Glencoe Baseball Association Coaches’ Manual

Lesson 1 - Catching a Baseball

(Line Drives and Thrown Balls Above and Below the Waist)

BACKGROUND:

It has been said that baseball is nothing more than a BIG game of catch.  Learning how to properly catch a thrown ball is critical to a child’s baseball experience.  The two most fundamental aspects of catching a ball are the POSITION of the hands (the palms ALWAYS face OUT and NEVER face UP), and having “QUIET HANDS” (hands that are NOT moving when the ball arrives).  Hand positions may be the most difficult to get across since children are used to having things tossed gently to them that drop into their hands.  When we throw baseballs, they DO NOT drop into the child’s hands.  To avoid “baseball sandwiches” (a baseball caught in the mouth which doesn’t taste good) we MUST teach proper hand POSITION.

HAND POSITION:  The proper position of the hands is PALMS OUT toward the ball (catching and throwing hands together – we will teach catching the ball with two hands).  The “THUMBS” will be together for balls caught above the waist and the “PINKIES” will be together for balls caught below the waist.

QUIET HANDS: For some unknown reason, many kids feel that they have to “snap” their glove at the ball to catch it.  Just the opposite is true.  The player must keep the “MOUTH” of the glove open and the hands steady so that the glove may “SWALLOW” the ball.  The glove (a decent glove properly broken in) will actually do almost all of the work of catching the ball if the player will let it!!  (Check to see that the glove is of a proper size and has good flexibility.)

TEACHING METHODS:

First (FOR BEGINNERS): Play a game of BOMBS AWAY without a glove.  (Just play, with no feedback yet.)  The game is played with a wiffle ball, IncrediBall or another soft object like a bean bag.  The player lies on his / her back and catch the ball dropped (NOT THROWN) on them at about chest level.  See how many can be caught in a row.  Some players may get the proper positioning of the hands right away, others may not.  The game is designed to learn how to catch a ball caught above the waist and to make it very difficult to position the hands improperly.  Observe, evaluate and determine what areas need particular focus.

Next: To provide feedback, describe what we are looking for: hand position (palms out) with thumbs together, and quiet (steady) hands.

Next: The coach should demonstrate how to catch a ball above the waist (on your back), using the cues PALMS OUT, THUMBS and QUIET HANDS.  Have the child in a position so that they may see you easily.  You should demonstrate from several angles.  Have the child lie on his/her back while the coach calls out the cues and the player practices the motion of catching.  The coach may have the child call out the cues while the coach performs the proper motions.  Repeat until you are comfortable that the child has command of the cues.

Next: Play another game of BOMBS AWAY.  Observe, evaluate and provide feedback.  Some players may need to have the cues reinforced, while others will be ready to move ahead. 

Next: Play a game of THUMBS AND PINKIES without a glove.  Use the same equipment and approach as in BOMBS AWAY.  In THUMBS AND PINKIES however, balls will be dropped both at chest level (Thumbs) and below the waist (Pinkies).  Again, some players may get the proper positioning right away, others may not.  The game is designed to learn how to catch balls caught above and below the waist and to make it very difficult to position the hands improperly.   

Next: The coach should demonstrate how to catch a ball below the waist (on your back), using the cues PALMS OUT, PINKIES and QUIET HANDS.  Have the child in a position so that he/she may see you easily.  You should demonstrate from several angles.  Have the player lie on his/her back while the coach calls out the cues and the player practices the motion of catching.  The coach may have the child call out the cues while the coach performs the proper motions.  Repeat until you are comfortable that the child has command of the cues.

Next: Play another game of THUMBS AND PINKIES.  Observe, evaluate and provide feedback.  Some players may need to have the cues reinforced, while others will be ready to move ahead.

Next (OR FOR MORE ADVANCED PLAYERS): Play a game of DROP OUT with the coach and player throwing underhand to each other.  DROP OUT is just a game of catch where you see how many ball can be thrown and caught without dropping the ball.  Observe, evaluate and provide feedback.  Players should have a reasonable feel for catching the ball before we progress to teaching them how to throw the ball.  If players are having difficulty catching the ball, play a game of DROP OUT with IncrediBalls (or wiffle balls) WITHOUT mitts.  Have the players throw UNDERHAND to each other.  Observe, evaluate and provide feedback.  Emphasize the CUES.  Go back to a game of THUMBS AND PINKIES if necessary.