Equipment Needed
- Soft training balls
Soft training balls make this safer
A set of soft training balls makes early catch-and-toss reps low-risk while players build confidence with a moving ball.
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- Partners stand 8–10 feet apart with a soft ball.
- Both players start with their glove (or hands) ready in front of their body.
Instructions
- Tosser underhands a soft, chest-high toss directly to their partner.
- Receiver tracks the ball with their eyes and catches it with two hands (or in the glove) out in front of the body.
- Toss it back the same way, and continue for 10–12 tosses.
- Take a step back after every 5 clean catches to gradually increase the distance.
Coaching Points
- Watch the ball all the way into the glove or hands — looking away early is the most common cause of drops.
- Catch out in front of the body, not against the chest, to build good habits early.
- Soft hands — let the ball come in and cushion it rather than stabbing at it.
- Keep the tone playful; this is a confidence-building activity above all else.
Variation
Progress to a gentle overhand toss once underhand catches are consistent, or add gentle side-to-side tosses to practice moving the feet to the ball.