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Ages 3–12

Beginner baseball and softball: soft catch at home

Start close with a soft ball and underhand tosses. Catching confidence comes before distance or speed, and there’s no need for hard throwing or pitching at home.

A soft-catch session

  1. Bubble catch · 1:00 From a few steps apart, toss underhand; they catch with two hands and “trap” the ball against their body.
  2. Ground-ball gates · 2:00 Roll the ball; they stop it with glove or hands between two shoes.
  3. Target toss · 1:00 They toss underhand at a bucket or towel target. Celebrate close ones.
  4. Their choice + celebrate · 1:00 Repeat their favorite.

Adjusting by age

  • 3–5: large soft ball, very close, lots of rolling.
  • 6–9: soft baseball or tennis ball, glove optional, step back one step after a few catches.
  • 10–12: let them set a goal (e.g. five catches in a row). Keep throws relaxed; follow their coach on throwing mechanics and limits.

Safety

  • Use soft or reduced-impact balls for beginners.
  • No hard pitching sessions at home. Stop for any arm pain.

Sources and further reading

Written by the Rookie Grownups team. General guidance, not professional coaching or medical advice. Adapt to your child, stop for pain or distress, and follow qualified coaches for technical and safety guidance. Linked organizations do not endorse us.

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