Catching Drills for Youth: A Starter Set
Catching is the hardest position to learn and the easiest to teach badly. This starter set of youth catching drills, pulled from the coaching videos in our index, walks through the three skills every young catcher needs: blocking, framing, and throwing. Six coach-credited drills, in the order I'd teach them.
What should a youth catcher learn first?
Before the throws and the pop times, a young catcher has to be willing to get in front of the ball and stay there. Fear is the first thing to solve. After that, receiving cleanly (framing) keeps strikes strikes, and throwing comes last because it depends on a clean transfer more than a big arm. The six drills below follow that order: block, frame, throw. Catching gear puts a lot of load on young knees and throwing arms, so pair this work with a good in-person coach and check with your pediatrician if anything hurts.
1. Block without being afraid of the ball
Fear-free blocking progression, by @chipsperformance
A step-by-step way to teach blocking that starts with tennis balls so the ball stops being scary. The cues are simple: chin down, glove protecting the gap, and body over the ball. Players catch and block in repetition and learn to read the bounce before you ever hand them a real baseball.
Watch @chipsperformance's drill →2. How do I frame and receive pitches?
One-knee framing session, by @el_doj0
A receiving session from a one-knee-down setup focused on presenting the pitch cleanly, with extra attention on catching low strikes so they stay strikes. This is the foundation of stealing borderline calls for your pitcher.
Watch @el_doj0's drill →Working efficient angles to the ball, by @coachcj0
Teaches catchers to take the shortest, cleanest glove path to the pitch so they can present it well and win strikes on the corners. Great next step once a young catcher can receive the middle of the zone comfortably.
Watch @coachcj0's drill →3. What stance should a young catcher use?
One-knee stance with and without runners, by @notcoachgav
Breaks down how to set up from a one-knee stance in two situations: no runners on, and runners on. The key feel is a late "kick" that keeps the catcher athletic and ready to help control the run game instead of getting caught flat.
Watch @notcoachgav's cue →4. How do I improve a young catcher's throwing and pop time?
Bow-and-arrow transfer work, by @chipsperformance
Uses the bow-and-arrow drill, slightly heavier baseballs, and short-distance throws to clean up the transfer, tighten footwork, and shave time off the throw to second. Pop time comes from a quick, repeatable exchange, not from throwing harder.
Watch @chipsperformance's drill →5. When should I add game situations?
Once blocking, framing, and throwing feel comfortable on their own, start layering in the plays a catcher actually faces. The dropped third strike is a great one to teach early because it is confusing in a game and easy to rehearse in practice.
Dropped third strike with two outs, by @chipsperformance
Walks through handling a dropped third strike: how to retrieve a ball that is rolling versus one sitting dead in the dirt (twisting down to it), then securing it and making the throw to first without rushing. A confidence builder for young catchers who freeze on the play.
Watch @chipsperformance's drill →Run one skill per practice, ten focused reps at a time. Catching is a stack of habits, and habits are built with repetition and feedback, not with one long session. Credit where it is due: every drill above belongs to the coach linked with it. Go follow them, and if your catcher is dealing with knee or arm soreness, get an in-person coach and a physician in the loop.
Get the 3 best catching drills for your player.
These six are a starter set. Our index goes deeper on blocking, framing, and throwing for every age and level. Tell us your catcher's age, level, and what you actually see at practice or in games, and we'll email the 3 best drills for them, within minutes.
Find your drills → Coaching a team, or want a full weekly plan for your player? See Fungo plans.