High squat? Low squat? Ever wonder why there are different philosophies on the catcher’s squat? Which is correct? One of the most frequent inquiries I receive from people is my philosophy in regards to the squat. I was a catcher and my opinions about the position are not based on what I’ve been taught, necessarily. I have done a ton of investigation on the reasons why catching mechanics are the way that they are.  Not all coaches agree on the softball squat, but we're going to kind of uncover the reasons of why they are done. It’s important to recognize that although your coach might teach the squat a different way, that does not mean they are incorrect. Everyone has their own ways of teaching, but note that we often teach what we have been taught without knowing the reasoning behind what we teach. I would encourage all players and coaches to investigate their reasoning for their own philosophies.

Let’s start discussing a squat that everybody agrees upon. That squat is the pitch calling position. Legs are close together. Your glove is on the outside part of your knee so that it shields the third base coach from seeing any of your signals. Your signs are high and tight to your body. This is your private form of communication between you and the pitcher. The only other people that might be in on receiving this information could be the shortstop and second baseman in order to relay the sign to the outfielders. Baseball and softball players and everyone in between all agree on the pitch-calling position.

Next let’s discuss the high squat. Some coaches believe that catchers should set up in a higher position when runners are on base or if there are two strikes on the batter. They believe that this might make a catcher better able to get in a throwing position for a steal and better able to block a ball if it’s in the dirt. Although this is a higher position, it is not so high as to be meant to block the umpire. The coaches that teach the high squat also believe that when nobody is on base or there are less than 2 strikes, a catcher should be in a low squat. This philosophy is very common among baseball coaches, and we will discuss why it is popular for baseball later in the article.

The second philosophy is the low squat for catchers. Despite whether there are runners on base or there are any strikes on the batter, the catcher will always be in a low squat. These coaches believe that catchers are just as or more athletic and quick in a low squat than a high squat. Typically, more softball coaches and women will be taught this low squat philosophy at all times. I was taught both philosophies in my playing career and have a preference to being in a low catcher’s squat at all times while catching.

Before we explain, please understand there is no right or wrong answer. It is simply a philosophy. Like anything in softball, it is important to better understand the “why” behind what we do so that we can better understand our roles.

First of all, I think that a catcher should always be in a position to be agile. There might be a pop fly in a game when nobody is on and you have to dive to get it. Softball has a huge amount of small ball so you have to be on your toes to field a bunt at all times. In order to frame effectively, you need to be able to get around frames and be agile at all times as pitches break in the zone. Games are fast-paced. I do not believe the only time a softball catcher should be “ready” should be when runners are on base or when there are 2 strikes on the batter. Our game is simply too fast to only be ready during those times.

I believe that a catcher should be in a low squat at all times for 3 reasons.

1. It gives the Umpire a better visual of the ball- Our first job is to get our pitcher to look good and to be zero distraction to the umpire. Many young catchers who do the high squat actually get too high in their catching position. The catcher ends up blocking the umpire or distracting him or her. Their position ends up becoming like a third baseman position rather than a squat. Inside pitch set up in a high squat can especially be distracting to umpires. Imagine that you are in your pitch calling position and move as the pitch is coming toward where the umpire is setting up. You are impeding the vision of the ball and this will contribute to impaired vision of the pitch for the umpire.

2. Girls have different Anatomy than boys. Crazy right? Girls have wider hips than guys and, in turn, they have a lower center of gravity. Boys’ center of gravity is higher on their bodies. When I played and was taught the high squat position, I was very much forward in my stance and feeling as though I wasn’t as balanced.
   I did not feel as athletic. I find that catchers that are in a high position will also tend to stand straight up when they are transferring to throw a ball down for a steal rather than get their weight transferred and build momentum towards their target. Staying low allows catchers to quickly turn for a throw down, coming on the inside part of their back foot and then going forward for a quick shift to a throw.  Staying low will allow for the weight to be on the inside parts of your feet so you can shift for frames a lot easier while being just as athletic. I do not believe girls need to be as high as boys in our squats when people are on base or with 2 strikes because our center of gravity is lower! We can be just as athletic from a low squat.

3. You can be just as agile from a low squat – We’ve mentioned girls have a lower center of gravity. I coach hundreds of catchers. We do fast-paced drills all the time. Some drills work on catchers going from a block to low squat position continuously and quickly. They do not have problems with quickness or agility in these drills.  During our framing from a low squat, they are shifting from one position to another effortlessly and they get up for bunts and dives in no time at all.  I truly believe that girls can shift their bodies more quickly in the low squat and it's going to be much more comfortable for them.  Many believe the squat is an awkward position, but it is actually a very natural position for people to be in. Just watch a young toddler effortlessly go in and out of a squat while playing with toys. Before there was indoor plumbing we all had to squat go to the bathroom, and in some countries they still have to squat to go to the bathroom. Staying in a low squat can also help a catcher to transition into a knee throw much more easily which can help to decrease pop-time tremendously. When I transitioned from a high squat as a catcher to a low squat all the time, I saw a huge difference in my pop time. I was able to turn my body quicker and get rid of the ball easily. It was even so noticeable that my teammates commented on how quick it was in game-like situations. I was much more athletic.

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