I can't Catch

Coach W is dead on with #5

Reps is the key.

Catch, Catch, Catch, the more you do it, the better you'll get.

Something else that will help is to run routes with the receivers, it will put your body in different positions. Remember as a DB, the QB is not throwing to you, so you'll be in different positions to catch the ball. It helps a lot to prepare your body for all kinds of different positions to catch.

EXACTLY!!!!

How freaking bad do you want to catch that ball??

Coach Hawk, that is right on!!!!

Sometimes as coaches we think we can drill a player into desire. The truth of the matter is, if they want to, they will!!!

There are several things that will help in catching the ball.

1. Concentration. Always watch the ball into your hands. Don't start to look away because you think it's an easy catch or someone is coming. If you want the ball, look it all the way in regardless if you're going to get hit.

2. Want the ball. There should be an insatiable for that ball. Very often you'll hear people say that a defender has just as much right to the ball while it's in the air as the offensive player. I don't believe in that. I always took the mentality that I had more of a right to the ball than the offensive player. If a ball was in the air, it was MY ball. Go get it.

Those first 2 covered the mental, here's the physical....
3. You may be "attacking" the ball with your hands, meaning, pushing your hands at the ball as it comes to you. Your hands have to be soft and have to give with the ball. As the ball is about to make contact with your hands, you have to start to give and close your hands in the shape of hte ball around it. Carress it and bring it to your body. If you play baseball, it's much like fielding a ground ball or framing a pitch. move with teh ball as it comes to your body.

4. Get comfortable with having a football in your hands. Carry one with you at home, go to sleep with a football, if your school will allow you, carry it from class to class. Just have a football in your hands as much as possible. You will just get used to how it feels in your hands. You'll know you've made progress if you can sleep with it and og an entire night and not have it on the floor when you wake up n the morning.

5. Ball tricks/drills. This is something you can do on your own before practice, after practice, watching tv at home. It kind of goes along the same lines as getting comfortable with a ball in your hands, but goes a step further. ONe drill is to hold a football in one hand toward the end of the football with your hand on top. Roll the ball between your thumb and forefinger to on top of your hand, then let it roll back to it's starting position, grabbing it with your fingers so it won't fall and hit the ground. Do this with both hands so you become equally proficient. After a while it will become mindless and you won't even really have to think about it. Another one is kind of like the spider drill in basketball that helps with ball handling. If you're not familiar with that, no biggie. I'll explain it again. Stand with your feet spread a little wider than shoulder width and hold a ball with the fingertips of one hand at one of the points of the football between your legs. Have your other hand close by, but reaching around from behind you. Let go with one hand while starting to close the other hand, so you will catch it at the point like you started. continually move the ball back to the height you start at and keep doing this over and over, dropping and catching with your fingertips of alternate hands. You can also start off by doing this standing up with the ball in front of you at waist level then move on to between the legs as you get better. These drills will strengthen your fingers and get you more comfortable with a ball.

I hope all this stuff helps. Good luck going into your senior year.