Game version
Soft-hands pairs: a partner passes and you stop the ball dead inside a box of cones. The pair collects 20 soft stops.
Soft Hands Receive
Roll a soft ball gently against a wall two steps away and stop the return with your stick angled, giving with the hands.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Kneel or crouch two steps from a wall.
Core: Medium. Beat your own best out of 10.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Small room
- Bring
- Soft ball, stick or a book
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Receiving
The steps
How it works
- Kneel or crouch two steps from a wall.
- Roll the soft ball gently to the wall.
- Stop the return on your stick (or a book held low), giving with your hands.
- Do 30 receives.
Coaching point
Give with the hands, stop it dead.
Safety: Clear a small space with nothing to trip on or knock over. Stop if anything hurts.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (slow pass), Core (medium), More (turn to a second cone after the stop). Beat your own best out of 10.
Story
You are catching a snowflake on a spoon without breaking it.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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