Wall ball is the catching drill that doesn’t need a partner. The wall returns the ball every time, and the kid can do hundreds of reps in a session. This is the drill kids should be doing in the driveway.
What you need: A solid wall (brick, concrete, or a fence with a tarp). A glove. One tennis ball.
Setup: Kid stands 10 feet from the wall with the glove ready.
How to run it:
- Cue: Eyes, Hands, Squeeze, Pull.
- They throw the ball against the wall and catch the rebound. Two hands every time.
- Set a goal: 10 catches in a row without dropping. Count out loud.
- If they drop, they restart at zero.
- After they hit 10, change the rule: the ball has to bounce on the ground once before they catch it.
What to watch: Are they getting bored after 5? That’s a sign the count is too easy. Push to 15 or 20 in a row.
If they’re struggling: Move closer to the wall, 5 feet. Use a softer ball. Drop the count rule.
If they’ve got it: Move back to 15 feet. Or throw to the wall with their non-dominant hand. Or throw harder so the rebounds come back faster.