Pop-ups & Priority
Pop-up Straight Back at the Plate
Catcher's ball — mask off, find it, squeeze
A pop-up straight up over home plate. It's the catcher's ball — toss the mask the opposite way, find it over the shoulder, and make a soft catch.
Speed
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All 9 jobs
Ball Bag Backup
Coaching notes
Key point
On a pop straight back, the catcher throws the mask AWAY from where the ball will land, finds it over his shoulder, and catches it soft.
Drill
Catcher pop-up reps: mask toss, locate, and catch with the back to the infield — the spin makes these drift toward the backstop.
Watch for
Catching it stiff-handed or tripping over the tossed mask — clear the mask early and give with the hands.