Softball Catching Drills – Quarterback Catch

Purpose: This drill for catching a softball is used to practice catching any ball hit over a player's head. This drill is used for all positions and provides a good conditioning element as well.

Procedure: Players form a line behind the coach. Each player has a ball and gives it to the coach when it's her turn. The player stands facing the coach, and the coach motions to the player (by pointing) on which side of the player the coach will throw the ball. The player drop steps in that direction, turns, and runs straight back, looking back over her shoulder to the side from which the ball is coming. Once the player starts to run the coach throws a fly ball over the player's head on the side that the coach had indicated. The fielder should look back at the ball by just turning her head, not twisting her whole body, while continuing to run to make the catch. The fielder should not open up and directly face the ball: she must stay sideways so she can adjust in or out if she's misjudged the ball and then make the catch at the side of her body. Throw two to three balls to each side of the player.