Your young catcher wants to get better, and you have a backyard, a few balls and 15 minutes. That is plenty. These drills build the three things every catcher needs most, and they are safe to do at home.
The best catcher drills for kids at home are soft-toss receiving to build a still glove, dry and soft-ball blocking to keep the ball in front, and quick-feet games for popping up and moving. Use foam or soft balls, put on full gear any time real balls are used, and keep an adult nearby.
Train it: Catcher Leadership Lab (Level 2 Catching, $49) → Free: Free Catching Intro Course →Safety first: what you need at home
Catching is a contact job, so we keep home practice safe and simple.
- Soft balls: foam balls, tennis balls or soft training balls for most at-home drills.
- Full gear for real balls: helmet and mask, chest protector, shin guards, and a cup for boys. No exceptions.
- An adult tossing: a parent or older sibling tosses, watches and keeps it slow.
- Space: a flat yard or open garage with nothing breakable nearby.
- Water and breaks: squatting is tiring. Stand and stretch between drills.
Check your league's rules for required catcher equipment, and make sure the gear fits. If your child is brand new to catching, start with our guide on how to teach a kid to be a catcher.
Receiving drills: a still glove and soft hands
A catcher's first job is to catch the ball and hold it. These drills build a glove that stays quiet.
- Knee catches: catcher on one or both knees, glove out front. You make soft underhand tosses from a few steps away. Catch and hold for a one-count. 10 tosses.
- Bare-hand pops: no glove, soft ball only. Toss, and they catch it out front with relaxed fingers. This teaches soft hands. 10 tosses.
- Target game: they show a still glove target. Toss to it, then a little left, right, high and low. They move the glove to the ball, not the ball to the glove. 10 tosses.
- Freeze tag: after each catch, call "Freeze!" If the glove hasn't moved after the catch, they score a point.
Watch for eyes closing or a head turn. That usually means the toss is too fast or too far. Move closer and slow down.
Blocking drills: keep it in front
Blocking is scary at first. We build it in small steps so kids learn the move before any ball comes at them.
- Dry blocks: from the stance, drop both knees to the ground, glove between the legs, chin tucked, shoulders rounded forward. No ball. 5 slow reps, then 5 a little faster.
- Rolled blocks: roll a soft ball straight at them. They drop into the block and let the ball hit the body, not the glove alone. 5 reps.
- Side blocks: roll the soft ball a step to the left or right. They step and drop so the body is in front of it. 5 each way.
- Soft bounces: only when the first three look good, bounce a foam ball gently in front of them. 5 reps.
Score it: one point for every ball that stays within a big step of them. Keep blocking work to a few minutes, because it is hard on knees and legs.
Stop sign: no blocking hard balls at home without full gear and an adult who knows the drill.
Quick-feet drills for young catchers
Good catchers are quick, aggressive and athletic, which is exactly how Coach BK wants every player to move. These drills build fast, balanced feet.
- Pop-up race: from a squat, on "Go!" they pop up to a balanced standing position. 5 reps, rest, 5 more.
- Ball on the ground: drop a soft ball a few steps away. They pop up, chase it, pick it up with the throwing hand and turn to you. 5 reps.
- Stance switch: call "nobody on" or "runner on" and they switch stances fast and balanced. 10 calls.
- Catch and turn: catch a soft toss, then shuffle their feet to face a target. No throw needed at first. 5 reps.
Quick feet come from balance. If they wobble or tip over, widen the feet a little and slow down.
A 15-minute catcher drill plan
As Coach BK tells every player, "It's a great day to hit!!" For catchers, it is also a great day to block one. Put it together two or three times a week.
| Minutes | Drill | Look for |
|---|---|---|
| 0–2 | Gear check and loosen up | Straps snug, mask straight |
| 2–6 | Knee catches and target game | Still glove, eyes open |
| 6–10 | Dry blocks, then rolled blocks | Chin tucked, ball in front |
| 10–14 | Pop-up race and stance switch | Fast and balanced |
| 14–15 | Stand, stretch, water | A smile |
The free Catching Intro Course adds seven short parent-led lessons. For the next step, Catcher Leadership Lab ($49) is our 16-session Level 2 catching program for ages 7–12.
One thing to remember
Soft balls first, a still glove second, and full gear any time a real ball is in play.
What to do this week
Run the 15-minute plan on two different days with soft balls. Keep score in the blocking and Freeze Tag games, and try to beat it the second day.
Parent questions
Can my child practice catching at home without gear?
Yes, for dry blocks, footwork and soft-ball tosses. Any time a real baseball or softball is used, the full catcher's gear goes on.
How often should a young catcher practice blocking?
A few minutes, two or three times a week, is plenty. Blocking is tiring on the legs and knees, so keep it short and stop if anything hurts.
What ball should I use for catcher drills at home?
Start with foam or soft training balls. Move to real balls only with full gear, good technique and an adult tossing slowly.