Skills and Drills
> Receiving
> Block/Recover
> Transfer/Throw
> Stances
> Giving Signs
> Mental Aspects
> Fielding Bunts
> Pick-Offs
> Pop-Ups
> Block the Plate
> Block/Recover
> Transfer/Throw
> Stances
> Giving Signs
> Mental Aspects
> Fielding Bunts
> Pick-Offs
> Pop-Ups
> Block the Plate
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In memory of:
Jim Wilkins
(1953-2010)
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Alumni Catchers:
J.R. Murphy
New York Yankees
2nd Round Draft Pick
(2008)
Mike Murray
San Fracisco Giants
Draft Pick
(2009)
Wake Forest Catchers
(2009)
Pepperdine Catchers
(2010)
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Coaching Experiences
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Tiffin University
(2010-Present)
Pepperdine
(2010)
Wake Forest
(2009)
IMG Academies
(2007-2008)
Stark County Terriers
(2007)
Tiffin University
(2005-2007)
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Playing Experiences
Arizona Diamondbacks
(2002-2004)
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The Ohio State University
(1999-2002)
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"I am writing to compliment you on your catching instructional material. I used it with our 9U team last year. I think your outline does a great job of breaking down the complicated position of catching into understandable terms for youth catchers. I will continue to use them in the future."
Marc Wilkins
Wilkins Baseball Academy
Pittsburgh Pirates 1992-2002
Major Leagues 1996-2002
Marc WilkinsWilkins Baseball Academy
Pittsburgh Pirates 1992-2002
Major Leagues 1996-2002
"I am the varsity head baseball coach for a high school in Pennsylvania, and have been doing this for 14 years. I have found your website to be the "best" that is out there. Catching is not my greatest area of expertise (I recently hired a catching coach for my team), but I do work with some young kids, and I find your website to incredibly helpful.
Thank you again for the website and the great information!"
Matt Schram
Dean of Students
Council Rock High School North
"I wanted to let you know that my 10 year old son Quinn, was at your catchers camp at ALL STAR FAMLY SPORTS in Columbus, Ohio on 12/21/2009. He has been catching full time for 2 years now on the baseball team my wife coaches. He came home and couldn't stop talking about the camp and the coaches. He had a GREAT time and learned alot. We even had to go outside in the snow so he could show me all the drills. All of the coaches who helped you did a GREAT job. The head baseball coach for Capital University even told my wife to contact him about doing a small mini camp for her team this year. Quinn can't wait for baseball season to start and will be working on all the drills this winter. We would recommend this camp to anybody and look forward to going to any other camps you have in the Columbus, Ohio area."
Dick Gray
Columbus, Ohio
Dick Gray
Columbus, Ohio
"Eddie played two games in Riverside on Saturday with kids his own age (not his normal team). He caught the first 3 innings. Eddie's 1st warm up throw down was the best I have ever seen by him (the other teams coach must have watched as well). In 11U baseball there is usually a lot of steals. Not one ball got by him through 3 innings and there was not a stolen base attempt. In the 2nd game against the #1 ranked team in Cali there was a lead off walk, on the 1st pitch Eddie threw him out stealing 2nd. Later in the game he caught a rebound off back stop and threw kid out stealing 3rd! He looked great catching! Lessons are helping, he had a blast! Thanks!"
Ed Kutt
Westlake, CA
"Just thought I would share with you a recent success of one of your campers from the winter camp in Cleveland this past year. My son Mike has really dedicated himself to the position of a catcher and although there is certainly a great deal of learning and improving ahead of him, he has quickly emerged as a true "catcher" this year. In his first full year as the "full-time" catcher for his travel team in the Great Lakes Baseball League U13 League he has batting at a nearly .400 clip and very importantly loves the catcher position and everything that comes with it.
The above sounds a bit like a proud dad boasting on his son's performance, which is true! However the reason I have chosen to write to you, is to let you know that his participation in your camp last winter really created a new vision in terms of his outlook on that position. Instead of it being one of nine occupied positions on the diamond, it has become his "chosen" position. Many thanks to you personally for helping him to see what it takes to be a true catcher.
I hope that your new position in California is going well, and we look forward to participating in next years camp. Thanks again."
Don Koller
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
"We want to thank you for your efforts in putting together this past weekend’s Catcher Camp. I thought it was well organized and rich in skills/drills that we can utilize for our team.
(I believe that was your mom helping out as well. Very nice lady. She did a great job.)"
Steve Ebright (Jacob)
New Albany Eagles (U10)
(I believe that was your mom helping out as well. Very nice lady. She did a great job.)"
