Soft-Hands Short-Hop
FieldingBackyard8 minAges 6-8, 9-12, 13-152-4 playersIntensity: lightPitch Smart OK
Partner rolls 20 short-hops; fielder uses bare hand or alligator-style glove.
Your job today
Partner rolls hard short-hops. Your job is to catch them soft — bring the ball to your belly button. Don’t stab.
What good looks like: Catch 16 of 20 clean. No double-clutches.
Why it matters: Soft hands are the difference between an out and an error. This is the fundamental that infielders never outgrow.
How it works
Partner rolls 20 short-hops from 15 feet. Fielder catches with soft, low hands; ball into glove, top hand traps. Builds infield receiving.
- Reps / rounds
- 20 short-hops
- Rest between sets
- 30s
- Space needed
- 20x10ft
- Coaches
- 0-1
Equipment
- glove
- 5 baseballs
If you don't have it
- No baseballs? Use tennis balls (moves to Backyard).
Setup
- Partner 15ft away
- Fielder in athletic stance
Run the drill
- Partner rolls firm short-hop
- Fielder catches with soft, low hands
Coaching cues
- Funnel to belly button
- Soft, not stiff
- Top hand traps
Common mistakes
- Catching with stiff arm
- Standing too tall
Scoring
Track % clean catches (percent). On-track when at or above 80.
Adjust it
Make it easier
- easier: Slower roll, tennis ball
Make it harder
- advanced: Backhand short-hops
Variations
- No glove: Use bare hands; tennis balls only
Safety
- 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