Baseball drill
Over-the-shoulder catch drill
A three-step progression for the over-the-shoulder catch: from the knees, then standing, then on the move, with a partner lofting the ball over one shoulder. It teaches outfielders to run with the arms pumping and reach for the ball late and high.
At a glance
- Sport
- Baseball and Softball
- Skill
- Outfield
- Ages
- 8U to 14U
- Players
- 2 (partners or a coach and a player)
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Level
- Beginner
- Equipment
- Gloves, A few balls (soft balls for younger players)
- Indoors
- Yes
The over-the-shoulder catch is the hardest routine catch an outfielder makes. The ball is coming from behind, the player is running away from it, and the glove has to get up and out at the last second. Most players struggle because they reach too early, run with the glove out, and lose speed and sight of the ball.
This drill breaks the catch into three stages. Starting on the knees takes the feet away, so the player can learn to look back over the shoulder, keep the arms working and reach late. Standing and then moving add the feet back in. Each stage needs only a partner and a few balls, so pairs can work at the same time in a gym or on grass.
Setup
- The player kneels on grass or turf, looking back over one shoulder.
- A partner or coach stands about 10 to 15 feet behind and to the side with a few balls.
- For the later stages, give the player room to take a few steps forward and away from the tosser.
How to run it
- On the knees: the player looks back over the shoulder and pumps the arms as if sprinting. The partner lofts the ball over that shoulder and the player reaches up late to catch it high. Do several, then switch shoulders.
- Standing: the player stands facing away from the tosser, looking back over the shoulder, and repeats the same catch, still pumping the arms until the ball is close.
- Moving: the player starts a few steps in front of the tosser, jogs away on the call, and catches the ball over the shoulder while moving.
- Move to the next stage only when the player catches most balls cleanly at the current one.
Coaching points
- Pump both arms until the ball is close. Running with the glove out slows the player down.
- Reach late and catch high, at the top of the reach, not down by the chest.
- Keep the head turned and the eyes on the ball all the way into the glove.
- Stay tall and balanced. Leaning back to look for the ball pulls the player off line.
Common mistakes
- Holding the glove out early, which stops the arm pump and gives the ball nowhere new to go.
- Letting the ball drop to chest height before reaching for it.
- Looking over the wrong shoulder, or switching shoulders in the middle of the rep.
Printable drill card
Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.
Print the drill cardSmaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).
By age
8U and 10U
Use tennis balls or soft training balls and spend most of the time on the knees and standing stages.
12U
Work on the timing of the reach. Count out loud with the player so the glove comes up on the last beat.
14U and up
Lengthen and raise the tosses in the moving stage, then finish with fly balls hit over the head.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you catch a fly ball over your shoulder?
Turn and run with both arms pumping, look back over one shoulder to keep the ball in sight, and reach up for it only at the end, catching it high. This drill builds that from the knees up.
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