canuck_catching

⚾️ Coaches, we understand that practice time is precious, and you need to make the most out what you can do for the “backstop” of your team!

In just 3 hours, we transformed 17 players at our Babe Ruth Calgary camp – showing them what it means to WIN. EACH. PITCH. Witnessing their drive was electric; their dedication, a blueprint for success. Imagine channeling this into your team. 🏆

Miss out? The game’s not over. We’re bringing the momentum to coaches in Calgary this April, with Centennial Little League already arranging a session for their coaches.

Get ready to elevate your team’s strategy, refine skills, and ignite a winning spirit in every catcher. 🌟

📅 Additional coaching sessions are coming soon – be the catalyst for your team and association’s development. DM for info!

🎉 It's MLB Opening Day, and our hearts are pounding with the thrill of the game – just like they were at yesterday's Babe Ruth Calgary Spring Training session at Diamondawgs Baseball! In a lightning-fast 3 hours, 17 aspiring catchers stepped up to the plate, absorbing how to WIN. EACH. PITCH. 🌟

They hustled through each drill, from Receiving to Hand-Eye Coordination, perfecting their Blocks, Footwork, Transfers, and those game-deciding Plays at the Plate. These committed athletes have embodied the Canuck Catching spirit – showing up as eager players and leaving as leaders who own every moment behind the plate. Each throw, each catch, a testament to their hard work and our shared dedication to excellence. This is more than training; it's a transformation. 💪

In April, we're bringing this energy and grit to Lacombe Minor Baseball, St. Paul Minor Ball and Chestermere Crushers Baseball. 📍

Grab your spot and join the ranks of those who transform the game—one pitch at a time. Send us a DM, and we will make sure you have everything you need to register! 📢

🔥 Preseason catching clinic alert! 🔥

Are you ready to take your catching skills to the next level? Our Little League Catching Clinic is the perfect way to prepare for the upcoming season and improve your performance behind the plate.

During this clinic, we'll cover all the essential skills you need to excel as a catcher, including stances, blocking, receiving, footwork, and transfers for throws to bases.

You'll receive hands-on instruction and personalized coaching from our experienced coaches to help you master these skills and become a top-notch catcher. You'll leave the clinic with the tools to lead your team to victory, one pitch at a time.

🗓️ Clinic date: April 22 & 29, 2023
⏰ Clinic time: 10-12PM each day
📍 Clinic location:
Diamondawgs Baseball 7008 5th St
💲$60

Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to improve your catching skills and become a leader on your team.
Sign up now by sending me a DM to secure your spot. Let's make this your best season yet, and WIN. EACH. PITCH.

We are holding clinics just for coaches to help you answer a couple of skill testing questions!

1- Which position touches the baseball more than any other?

Hint: #2 position, but number 1 in touches…

2- Do you give this position the individual time to practice their unique skills in your practices?

Hint: Bullpens and bunt defence doesn’t cut it…

We get it- not everyone is cut out to be a catcher. As a combination of quarterback and goaltender- a great catcher can change the game. Most coaches oversimplify the drills and training as they don’t understand modern techniques- relying on what they’ve heard or seen years ago!

We will help you change that and WIN. EACH. PITCH. this season. We’re holding a clinic just for you!

Introducing modern concepts, providing practice plans, and most importantly- giving you the opportunity to immediately use it by running stations with young catchers while we help you fine tune your approach and identify adjustments that players need.

Join us at Diamondawgs Baseball on April 22 and 29, 2023 and add another level to your team!

Register at www.diamondawgs.com or DM for details.

The countdown has begun… are you ready?

You can feel it in the air… Spring Training is on TV, and some days you can even see grass on the ball diamonds! Pitchers and catchers reported weeks ago- what have you been doing to prepare for the season and backstop your team?

In only a couple of months, we will be on the diamond and playing games- now is the time to tune up your skills and get into game shape. This isn’t something you can cross off at the last minute- start now!

Every Friday evening until April 6th at Diamondawgs - we’ll be holding catching clinics to set you up to WIN. EACH. PITCH. this season! Friday afternoons are also available for one on one sessions.

Come and join other catchers- winning strikes, becoming a brick wall for pitchers, gunning base runners and getting every out around the plate.

