpitch]

I really think it depends on the player. If she is in good shape and well conditioned, 3 games isn't too much. It also depends if you are talking back-to-back games or if there is rest time in between. Our bracket catcher can catch multiple games in a day, without problems. She is very well conditioned and stays hydrated. Like I said before, it really depends on the player.

[Sam]

I had a similar situation to Donnie...ASA 14U Western Nationals...my #1 catcher sustained a concussion diving for a foul pop-up against a concrete border on Friday night...Saturday is elimination day....we won 5 consecutive games with my #2 catcher receiving all of the games...I had 13 kids on the team, but only 10 available due to injuries...my #2 catcher came to me 3 innings into the final game with tears in her eyes...I saw that her hand was turning black and blue...and immediately removed her from the game to put in my #3 catcher. I had checked on her repeatedly during the day and she was a warrior..."I'm OK, coach." She doesn't play softball anymore, but I'll never forget that kid and what she did for her team that day.

That said, I prefer to switch catchers every other game, with a two game maximum per day if possible.

[Tucson]

At U of AZ. Callie Balko is currently on her 3rd year of catching every pitch. She is 5'9" and I doubt that she weighs 115.
She is only doing one to 2 games at a time, but they are full 7 inning games.

She says that her knees don't hurt, but there is pain in her back. I wish her much success.

[fasterpitch92701]

DonnieS,

Good post. 90 degrees is one thing, throw in 99% humidity and it really gets ugly. My estimate would be 3 games max, preferably 2 if the humidity and heat are up. Where it really gets you is if you're in the losers bracket late in a major tourney playing 4 games in a day. To subject a catcher to that is expecting too much from player IMHO.

enjoy,

[DonnieS]

>> Where it really gets you is if you're in the losers bracket late <<

Be glad you dont have an deranged daughter. She thinks the most fun thing in the world is a day full of back to backs - she told me a while back (this is why I think she needs to be tested) "Dad, why dont we just lose the first game on saturday, then we can rest up and play all day Sunday."

[NoNothin]

IMHO, the heat and exaustion thing is just good common sense, but the long term results of catching depends alot upon how well you condition and strength train off season and diet is very important. A kid could catch two to five games every tourney weekend and not feel anything until they are about 30 or 40 years old. Again, JMHWO

NoNo