Game version
Fielding game: a partner rolls ground balls and you field and throw to a cone. The pair counts clean plays, then swaps.
Catcher Blocking Basics
Drop to your knees and keep pitches in the dirt in front of you.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Start on your knees and block soft balls rolled to the middle, left and right.
Core: Medium. Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Full catcher's gear, soft balls then softballs, partner
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Fielding
The steps
How it works
- Start on your knees and block soft balls rolled to the middle, left and right.
- Move to your stance and drop to your knees on each bounce.
- Chin down, mitt between your knees, shoulders curved toward the plate.
- Use real balls only when the soft ones feel easy. Do 20 blocks.
Coaching point
Chin down, mitt down.
Safety: Wear full catcher's gear (helmet with mask, throat guard, chest protector and shin guards, plus a cup for boys) whenever a ball is thrown to you. A chest protector that meets NOCSAE ND200 is recommended.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (slow rolls), Core (medium), More (to your sides). Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10.
Story
You are the shortstop in the big game, and every clean play is a big play.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best of clean plays out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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