Register today www.diamondawgs.com or DM for details!

Replace fear with skill.

That’s a wrap for Catchers Spring Training The Dome Red Deer.

Friday and Saturday we spent 7 hours with 13U and 15U catchers from across Central Alberta- reintroducing the fundamentals ahead of the upcoming season!

We learned how stances are the concrete foundation of everything a catcher does and how that improves our ability to WIN strikes, block baseballs and throw out baserunners!

Time flies when we break everything into the basics- asking questions of the players, and building them as teammates and leaders on and off the field. We saw great smiles, sweaty faces and a few bruises (all part of being a catcher…)

Innisfail Minor Baseball, Sylvan Lake Mariners, Sylvan Lake Storm, Lacombe Dodgers and Red Deer Carstar Braves some of the associations well represented by the players who put in the work!

All the best this season- we know you’ll be able to Win. Each. Pitch. this season with the work ethic and attitude you brought this weekend!

We are back Central Alberta!

The 3rd Annual Canuck Catching Spring Training Camp is coming back to The Dome Red Deer

13U- April 8th from 5-8:30PM- $122
15U- April 9th from 9-12:30PM- $122

We’ll review the fundamentals of catching and have you ready to hit the diamond the second the snow melts!

Catchers will learn about modern catching techniques including one knee down stances, receiving pitches for more strike calls, blocking and improving pop time and throws to all bases.

Register at [email protected]

Let’s help you WIN. EACH. PITCH. this season!

Happy Catchers Day!

Few 🇨🇦 Baseball Players know that in the 🇺🇸 February 2nd is Catchers Day.

Kudos to all of the hardworking leaders behind the dish.

Let’s celebrate the bruises collected, the shale dumped out of our cleats, the sweat stained chest protectors, the jammed thumbs from glove side fastballs…

It’s all worth it when you see your pitcher fist pump on a strikeout, the framed pitch off the plate by two balls called an inside strike, a perfectly blocked curveball dropping in front of you, and the lead off hitter gunned down at 2B.

It’s a tough position that builds character and demands respect from everyone on the field.

Thank you to all of my friends who continue to give back to baseball and help coach with me.

Looking forward to another year working with you, now let’s get out there and Win. Each. Pitch.

Embrace the Grind.

Being a catcher isn’t easy. Like a hockey goalie, we have more gear to haul around in addition to a batting helmet and the gloves for other positions we play.

I take care of my gear, but let’s face it, my bag definitely takes the brunt of everything when it comes to packing it all up after a long game or practice! Bags tend to only last a couple years, and never quite have the space to fit everything I need. Packed to the max- zippers fail, handles or stitching tears and the wheels on most rolling bags are like trying to balance a unicycle…

Now I have my hands on an E2 catchers bag from No Errors. First impression is this thing is the size of some hockey bags, with industrial zippers and handles built like they are meant as a harness for rock climbers! Then you see the wheels that are made to be ran off-road and not just in the parking lot.

Built specifically for catchers, there is a vented spot for shin pads, another for chest protector and another for cleats. No surprises there. However, it has a pocket that can be locked when travelling to secure your mitt or other valuables! No one wants a teammate grabbing your mitt and catching a bullpen, right?!

Based on its size and a spot made for all of my gear, I was able to compress two bags into one. Who cares? The real game changer is the FatBoy wheels on this bag- no balancing needed and knowing the treks to Canadian baseball diamonds, I’m able to keep the additional weight off my shoulder and on the ground.

The E2 bag is an investment compared to a normal baseball bag, but it’s size, functionality and durability are worth it. We invest in good catching gear and we know normal bags just don’t cut it. The E2 bag is built to take the daily grind of a catcher!

FOR A LIMITED TIME PURCHASE A NO E2 CATCHERS BAG AND ADD A RBP BACKPACK FOR FREE (NORMALLY $59.99) CHOOSE FROM 10 COLORS.

Simply text FREE to 1.855.205.8561

A perfect opportunity to get your hands on a backpack built to the same standards!

For more information on other NoErrors gear- please see the link below.

I’ll be ordering the coaches bag next!

https://lddy.no/13dnp

WIN. EACH. PITCH.

