How to do the drill
- 1
Kneel 3–4 steps (6–8 feet) from a wall, glove open on the ground in front of you.
- 2
Throw the ball at the bottom of the wall so it comes back on a short hop.
- 3
Push your glove forward to meet the bounce, fingers down, and cover the ball with your throwing hand.
- 4
Do 10 middle, 10 glove side and 10 backhand. Count every clean pick that stays in your glove, out of 30.
- 5
When it's easy, do it from your fielding stance.
Coaching cues
- Attack the hop.
- Soft elbows.
- Eyes on glove and ball.
What good looks like
The glove meets the ball right at the bounce, the ball stays in, and your eyes stay down.
Safety
Use a tennis ball against the wall. If a parent tosses instead, stick with tennis balls until the player stops flinching.
Why this drill
Pulling the head off the ball is usually fear. Starting on the knees with soft balls builds trust in the glove.
Next fielding drillQuick Hands Transfer →
