Equipment Needed
- One football per pair
Keep every pair touching a ball
A multi-pack of practice footballs means no pair is standing around waiting to share — more reps in the same amount of time.
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- Partners stand 8–10 feet apart, one ball per pair.
- Both players start in a relaxed, ready stance.
Instructions
- Passer tosses a soft, catchable spiral or lob directly at the receiver's chest.
- Receiver forms a triangle window with thumbs and index fingers together, tracking the ball all the way in.
- Catch and tuck the ball immediately after securing it, just like a real game.
- Switch roles every 10 throws.
Coaching Points
- Hands should form the correct shape BEFORE the ball arrives, not react at the last second.
- Eyes track the ball into the hands — looking away early is the most common cause of drops at this age.
- Catch with the hands, not by trapping the ball against the chest.
- Tuck the ball immediately after every catch to build the game-speed habit.
Variation
Add a short jog before the catch to practice catching in motion, or throw slightly off-center to practice adjusting the hands.