Baseball catcher drills
Blocking and receiving practice for youth catchers with a wall and a bucket of tennis balls.
How coaches assign drills- 4 drills
- 1 with no partner needed
- Every drill has a video clip
- 5–15 minutes each
4 baseball catcher drills
Catching0:38Tennis Ball Wall Blocking
FixesReaching with the glove on balls in the dirt
- 5 min
- Ages 8–18
25 blocks, 2–3 days a week
Catching0:50Soft Hands Receiving with Tennis Balls
FixesStabbing at pitches and a glove that drifts out of the zone
- With a partner
- 10 min
- Ages 9–18
4 rounds of 10, 3 days a week
Catching1:01Catcher Throw-Down Footwork
FixesA long first step and slow throws to second
- With a partner
- 15 min
- Ages 10–18
10 shadow reps and 10 throws, 2 days a week
Catching0:58Catcher Pop-Up Drill
FixesLosing pop-ups behind the plate and tripping over the mask
- With a partner
- 10 min
- Ages 9–18
3 rounds of 5, 2 days a week
How to use these baseball catcher drills
What these baseball catcher drills work on
- Blocking: drop to the knees, get the chest in front of the ball and keep it within a few feet so the runner stays put.
- Receiving: catch the pitch with a quiet glove and hold it in the zone.
- Footwork: get out of the crouch to throw.
Blocking at home with a wall
Most catcher drills need a coach throwing balls in the dirt. A wall and a bucket of tennis balls let a catcher work alone.
- Squat 6 to 10 feet from the wall.
- Throw a ball low so it bounces back in the dirt.
- Drop both knees with the mitt between them, and round the shoulders so the ball hits the chest and drops.
- Tennis balls sting less, so younger catchers can take a lot of reps without flinching. Wear catcher's gear if you have it.
How often
- Twenty-five blocks is a full session, and two or three sessions a week is enough.
- Blocking is hard on the knees, so use grass or a mat and stop at about 30.
- Catchers throw more than anyone on the field, so add the throwing drills and a band routine before throwing.
Baseball catcher drills FAQ
How can a baseball catcher practice blocking at home?
Squat 6–10 feet from a wall and throw tennis balls low so they bounce in the dirt on the way back. Drop both knees, put the mitt between them, round your shoulders and let the ball hit your chest. Aim to keep each block within about 3 feet.
How many blocking reps should a youth catcher do?
About 25 blocks, two or three times a week. Blocking is hard on the knees, so work on a soft surface and stop at about 30.
What are good drills for youth baseball catchers?
Blocking tennis balls off a wall, receiving drills where a parent tosses to the edges of the zone and the catcher holds each catch for a one count, and footwork drills from the crouch to a throwing position. Blocking comes first, since it keeps runners from advancing.
More baseball drills by skill
- Baseball hitting drills8 drills
Tee work and soft toss for a short, balanced swing that stays through the ball. Most of these need a tee, a net and a bucket of balls.
- Baseball fielding drills8 drills
Ground balls off a wall, short hops, quick transfers and fly ball footwork. A glove, a wall and a few tennis balls cover most of it.
- Baseball throwing drills4 drills
Arm path, footwork and accuracy work, from the towel drill in the living room to playing catch with a target.
- Baseball pitching drills4 drills
Overhand pitching mechanics and strike throwing into a net or to a parent catcher, with pitch counts that follow Pitch Smart.
- Baseball speed and arm care drills3 drills
First-step starts, home-to-first sprints, leads on the bases and a band routine to warm up the arm before throwing.
Assign baseball drills to your team
Use the drills in this library or make your own. Coaches assign them as homework between practices, and players open each drill on their phone, do it and check in when they finish.
Get the Bravara app- 01
Pick drills or make your own
Start from the baseball drills in this library, copy one and change it, or write your own with steps, a YouTube video, your own photos and videos or a link to read. Then assign it to the whole team or to certain players and set how many days a week.
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Players do them at home
Players open the drill on their phone, watch the video or read the steps, do the drill and check in when they finish. They can upload a video of their work too.
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Players log a result
A drill can have one result to track, like strikes out of 30. Results stay private to the player and their family, and players earn XP and levels as they keep checking in.
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The coach sees who did it
Coaches see who has checked in on each drill and can react or reply to a player's check-in.
Assign baseball catcher drills with Bravara Reps
Coaches assign drills to the team or to certain players. Players check in from home, log a result and earn XP as they go.
