Game version
Surprise catch: a partner drops a reaction ball and you catch it. Swap, and keep one pair total.
Reaction Ball Catch
Catch a ball that bounces in odd directions. Trains fast hands and eyes.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Drop or throw a reaction ball to bounce off the floor.
Core: Medium. Beat your own best.
- Ages
- 13 and up
- Time
- 10 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Reaction ball or bumpy ball, wall
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Hurdles
The steps
How it works
- Drop or throw a reaction ball to bounce off the floor.
- React and catch it before the second bounce.
- Move on to throwing it off a wall.
- Count clean catches out of 20.
Coaching point
Ready hands, quick feet.
Safety: Throw only into clear space or a solid wall, with nobody in the way. Use a soft or light ball.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (a soft ball), Core (medium), More (one hand). Beat your own best.
Story
You are a pinball wizard catching every bounce.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
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 track and field 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.