That’s certainly what this group of Pistols and Spitfires have done over the past three weeks!

Tonight we wrapped up our last clinic, working on blocked ball recovery, throws to bases, and plays at the plate. The energy never dropped, and we had fun right up to the last minute.

Thanks to Olds Minor Softball and Olds Minor Baseball for making this happen and Nate Flewelling for helping coach this group!

All the best this season- we’ll see you behind the dish.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast!

Week #2 with Olds Pistols and Spitfires- working on footwork, transfers, throws to bases and bunt defence. A packed three hours!

Footwork and transfers like a 2B making a double play, get the right foot into the ground, elbows separate and point toward target- let it fly!

Baserunners beware ☠️

In only a week, we’ve all seen an incredible improvement and focus on each new drill. These catchers are well on their way to becoming leaders on the field who will WIN. EACH. PITCH.

One more week to go!

Excited to be the newest addition to affiliate program ‼️

We’ll be bringing unique training tools to build catchers and help then continue to WIN. EACH. PITCH.

Get ready to dominate once the snow melts! 🇨🇦⚾️🥎

Thanks AJ Fystro for the invite, and giving me a chance to grow the game.
9 catchers and 3 coaches all have a better understanding of the position and took away a ton of drills to do from the session. WIN. EACH. PITCH. 👊 ⚾️

Here we go- if you’re around Calgary or further south- let’s kick off 2022 with a catching introduction for your young ballplayer! Even coaches are invited to learn more about modern catching techniques.

Calling all Central Alberta baseball players!

Olds Minor Softball Association and Olds Minor Baseball have asked Canuck Catching to deliver caching camps for their members and any ballplayer who would like to learn more about the art and science of being a catcher. We are happy to announce that on January 12, 19 and 26, we will be running clinics to introduce and train on modern approaches to catching and WIN. EACH. PITCH.

Catching Introductory Camps
A great series of camps for players (and parents!) to learn more about the catcher's position and the fundamentals to help improve comfort, confidence, and success behind the plate. To help ensure the highest value and opportunity for coach input, these camps will be limited to maintain an appropriate coaching ratio.

What we will cover in the camps:

Camp 1- Introduction/Overview of Concepts (3 hours)
• STANCES – The three basic stances catchers use throughout a game. We will teach catchers how the proper ready positions are the base for performing the other fundamental skills involved with the position.
• RECEIVING – Soft hands, sticking the pitch, keeping strikes as called strikes and borderline pitches called strikes. Being a good receiving catcher will help the team more than anything else the catcher does.
• BLOCKING – Technique to help catchers be the backstop of the team. Being a good blocking catcher can save runs for their team and improve pitchers' confidence. Although it is the least liked job of a catcher, it is one of the most important. We will help catchers get comfortable with the baseball hitting them and take pride in their blocking ability.
• THROWING – A catcher's throwing ability is what coaches, opponents, and scouts notice first. We will cover what catchers need to know to become the best throwing catcher they can be, including quick hands, quick feet, and throwing mechanics.
• Also, expect catchers to learn about:
o The importance of a good work ethic.
o The importance of training their brain and eyes as much as they prepare their body.
o The importance of controlling their emotions.
o Building a good relationship with teammates and umpires.

Camp 2- Development of Technique and Introduction of Tactics (3 hours)

• STANCES – Continuing to build on the concepts learning in Camp 1.0, we will teach catchers how to develop their individual preferences within the three stances and find what best works for them based on their strength, flexibility, mobility and anatomy.
• RECEIVING – We will teach catchers ways to improve pocket awareness and introduce additional hand-eye coordination drills that can be used throughout the off-season.
• BLOCKING – We will continue to teach ways to increase catchers' mental approach to blocking techniques and introduce methods to improve the recovery of blocked balls.
• THROWING – We will continue to build on the fundamentals of throwing and footwork techniques, breaking down additional footwork for bunt defence, passed ball recovery and throws to 3B.
• TACTICAL ITEMS- We will introduce approaches that can be used for catcher pop flies, throws from the outfield, and force plays/double plays from home plate.
• Catchers will continue to learn about:
o The importance of a good work ethic.
o The importance of training their brain and eyes as much as they prepare their body.
o The importance of controlling their emotions.
o Building a good relationship with teammates and umpires.

