Game version
Play “Big Ball Catch” as a “my turn, your turn” game with a grown-up. Everyone takes a turn and every try gets a cheer.
Big Ball Catch
A grown-up tosses a big soft ball gently from close by, and the child catches it with hands and arms. Catching is a skill for every ball sport.
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 with a big soft ball.
- Ages
- 4 to 6
- Time
- 3 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Big soft ball or beach ball
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Stickhandling
The steps
How it works
- Stand 2 big steps apart with a big soft ball.
- Show “ready hands”: arms out, fingers spread.
- Toss the ball gently, underhand, to their chest.
- They catch and toss it back. Step back a little after 5 good catches.
Coaching point
Praise the try: “You watched it all the way!”
Safety: A big soft ball only, tossed gently and underhand from close by.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Story
Pretend you are a bunny playing “Big Ball Catch” in the forest, and the whole forest claps for you.
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 hockey 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.