Catching The Ball

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Catching a pass is a learned skill that requires proper body position and alignment of the hands, good eye/hand coordination, and an intense concentration on the ball.

The first thing a receiver needs to learn is the correct way to hold his hands to make a reception. For all passes that are even with the receiver's numbers or above, the thumbs and the first fingers of the receiver's hands should be together. They should form a basket or cone in which the ball will be caught.

With his hands in this position the receiver should be able to cradle the ball and make the catch. If the receiver is having trouble making receptions and dropping passes, the problem usually will be that he has not cocked his wrists and the palms of both hands are facing down. With the palms of his hands in this position, the ball on contact will have a natural tendency to be deflected down into the ground.

If the pass is delivered below the numbers, the receiver will have to change the position of his hands as he makes the catch. Instead of having the thumbs together, the receiver must put his little fingers together, causing his hands to form a basket or mitt in which to make the reception.

Drill: Hand Position I

The receivers line up facing a coach 10 yards away. There will be neither a ball nor movement in this drill. The receivers line up with their feet spread shoulder width apart, with a slight bend in their knees. They should be concentrating on the coach, with their arms and hands hanging relaxed at their sides. The coach calls out one of 15 possible locations for an imaginary pass and the receivers should reach to that position, making certain that their hands are being held the proper way.

Drill: Hand Position II

Using the same drill setup as above, the coach now should have the players turn their backs toward him, facing down the field. When making a reception on a pass that is coming over a shoulder or directly over his head, a receiver must place his hands and fingers in the same position as he would when catching a pass thrown below his waist. For this type of reception the tips of the little fingers of both hands should be touching, fingers spread, with the thumbs forming the outside of the catching area.

The coach will call out one of three areas (right, center, left) for the receivers to react to: for each call they will reach up with their arms and hands with their fingers in the proper position. Once the coach is certain that each player understands the proper finger alignment, he should repeat the drill, this time concentrating on having the receivers reach back so that they are able to see their hands and the ball at the same time.

Now introduce the ball to the drill. We are concerned only with the receiver making the reception with his hands in the correct position. The player should have the opportunity to catch as many passes as possible in the various locations that were covered in the previous drills.

It is best for the coach to have the wide receivers and tight ends line up and make receptions first on the right side of the ball. After the receivers have caught balls in a number of locations on the right, the coach can then switch the drill and have them work on the left side of the ball. This also is a drill that is excellent for two players to conduct by themselves, alternating as the passer and the receiver.

Drill: Hand Position III

The drill is run with one player participating at a time. The tight end and wide receiver, who are in the drill, should line up with their backs to the coach. The players alternate making the reception. As they line up, the coach will tell the designated receiver in the drill either left or right. On the command of "Hut!" by the coach, the player who is to receive the pass will drive up the field and turn to the side designated. As he turns, he must come back toward the coach, locate the ball, reach out with his arms and hands, place his fingers in the correct alignment, and make the catch.

"Play Football The NFL Way" is the first Instructional Manual for Football Players and Coaches ever published by the NFL. It is the ultimate position-by-position guide of techniques and drills for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Author Tom Bass is a former NFL coach with more than 20 years of experience with the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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