Camp 3- Development of Tactics, and Introduction to Leadership and Off-Field Preparation (3 hours)

• STANCES – Refining the concepts from Camps 1.0 and 2.0, we will introduce catchers to One Knee Stances and the benefits and situations where they are useful.
• RECEIVING – We will continue to improve hand-eye coordination and approaches to improve pitch receiving and opportunities to gain more called strikes.
• BLOCKING – We will continue to teach ways to increase catchers' confidence in blocking techniques and develop skills to improve the recovery of blocked balls, including from a one knee stance.
• THROWING – We will continue to build on the fundamentals of throwing and footwork techniques, breaking down additional footwork from one knee stances and development of arm path and arm strength.
• TACTICAL ITEMS- we will build on concepts from Camp 2.0, developing skills for catcher pop flies, throws from the outfield, and force plays/double plays from home plate.
• MENTAL- we will place additional focus on identifying:
o The importance of a good work ethic.
o Goal Setting within each drill and practice.
o The importance of controlling their emotions.
o Building a good relationship with teammates and umpires.
o Leadership- on and off the field.
• FLEXIBILITY & MOBILITY- We will spend additional time on catcher specific dynamic warm-up, flexibility work, and catching specific cooldowns that will help improve comfort and performance in the upcoming season

Each participant receives:
• Coach to player ratio of 1:6
• Handout with information covered at the camps
• Catching specific warm-up to minimize injury and maximize success
• Over 8hours of extensive drill work that will focus on stances, receiving, blocking and throwing

Please register at www.oldsminorsoftball.com or DM for more details

Looking for focused development on catching skills this off-season?

We are excited to announce an extension of our partnership with Diamondawgs Baseball which includes a Phase 2&3 of our catchers off-season program through the end of March!

Sessions run Friday nights at DD new facility in SE Calgary for two age groups- 12-14 and 15-18. This allows for focused progression for intermediate and advanced catchers and extend on concepts learned in Phase 1.

DD new facility features:
-3 full length batting cages that all have the ability to accommodate live at bats from 60'6"
​-2 front toss cages (35' long)
​-A 2,100 sq foot bullpen area
​-1,700 sq feet of weight room
​-5 TV's to post practice plans or display data collection (Rapsodo, Blast, etc)

Catchers will receive specific instruction focused on improving the technical aspects of the most demanding position on the field. They will improve their ability to block, receive/frame, throw, defend the bunt, and control a game with pitch selection and interactions with their pitcher. Limited spaces available to maintain a high coach to player ratio.

Let’s get ready to WIN EACH PITCH in 2022!

Sign up at www.Diamondawgs.com or DM for more details.

Posted • .ca SAVE THE DATE! comes to Okotoks, Saturday Jan 8th. Full Camp details still to come!! Only 12 spots available.

In collaboration with Training Foundation we are excited to welcome Don von Hollen and Canuck Catching to our facility.

This 3hr clinic will be 1 you will not want to miss. An excellent gift for the Catcher in the family. Ages 11 to 15 welcome. Email AJ at [email protected] or DM to be placed on our Camp contact list to receive full Camp details once released.

WIN. EACH. PITCH.

Incredibly excited to have an opportunity to speak about some of the latest hot topics in catching at the upcoming CTLC conference in Calgary this weekend!

Hot topics I’ll touch on are:

Modern receiving techniques, and One Knee Down Stances.

For any coaches who register and attend, I will include videos and a breakdown of receiving and stances to use with your teams this off-season and next year!

I’m excited to share the stage with Miki Kawahara who I’ve worked with for many years- you will see us at 9:30 on Saturday morning, and we’ll stick around to answer any questions after the session.

For more info or to register- http://littleleagueab.ca/article/53421

Another week, another session with some of the catchers from Red Deer Minor Baseball.

These guys started earlier this season with foundational work on stances, and progressed through all the technical items of blocking, footwork, receiving and into tactical items of catcher pops, plays at the plate and many more.

Each week they used their carpooled travel time to update their notebooks from Always Grind to identify what went well, key points, and areas to work on. It’s already paying off!

