Game version
Make “Soft Ball Catch” a team game: you and a grown-up are on the same team and cheer for each other.
Soft Ball Catch
A grown-up tosses a small soft ball from close by and the child catches it with hands and arms, then pulls it in tight.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Stand 2 big steps apart.
- Ages
- 4 to 6
- Time
- 3 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Small soft football or soft ball
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Catching
The steps
How it works
- Stand 2 big steps apart.
- Show “ready hands”: hands out in front, fingers spread.
- Toss the ball gently underhand to the chest.
- They catch it and hug it in tight. Step back after 5 catches.
Coaching point
Praise the try: “You hugged it in like a pro!”
Safety: A small soft ball only, tossed gently from close by.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Story
You and a grown-up are explorers, and “Soft Ball Catch” is the map to the treasure.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free flag football week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
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An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.