Baseball drill

Two-ball barehand circle catch

Name: 10 Best Baseball Drills for 7-8 Year Olds | Fun Youth Baseball Drills from the MOJO App
Channel: yougotmojo
Description: Players stand in a circle without gloves while a feeder in the middle tosses two balls at once to one player, who catches one in each hand. A fast, fun way to train soft hands and quick eyes.

Players stand in a circle without gloves while a feeder in the middle tosses two balls at once to one player, who catches one in each hand. A fast, fun way to train soft hands and quick eyes.

Video by yougotmojo on YouTube. The write-up below is ours.

At a glance

Sport: Baseball and Softball
Skill: Catching the ball
Ages: 6U to 12U
Players: 6 to 12 in a circle, plus a feeder
Time: About 8 minutes
Level: Beginner
Equipment: Two balls (tennis balls or soft training balls for younger players)
Indoors: Yes

Catching two balls at once sounds like a trick, but it is a good test of the basics: the player has to keep both hands up and ready, watch the balls in, and give with the hands so neither one bounces out. Because the gloves are off, a player feels right away when the hands are stiff.

It works well at the start of practice or as a break between longer drills. One feeder can keep a circle of a dozen players busy, and the group can count how many two-ball catches it makes in a row, which keeps everyone watching even when it is not their turn.

Setup

Players put their gloves aside and stand in a circle with a few feet between each person.
The feeder, a coach to start, stands in the middle with one ball in each hand.
Everyone in the circle is in a ready position, knees bent, both hands out in front of the chest.

How to run it

The feeder makes eye contact with one player so they know the toss is coming.
The feeder tosses both balls underhand at the same time, side by side, at that player's chest.
The player catches one ball in each bare hand, giving with the hands and elbows as they arrive.
The player tosses both balls back to the feeder, who turns to the next player in the circle.
Go around the circle a few times, then let a player take a turn as the feeder.

Coaching points

Hands up and ready before the toss, not raised at the last second.
Give with the hands as the balls arrive; stiff hands make them pop out.
Eyes on the balls all the way in. Players can watch the space between the two balls.
The feeder keeps the two balls close together and soft, so the catch is possible.

Common mistakes

Tossing the two balls too far apart or at different heights.
Clapping the hands together and trapping both balls against the chest instead of catching one in each hand.
Players in the circle losing their ready position while they wait.

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.

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By age

Coach pitch

Use tennis balls or soft training balls and toss from closer in. Let players catch just one ball with two hands first if two is too much.

10U and 12U

Toss a little firmer, use regular balls if the group is ready, and count the group's best streak of clean two-ball catches.

Next: Free defensive lineup generator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why take the gloves off for a catching drill?

Without a glove a player feels whether the hands are soft and whether the ball is landing in the fingers or slamming into the palm. Those habits carry over when the glove goes back on.

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