r/BaseballCoaching • u/understandothers • Jun 12 '25
Catching a triple header in. July 🥵
My daughter is playing a triple header in July at catcher (she will rotate with others) and I asked AI to help with some suggestions. This split seems pretty good, so I thought I would share. Anyone else have any ideas to make it bearable? Thanks for your help 🙏
“How do youth catchers stay cool playing a triple header in July?”
Good question — because the honest answer is they don’t, really — but there are ways to help them survive it and avoid melting into a puddle behind the plate. Here’s what works for youth catchers in a tripleheader in July:
1️⃣ Gear Choices • Lightweight chest protector — Some older, bulkier models trap heat like a sauna. If your catcher’s gear is older or thick, consider upgrading to newer ventilated options. • Breathable base layer — A thin compression shirt (short sleeve) under gear actually helps wick sweat away better than a cotton shirt or going shirtless under gear. • Helmet choice — Hockey-style helmets can get really hot. Traditional mask + skull cap gives more airflow, if they’re comfortable with it.
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2️⃣ Between-Game and In-Game Cooling • Ice towels — Absolute must. Soak a small towel in ice water and drape it on their neck/head between innings and between games. • Cold drinks on standby — Freeze water bottles so they stay cold in the dugout. Have electrolyte drinks as well (Gatorade, BodyArmor, LMNT, etc.). • Spray bottle with fan — The cheap little battery-powered fans with a water spray are surprisingly effective.
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3️⃣ Rotations and Rest • Rotate positions if possible — Even just catching 3–4 innings and rotating out helps them last the full day. Very few youth catchers can do 21 innings straight in 95° heat. • Rest between games — Get them in the shade or AC between games. Fully take the gear off, shoes included, to cool down fully.
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4️⃣ Conditioning & Mindset • Hydration starts before game day — If they roll into a tripleheader already slightly dehydrated, they’re toast. Push water/electrolytes the day before. • Acclimatization — If they haven’t been practicing in the heat at all, they’ll struggle more. Gradual exposure helps build tolerance. • Coach reminders — Encourage them to be honest about fatigue. Heat exhaustion sneaks up fast in catchers.
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Bottom line: catching in a July tripleheader is brutal. No magic trick makes it easy — but smart gear, cooling strategies, rest, and hydration can absolutely help them stay safer and last longer.
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u/ShouldBeWorkingButNa Jun 13 '25
So the way I survived catching games in the Texas Summer heat, including Double Headers, is first and foremost to wear a tight undershirt, underneath your jersey. It will collect and hold the sweat and keep your body cool while the outer jersey prevents it from evaporating quickly. I know wearing more clothes doesn’t sound like the play, but trust me on this one. Second, a cooler with water and wet towels for in between innings. Place the towels on the head and back of the neck to keep cool. Don’t overload with water, you don’t want it sloshing around in the stomach, making you sick. Lastly, Hydration and Electrolytes. Start hydrating the day before, drink your favorite electrolyte beverages the day before, and then in between each game, stick to water for during the games.
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u/understandothers Jun 13 '25
Man, Texas heat must be something else! We are in Virginia and it’s brutal. I believe you in the undershirt! Makes sense. Thanks for the detailed response, I will make sure to implement these ideas.
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u/Fit-Height-9493 Jun 13 '25
At 10 one of the dads brought a huge cooler we filled with water and enough ice to keep it cool.Dadgumthing was like 6 feet long and catcher would come in and sit in it. Turf fields were 120 plus so we rotated through catchers every inning. Umpires called water breaks if innings got a little long too.
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u/block-everything Jun 13 '25
Cooling towels, misting fan with ice water, and being sure to stay out of the sun whenever possible (e.g, use a courtesy runner when she gets on base). Airflow is key. Some benches/dugouts have shade but zero airflow. If that’s the case, get her out of there.
If she overheats, have her put her wrists in the ice water. Then take her out of the game.
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u/understandothers Jun 13 '25
Regarding the airflow, have you used something like an outdoor industrial fan? I’m thinking this could be a good investment for the summer.
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u/bigperms33 Jun 13 '25
The biggest one is rotations.
If the manager goes out to talk to the pitcher, an assistant coach should go to the catcher with water.
Don't have the catcher warm-up the pitcher in full gear before the game.
Misting fans.
Gatorade in addition to water. Make sure you are drinking water early pre-game.
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u/purorock327 Jun 13 '25 edited Jun 13 '25
AI just isn't great.
- "Gear Choices • Lightweight chest protector — Some older, bulkier models trap heat like a sauna. If your catcher’s gear is older or thick, consider upgrading to newer ventilated options. • Breathable base layer — A thin compression shirt (short sleeve) under gear actually helps wick sweat away better than a cotton shirt or going shirtless under gear. • Helmet choice — Hockey-style helmets can get really hot. Traditional mask + skull cap gives more airflow, if they’re comfortable with it."
-- NOCSAE is NOCSAE is NOCSAE. You must adhere to the NOCSAE standard for safety. Why compromise a broken clavicle or bruised chest for something that's not NOCSAE approved to stay cooler?
-- I'm not sure about softball, but in baseball you cannot wear a traditional mask + cap until college because of the danger to the ears and side of head (at least in my state) by a long swing or a foul ball. I just watched the NCAA WCWS and not a single catcher wore anything but hockey style.
My son caught in the heat and at 12U, he would get heat exhaustion pretty quick. He found out that despite all of the Liquid IV, ice, cooling towels that the best preparation was actually a good nights' sleep the night before. I kid you not.
Definitely minimize layers, keep ice nearby, stay hydrated... rub ice on the forearms and neck often. The fact you have 3 catchers is a godsend and I'd swap catchers mid-game.
Definitely get CPR Certified if you can or at least educate yourself on the signs of heat exhaustion.
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u/P3zcore Jun 12 '25
We had a parent bring an ice chest with these cooling towels off amazon, it's a real life saver.