I'm sure we've all heard the defense's coach yell to the catcher...

"Ya gotta keep those in front of you..." or words to that effect.

I called a Jr Hi game a couple of days ago where the catcher took that instruction literally. Have you ever seen how a hockey goalie will use the leg guards to block the puck? That is what this kid did... she'd intentionally position herself so the pitched ball would rebound off her leg guards back out into the infield. This wasn't just an accidental thing - she did this intentionally for every low pitch. Very strange.

I asked the coach between one of the innings if her catcher was a hockey goalie. http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/biggrin2.gif

One good thing....
 

This technique should keep the ball from hitting you! :D

Being that I am a roller hockey goalie,
I have a tendency to do the same thing
when I catch in softball. Saves the ump
many "black & blues." Problem is I ALSO
tend to do it while playing 1st or 3rd
too, prompting one pitcher to say on an
error, "bad news is you didn't field the
ball; good news is you kept it out of the goal."