Practice Catching

in groups of 4 with one ball. One player is the feeder and throws a bounce ball to the line of players for the front player to come and meet the ball and try to catch it after the bounce. This player then throws the ball back to the feeder and goes to the back of the line.

Player with a ball each in a set area. Players have to throw the ball up for them selves and catch. Increasing the distance and height the ball is thrown each time.

Set up on a full sized rounders pitch or smaller if U10's or below. 2 teams of 5 fielding v 5 batting (no bats required) The aim of the game is to develop the over arm throw and as a batter look for the gaps in the field. The bowler bowls the ball to the batter who catches it and throws it into the field. The fielding team field the ball in as normal with the batter running the posts. If a batter is caught out the whole team is out.

Set up: Players in the middle (players 2 and 3) stand back to back and opposite their partners (players 1 and 4), about 5 metres apart, but they gradually move further away up to a distance of 9 metres (this is distance from bowler to batter). Player work in teams of 4. The Game: Player throw the ball back and forth and are listening to instructions from the coach. Players are not allowed to move with the ball and are throwing underarm to their partner's waist.

Set up: Set up in groups of 10, with 1 ball and post. 4 players stand in a line, with 3 players in a line in front filling the gaps. The drill: The feeder takes their arm back (as though they were about to bowl), and the back line moves forward to the front. The feeder then releases the ball and the fielders either catch it, or field it back to the feeder or post (ball can be thrown, rolled or bounced).

Set Up: 1 feeder, 1 worker, 1 rounders ball, cones. The feeder and worker stand opposite each other 4 metres apart. The Drill: Players work in twos and start with the working player facing away from the feeder. When the feeder calls the name of the worker they should turn quickly and catch the ball. Once caught they throw the ball back to the feeder and repeat.

Get players into groups of 3. One player stands behind the other two players who have their back to them. On the command, 'Now' , the player with the ball throws the ball. The two catchers have to both turn quickly and try and catch the ball before it bounces. Rotate players after 10 throws.

5 players 4 balls. Player in the middle receives the ball from one of the players and returns it then turns to the next player and repeats this 3 times round all 4 players.

Players work in pairs and have 3 cones between them. They set up their own golf course with the cones. The aim is to help the players judge distances. Each player takes alternate turns to roll the ball to the 1st hole (cone 1). Each player counts how may rolls it takes to hit the cone. The player with the least number of rolls to hit all three cones is the winner. More holes (cones) can be introduced.

Simple throw and run race, from the starting cone to the finish cone (drill is ended when a player stumps the cone). Teams of 4 (or more) players stand in a line, with the first player with the ball in hand. On the coach's call the first player turns and throws the ball to the next player. Once the ball has been thrown this player runs to the back of the line, awaiting their next turn to catch and throw. The winning team is the first one to reach cone B.

After the first player has thrown the ball to the player next to them, they have to run all the way around to try and get back to their starting position before the ball does.

Player 2 throws the ball straight-up and player 1 has to run in and catch it before returning the ball back to player 2. Player 1 continues to run around the cone before running back to receive another high feed from player 2. On catching the ball player 1 takes up 2s original position before the next person in the queue starts.

Set up a line of 3 balls 10 metres apart. Place a cone 10m from the first and last balls. Player A starts on the first cone and runs and picks up the first ball with 2 hands, assume the "set throw" position, and throws to player B on the other cone. Player B retreats 10m and puts the ball down. Repeat with the other 2 balls as above. Then your partner will throw back to you. Repeat the process.

Working in pairs with one ball per pair players throw the ball back and forth to each other. The object of the exercise is to hit the cone positioned between each pair using an overarm throw.

Set up in teams of 6. Players stand diagonally opposite each other about 2 metres apart. The area that the players are working in should be approx 25 metres long. Player 1 has 3 balls (tennis or rounders), and passes them underarm one at a time to player 2 to catch, and so on. Once they have released all 3 balls they can then run on the outside of their line in time to receive a ball from player 6. The rest of the team do the same. The aim is to reach the end of the area without dropping a ball. Once they have reached the end of the area work back in the opposite direction.

Players work in pairs, with one ball between two. Both players must complete 30 throws. The first 10 throws should be made underarm (like when bowling). The next 10 throws should be made overarm. The final 10 throws should hit the ground before reaching their partner.

See how many consecutive catches the Post fielder can take before he/she has to move or the ball bounces. If this happens put score back to 0. The fielder should be able to touch the post with the ball each time without moving their feet. This can be done against another group, i.e. first to 15 catches without Fielder moving away from the post.

Players are on two posts. The ball is fed to the player on the first post who touches their base with the ball then throws the ball to the next base. This player touches the ball into the base and runs with the ball back to the feeder.

Set up the practice as shown. Two balls per group. Two fielders each have a ball and they take it in turns to throw the ball to the worker. When the worker catches the ball they throw the ball back to the same fielder that threw them that ball.

2) rolls the ball out, 1) underarm flicks to 3) then takes up 2)s position. 2) turns towards 3), 3) rolls ball, 2) underarm flicks to 4) and takes up 3)s position. Go all around the square. Race against another team. If a miss-field happens gather the ball and carry on.