Game version
Play “Soft Football Catch” to a song. When the music plays you play, and when it stops you freeze like a statue, then start again.
Soft Football Catch
A grown-up tosses a small soft football 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 a little 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. No contact games at home.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Story
You are a penguin at a party, and “Soft Football Catch” is your dance.
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 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.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.