Learning Center
Have you ever had a coach tell you and the catchers on your team to “go do your own thing?”
It can be a bit difficult to think of self-directed drills and how to execute them alone or without a coach. Luckily, I have plenty of experience doing my “own thing” at practices....
Recently, I had the fantastic opportunity to connect with over 40 young baseball athletes via Zoom. We talked about their current workout routines and came to the conclusion that, although it had a solid foundation, it needed to be more specific.
So, we brainstormed specific ways on how to...
Fast pitchers often throw high pitches that can be challenging to catch as they tend to miss the tip of the glove. But you can transform this challenge into an opportunity to enhance your catching skills with the right techniques.
In fact, we have helped 100s of catchers frame the high pitch...
One of the hardest balls to block in baseball is not the balls right at you, but the balls to the side. In face most of the balls you will have to block will not be right in front of you.
If you've noticed your lateral block looking a bit awkward, don't worry—you're not alone, and it's a...
Catching in baseball is fraught with hazards, but there's one danger that stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of sheer dread. It's not the backswing to the head or even 90 mph fastballs to your forearms that you should be most wary of. Brace yourself, because the absolute worst...
Facing limited playing time because your coach has a favorite or possibly harbors a bias is a discouraging reality many athletes encounter. It can feel deeply personal and unfair, especially when opportunities to prove yourself are rare and often come with immense pressure to perform flawlessly....
Catching involves strategic movements, one of which is mastering the art of the pump fake.
A successful pump fake can make the difference in critical game situations, inducing base runners into making game-costing mistakes.
However, a sloppy, unconvincing pump fake is ineffective and a waste of a...
Baseball, a game steeped in tradition and skill, is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Every player, regardless of their level, will make errors. But it's not the mistake that defines you; it's how you respond to it. Here’s why your next move after an error should be...
In the world of sports, especially in baseball, receiving varied coaching advice is not uncommon.
What do you do when your coach's guidance seems to conflict with that of what you are learning online?
This is a common dilemma many young athletes and their parents face.
Here’s a case in...
Brian and Isaac are a father-son powerhouse from Pittsburgh. They reached out to book a call with Coach Bougie about CatchCORE after watching his videos on YouTube.
Isaac recently started catching at 10 years old, so Brian started to look on YouTube for some drills to help his son get better.
As...
Catching is the hardest position on the field. And getting better yourself (or coaching someone to get better) can feel daunting, especially if you haven’t done it before.
If you’re new here, my name is Coach Bougie and I’m the founder of Catching Made Simple. I transitioned...
As parents, especially those enthusiastic about sports, our intentions in guiding our children can sometimes get lost in translation. This story, shared by head coach, Clay Van Hook, of the University of Texas at Arlington, beautifully illustrates the impact of how we communicate with our young...
