Intermediate drills drills to catch a football are the next steps in becoming a go-to receiver. Catching a Football – Beginner Drills addressed proper use of hands in catching a football. If you struggle to catch a football without the use of your body, refer back to the Beginner Drills.
If you are proficient at catching with hands, then let’s get to work with some additional drills to work on hand eye coordination and body control along with the catch. As you advance, get creative with these drills to add complexity, compete with friends for most catches, catches in a row or just to make the drills more difficult.
No Peek Receiving Drill
Catching with hands, without using your body to make the catch. You will need a football and at least 2 people positioned approximately 10 yards apart to perform this drill.
Purpose of this drill is for the receiver to practice finding the ball in the air and catching it with soft hands. Work to improve the hand eye coordination to find and catch the ball.
Drill: Receiver will begin facing away from the thrower, not looking towards the ball. Receiver will count down from 3, turning either left or right (predetermined) to face the quarterback. The quarterback should throw the ball to the left or right (predetermined) of the receiver as the receiver says ‘1’.
The thrower is trying to time the throw so that the ball has been released just prior to the receiver turning around. Receiver will turn, find the ball, make the catch with soft hands and tuck the ball immediately.
Prior to each rep, receiver and thrower agree to which side the ball should be thrown. As the receiver becomes more competent with the drill, increase the velocity of the ball. The receiver can also run specific routes (in, out, slant, etc..) to add movement to the drill.
Sideline Throw Drill
Catch with hands, without using your body to make the catch. You will need a football, a stationary line and at least 2 people positioned 10-15 yards apart to perform this drill.
Purpose of this drill is to learn body control while making a catch.
Drill: Receiver will stand facing the stationary line or ‘out of bounds’, thrower will throw the ball so that it is flying out of bounds but within reach of the receiver. The receiver will catch the ball with either ‘diamond’ or ‘cupped’ hands, depending on location, keeping feet on the ground while falling out of bounds.
Receiver is not intended to fall to the ground. The throw is intended to make the receiver reach/lean to make the catch but still be catch-able. The receiver’s focus is on making the catch while maintaining body control along the stationary line or ‘out of bounds’. The ball should be tucked after each catch.
Focus Points
- Catch with finger/finger tips
- Soft hands, no palms
- Finding the ball in the air
- Maintain good body control
- Tuck ball after each catch
BtL
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