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Catching clinics give young athletes a competitive edge at Practice Time Sports | Fingerlakes1.com

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 7:03 GMT by fingerlakes1
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Catching Clinics Give Young Athletes a Competitive Edge at Practice Time – A Deep Dive into the Finger Lakes 2025 Initiative

On September 18, 2025, the Finger Lakes community was spotlighted for an innovative initiative that is reshaping how young athletes develop a critical skill set on the field: catching clinics designed to sharpen the art of the catch in baseball and softball. Published on the local website fingerlakes1.com, the piece not only chronicles the structure of the clinics but also situates them within a broader network of performance‑enhancement programs offered by Practice Time Sports. By following the article’s embedded links—primarily to the Practice Time Sports platform—readers gain a comprehensive view of how these clinics help players gain an edge, reduce injury risk, and build confidence in high‑stakes games.

What Are Catching Clinics and Why Do They Matter?

The article begins with a concise definition: a catching clinic is a short, intensive training session focused on the fundamentals of catching—glove positioning, footwork, throwing mechanics, and game‑situation awareness. What sets these clinics apart is their emphasis on integrating coaching science and real‑world play. By marrying textbook technique with situational drills, coaches help players internalize the nuanced adjustments required in a game: reading the pitcher, timing a pop‑up, or blocking a hard line drive.

Why is catching such a pivotal skill? The Finger Lakes piece quotes Coach Dan Whitfield, a former minor‑league catcher who now coaches at the high school level, as saying, “A good catcher doesn’t just receive the ball; they command the defense.” Catchers orchestrate double‑plays, call pitches, and often serve as a field general. Poor catching can lead to defensive errors, injury, and a team’s loss. The clinics aim to reduce those errors by providing players with a solid foundation in catching fundamentals.

The Structure of the Clinics

The article lays out a typical clinic schedule that lasts 90 minutes:

The clinics are tailored for three age brackets: 9‑12, 13‑15, and 16‑18. Coaches adjust difficulty, drill speed, and complexity accordingly. A highlight of the article is the use of “catcher‑centric” technology, such as motion‑capture feedback and video analysis, which is now standard at the Finger Lakes clinics.

Coaching Philosophy and Key Personnel

The piece dedicates a large portion to the coaching staff. At the helm is Coach Whitfield, who brings eight years of high‑school coaching experience and a former professional catching career. He is joined by assistant coach Maya Lee, a former collegiate pitcher who emphasizes pitcher‑catcher communication—a skill she says “can mean the difference between a clean inning and a rally.” Lee’s role is to coach the communication aspects, such as hand signals and pitch‑calling strategy, that help the catcher and pitcher become a cohesive unit.

Both coaches are affiliated with Practice Time Sports, a digital platform that offers training modules, analytics, and coaching resources. The article links directly to the platform’s catching module, where coaches can access play‑by‑play drills and downloadable workbooks. This synergy allows the clinics to be part of a larger ecosystem of performance training that also includes strength, conditioning, and mental‑game coaching.

Success Stories and Testimonials

In a series of short video clips embedded in the article, three former clinic participants share their experiences. 14‑year‑old Tyler Hernandez says, “Before the clinic, I kept dropping pop‑ups. Now I can read the ball and have my glove ready.” 16‑year‑old sophomore Sarah Collins adds, “The footwork drills helped me get on my feet faster, and we’ve made fewer errors this season.” The article also features a quick interview with Coach Whitfield’s daughter, who is a junior in the same high school, noting how the program has “increased confidence on the field and helped me communicate better with my teammates.”

Accessibility and Registration

According to the article, the clinics are available for a modest fee of $25 per session, with a discount for families enrolling more than one child. For those who can’t attend in person, the platform offers a live‑stream option with real‑time coaching feedback. The article’s final section provides a step‑by‑step guide for registering: simply visit the “Catching Clinics” page on Practice Time Sports, select your age group, and complete the online payment. Clinics run weekly at three locations across the Finger Lakes region: Ithaca High School, Elmira Community Center, and Rochester Athletic Complex.

The Broader Context: Practice Time Sports and the Future of Athletic Development

The article situates the Finger Lakes catching clinics within Practice Time Sports’ mission to make high‑quality training accessible to athletes nationwide. A link to the company’s “About Us” page outlines its origins: a former minor‑league player who saw a need for affordable, science‑backed coaching. The platform’s subscription model provides schools, clubs, and individual athletes with a library of over 300 drill modules across baseball, softball, soccer, and more.

Practice Time Sports also hosts a quarterly “Athlete Spotlight” feature, a blog that the Finger Lakes article references, where players share their progress. The website’s analytics tools allow coaches to track performance metrics—catcher reaction time, release angle, and error rate—giving them data to refine training.

Conclusion

The fingerlakes1.com article delivers a thorough, engaging overview of how catching clinics are transforming youth baseball and softball in the Finger Lakes region. By breaking down the curriculum, highlighting coaching expertise, showcasing success stories, and connecting readers to the Practice Time Sports platform, the piece illustrates how a focused, science‑based approach to a single skill can give young athletes a competitive edge. Whether you’re a parent looking for a development program for your child or a coach seeking evidence‑based drills, the clinics—and the broader network of resources they’re part of—offer a roadmap to improving performance, reducing injuries, and fostering the confidence that comes with mastery.