Softball · Throwing · Warm-up

Two-hands catching with a partner

Partners toss underhand and catch with two hands: thumbs together for balls above the belt, pinkies together below it, stepping back after five clean catches.

chestA1A2B1B2
Start / 5
Time
10 min
Players
2–20
Age
U5–U10
Area
20 × 20 m
Equipment
10 soft balls or tennis balls20 gloves10 cones

Setup

  1. Partners face each other 3–4 m apart, with 3–4 m between pairs. Mark each partner's spot with a cone.
  2. All pairs toss in the same direction, so loose balls don't roll into another pair.
  3. Use soft balls or tennis balls. For 5–6-year-olds, start with no glove: two bare hands make a bowl.
  4. One ball per pair.

How it runs

  1. The tosser calls the catcher's name, then tosses underhand to the chest. The catcher reaches with two hands and pulls the ball in.
  2. After five chest tosses, the tosser mixes in high tosses (above the belt: thumbs together) and low tosses (below the belt: pinkies together).
  3. The catcher tosses straight back. Swap jobs every five.
  4. Five clean catches in a row? Both partners take one big step back.
  5. If a ball drops, take one step in and build up again.

Coaching points

  • Ready hands: glove up and open in front of the chest before the toss comes.
  • Thumbs together above the belt, pinkies together below it.
  • Watch the ball all the way into the glove.
  • Catch it out in front, then give with the ball, bringing it in to the chest.
  • Throwing hand covers the ball as soon as it lands in the glove.
  • Move the feet to get the body behind the ball, rather than reaching to the side.

Common mistakes

  • Turning the head or closing the eyes as the ball arrives.
  • One-handed stabs with the glove.
  • Glove facing up for a high ball, so it bounces off the heel.
  • Stiff arms, so the ball pops out.
  • Tosser throwing too hard or too high for the catcher's age.

Say it: “Thumbs up high, pinkies down low.”

Make it harder

  • Overhand throws instead of underhand tosses (see the throwing progression).
  • Toss a step to either side so the catcher has to shuffle to get behind it.
  • Count catches in a row as a pair, and set a team record.

Make it easier

  • Bounce the ball once before the catch.
  • Start 2 m apart, with a bigger, softer ball.
  • Chest-high tosses only until the hands are ready every time.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.