A great season behind the dish so far with eyes on provincials at the end of August- all the best boys. Now get out there, and WIN. EACH. PITCH.

The off-season is right around the corner!

Catchers are taught to be a step ahead, think strategically and lead by example. This is a great opportunity to develop as a student athlete while refining your catching and leadership skills!

Keep the momentum you’ve started this season on the field and push forward!

Apply soon and work to WIN. EACH. PITCH.

If there are any questions- feel free to send a DM or contact NSA on their website https://nationalsportacademy.ca/

🧢 Back by popular demand, are our Canuck Catching Hats! 🔥

We sold out of our first order, and have quite a few of you asking when our next order will go in.

Hats are New Era Cap 5950 low profile at $45 each. Please DM us if you’re interested in ordering one and we’ll get you on the list!

(Exact size will be required as they are a fitted hat- not stretch fit 😆)

Coaches find inspiration from players in many ways. This week, it was mental toughness.

Friday- one of my catchers had a challenging day when working on throws to 2B. He was tired and sore after 4 practices over 2 days and it was hot- 27C. The classic catcher grind, having to do the work in full gear!

His first questions after the session were:
1- When are we scheduled to do this again? I’ll be ready
2- When will the video be uploaded, so I can see what I need to work on?

He sat down with his journal and took notes, while his teammates were taking BP.

Always an opportunity to improve and use the challenging days to rise above!

This is from a player that 2 months ago, admittedly hadn’t put in the work while at home and on quarantine.

A massive change, which puts him on a path to incredible things, and I can’t wait to see where he goes.

I’m taking it as a challenge to improve my skills to support catchers as they grow as athletes and resilient people.

Thanks as well to .to.inspire for supporting athletes (and coaches) off the field!

Another great session on Sunday with Calgary Rocky Mountain Little League’s Catchers! We had two groups with nearly 4 hours indoors at Coyote Baseball while the snow flew outside. ❄️

The first group was an introduction of Catching Stances and Receiving Pitches, then had some fun with Vector Balls to train Cognitive Vision before working on Blocking techniques. We wrapped it all up with a game of wiffleball in full catchers gear! (If you can catch a game wearing your gear- why not run the bases and play the infield) 😆

The second group we’d worked with last summer, so we tuned up their Stances, Receiving and Blocking, then had some fun shutting down the running game- working on throws to 3B and back picks to 1B. It all wrapped up with catchers showing off their cannons with a pop time competition! 💪🏻

Thank you for having us out to help you this season, and we’re looking forward to seeing you on the diamond soon! ⚾️

* 🔥 Canuck Catching gear *

What ball player doesn’t like a fresh- New Era Cap low profile 5950! 🧢

They are available to purchase for $40 CAD if you’re interested in getting one. Order will go in later this week, with a delivery of early summer. 😎

As these are fitted hats (not flex fit) DM your hat size if you’re interested and we’ll work out the details for payment and shipping, or how we can deliver these in person.

We’ll even give one away to the first person who can guess where the inspiration for the leaves on the back of the hat came from! 🍁

Wrapped up our offseason catcher development with Diamondawgs Baseball last night!

A final tune up of footwork, transfers and throws to 2B to close things off. These guys have made incredible progress, considering we had to take out an entire phase of training!

All the best this season boys- looking forward to seeing you put it together on the diamond and

Spring Training continues, and we’re excited to develop more catchers in time for the upcoming season!

Now that the Babe Ruth Calgary’s rosters have been announced, Canuck Catching has been asked to develop a Spring Training program for BRC catchers.

We’ll be working with them April 11, 18 and 25 at Coyote Baseball’s new location in Calgary.

Get ready to learn ways to ⚾️🔥

What an incredible 13U Catchers Spring Training Camp this weekend!

So much fun- having a chance to review the fundamentals of catching, and playing a catchers on catchers game on the infield at The Dome Red Deer!

We had baseball and softball catchers- even a couple lefties. Sully showed us how a lefty can recover a 3B line bunt and be a sniper on throws to 3B!

Thank you to the coaches, parents and especially the catchers who came out to have some fun with us and get ready for the season! We’ll certainly be back again and ready to

Photos credit Kristy Hartt Photography