Game version
Play “Bounce, Catch, Throw on Land” as a “my turn, your turn” game with a grown-up. Everyone takes a turn and every try gets a cheer.
Bounce, Catch, Throw on Land
On land: bounce a soft ball, catch it, then throw it overhand into a bucket. Catching and throwing on land before the pool.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Put a bucket or box 3 big steps away, on land.
- Ages
- 4 to 6
- Time
- 3 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Soft ball, bucket or box
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Shooting
The steps
How it works
- Put a bucket or box 3 big steps away, on land.
- Your child bounces the ball once and catches it.
- Then they throw it overhand at the bucket.
- Fetch it together and go again.
Coaching point
Praise the try: “Great overhand throw!”
Safety: On land, on grass or a non-slip floor. A soft ball only.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Story
Pretend you are a puppy playing “Bounce, Catch, Throw on Land” 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 water polo 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
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An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.