Steve Ebright (Jacob)
New Albany Eagles (U10)
"We just wanted to let you know how awesome the camp was this weekend. Dillon learned so much and plans to work hard to correct some of the things he has been doing wrong. I can't say enough how impressed we were with all you taught and the great guys you had working with you.
If you have any more camps near us Dillon will certainly attend. Dillon is a very motivated player, but this weekend has some how inspired him more. He says he'll do whatever it takes to reach his goal of playing in college and beyond if that is possible."
Thanks again,
Dillon Curtin and Family
"Thanks for the weekly catching tips and keep them coming.
Nick played in a tournament this past weekend (his team won 1st) and he had two putouts at 3rd, 3 at 2nd and even picked a runner off at 1st.
His footwork has improved tremendously through the drills he learned at the mini camp in Columbus this past June."
Thanks,
Randey
"Hi, it is Trenton Miller. I went to one of the holiday camps at IMG. I just wanted to say thanks for the work you did with me. I made my junior varsity team as an eight grader and was called up to varsity at the end of the year. This season was a great one for me...I led the team in all offensive categories except for runs and stolen bases. I hit .516 and had 28 RBI in 20 games. I also had a great fielding percentage behind the plate. My coaches have been telling me that my receiving has improved greatly and that is because you taught me the right stance and receiving techniques. I still need to improve my blocking...any tips you can continue to give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Coach!"
Trenton Miller
Trenton Miller
"I wanted to thank you again for having the mini-catching camp last weekend at Whetstone High School. It was great to see the passion that you express for the game and especially the catching position. It was nice to see someone as yourself to step up and offer an affordable clinic that is packed with so much energy and information. My son Tanner had a wonderful time and he would love to come to another. Again thank you for your time and your devotion to the catching position it was exciting to watch them all work."
Ben Griggs
"I just wanted to drop a note to say how invaluable your videos and drills are. I started using your videos and drills this season and they have made a huge difference. I am the head JV coach and have two catchers that are like sponges when it comes to instruction. I believe that they are both as good fundamentally after using your videos and drills as the two catchers on varsity. They have to gain game experience but if the fundamentals are there then we have something to build on.
Thanks for putting your videos up on line and drills in pdf so that I can use them at practice everyday!
Good luck with your season!"
- KD
"My son Mason (12) and I really appreciate your experience and catching techniques via your website. He's playing in the Cal Ripken Little League here in Phoenix and the training tips you've provided have helped make Mason a very solid catcher. We view your videos together and then go out to the field and practice what you've outlined, it has really helped especially since as a lefty I never played the catcher position. THANKS from Mason and Garry in Phoenix, hope your doing well. If you ever put on any catching clinics here in the Phoenix area please let us know, we'll be the first to sign up!"
GY
GY
"Hope all is well with you! Happy new year and thanks for the updates! My two son's are both catchers Zach, 15 a sophomore at La Quinta High School, La Quinta CA, and my youngest is 12 playing travel ball here for the Desert Longhorns. You can't imagine when I show them your stuff how much it makes a difference to them. Because when Dad is a coach, it's just Dad telling them something about what they already know (right)! HaHa.. I put your updates in front of them and they say wow that's great info Dad, Joe really knows what he's talking about!
Thanks a million, and let's keep in touch!"
Bobb Boetto
College of the Desert
Palm Desert, CA
"Just wanted to inform you that Paul made the middle school team after last week three day try out.It will be a 7th/8th grade middle school team with 14 on the roster. Given the 3 day results Paul indicated that he was going to be the teams catcher. They had a lot of other guys to fill infield positions, and were in need of a catcher with tools, including blocking. Paul steadily prepared himself well since January and we are very proud of his accomplishment. All that jump roping has really lightened his feet (he didn't used to be that way), and he felt he did very well catching the pitchers tryouts and during scrimmage games. There were 4 other boys trying out for the catcher. Paul reported that one of the coaches commented after Paul blocked ball after ball that "he could get used to that". I told Paul that there is no substitute for being prepared, and Paul was. Well enough of the proud papa stuff.but I figured you'd like to know. I should have measured his chest on Friday morning, because I think it has grown 3 to 4 inches since J He is so psyched and all I've heard this weekend is how he can't wait to get started Monday. A sincere thank you Joe for your help and role in helping Paul's baseball ambitions come to life. We hope our paths will cross again in the future. We like your web site and it remains top of the ladder, first of mind, in our catching folder skills and drills."
Best to you always,
Tom Davenport