A 60-minute catching session for under 11s

Mark out a square about 20 metres across with cones. Two players are taggers. The rest pass three tennis balls around. You can't be tagged while you hold a ball, so throw it to whoever is in trouble.

• Underarm throws only, so the catches stay friendly.
• Swap taggers every two minutes.
• Finish with three minutes of easy throws in pairs, five big steps apart.

Partners stand five big steps apart and throw underarm to each other. The thrower calls a height before each throw: chest, knees or above the head.

• Above the waist, fingers point up and thumbs touch.
• Below the waist, fingers point down and little fingers touch.
• Watch the ball all the way into your hands. Let your hands give, like catching an egg.
• Each pair counts catches in a row. Take a step back after every five.

Coach it: hands out early, ready before the ball arrives. Soft hands, eyes on the ball.

Players work in groups of four: one feeder and three fielders in a line.

• The feeder throws a high underarm ball into space, not straight at the fielder.
• The front fielder calls “Mine!” loudly, runs to get under the ball and catches it.
• Make a cup with both hands near your eyes. Bring the ball into your chest as you catch it.
• Return the ball to the feeder and join the back of the line. Swap feeders every six throws.
• Once they're confident, send two fielders at once. Only the player who calls goes for the ball.

Coach it: call early and loud. Get there early, stop, and wait for the ball.

Set up one set of stumps for the batter and a cone out to the side, about ten steps away. The coach bowls underarm with a tennis ball.

• One team bats and one team fields. The batter must run around the cone every time they hit the ball.
• The bowler bowls again as soon as the ball comes back, even if the batter is still running.
• A catch is out. Count catches as well as runs, and read out both totals at the end.
• Each batter faces a set number of balls, so everyone has a turn. Swap teams halfway.
• Use a plastic or light bat, and keep fielders at least ten steps from the batter.

Call out good calls and good catches by name, even when the catch goes down.

Walk a lap, then do some light stretching in a circle. Ask each player to name one catch they were proud of. Finish with the takeaway: “Watch it all the way into your hands.”