Catcher Blocking — 3-Ball Sequence
CatchingFull field10 minAges 9-12, 13-152-2 playersIntensity: normalPitch Smart OKAdult supervision
3 short-hop balls in a row: left, right, middle. 4 rounds.
Your job today
Three short-hops in a row — left, right, middle. Knees down, chin tucked, ball stays in front of you.
What good looks like: Keep 9 of 12 balls within 3 feet of you.
Why it matters: Catchers who block keep runners from stealing free bases. Pitchers throw braver when they trust you back there.
How it works
Coach throws 3 short-hop balls in sequence at left, middle, right. Catcher drops to knees, angles hips toward middle, smothers ball with body. Recovery between sequences.
- Reps / rounds
- 4 rounds x 3 balls
- Rest between sets
- 30s
- Space needed
- 60ft lane
- Coaches
- 1
Equipment
- catcher gear
- 9 safety baseballs
If you don't have it
- No safety baseballs? Use regular baseballs (older players only) (moves to Full field).
Setup
- Catcher in blocking-ready stance
- Coach 25ft away
Run the drill
- Coach throws short-hop
- Catcher drops, angles, blocks
- Recover between balls
Coaching cues
- Chin to chest
- Glove between knees
- Ball stays in front
Common mistakes
- Catching with glove instead of blocking
- Hips square instead of angled
Scoring
Track % balls contained <3ft (percent). On-track when at or above 75.
Adjust it
Make it easier
- easier: Slower tempo, 2 balls
Make it harder
- advanced: Add baserunner forcing pop-up throw
Variations
- Random angle: Coach calls direction last second
Safety
- use safety baseballs under 12
- STOP_ON_PAIN: Distinguish acceptable muscle soreness from joint pain or severe muscle ache. Any pain, pop, or possible injury must be reported to a parent, coach, or trusted adult, and the activity stopped immediately. Any sign of illness or injury must be evaluated before returning.
Source
Author: platform · Status: Published · Last reviewed 2026-05-26