How catchers should handle pop ups

Catching pop ups can be a challenging play for the catchers. When handling pop ups, some catchers prefer to keep their mask on while others choose to ditch it. Either way is fine, but catchers who toss their mask must be aware of where it lands. To avoid tripping on it and rolling an ankle, catchers should try holding on to the mask until just before making the catch.

To receive a pop up, catchers need to stay in a low, athletic position with elbows and knees bent. They should avoid reaching up to catch the ball unless there's a flexible fence or mesh backstop to push off from. If there is, the catcher should catch the ball with their glove facing inward. This allows the ball to come into their body. If the catchers glove faces outward towards the fence, the ball is trapped and therefore not an out. Without the fence, catcher's and their glove should be facing the backstop so that the spin of the ball sticks in their glove. Watch as the Colorado State University coach and team discuss these tactics.