Diamond Hands Partner Catch (youth flag football drill)

Partners face each other and play catch while practicing the two hand shapes every receiver needs: a diamond for balls at the chest and above, pinkies together for balls below the belly. It is simple, it uses every kid at once, and it is a great warm-up.

Setup

Pair players up and line the pairs up side by side, 9 yards apart. In each pair, one player (A, B or C) stands on a line and the partner (X, Y or Z) stands 5 yards away, facing them. Put a cone 2 yards behind each catcher for when they step back.

How to run it

1. The catcher shows the target: thumbs and pointer fingers touching to make a diamond, hands in front of the chest.
2. The thrower tosses the ball to the diamond. The catcher watches it into the hands and tucks it.
3. Throw back and forth. Mix in low throws, where the catcher turns the hands so the pinkies touch.
4. After 5 catches in a row with no drops, the catcher steps back to the cone.
5. Switch partners every few minutes.

Coaching points

• Catch with the hands, not the chest. Arms reach out a little to meet the ball.
• Thumbs together above the belly, pinkies together below it.
• See the ball all the way into the hands, then tuck it.
• Soft hands: let the hands give a little when the ball arrives.

Common mistakes

• Trapping the ball against the body, which will not work on the run.
• Closing the eyes or turning the head away. Start with soft, short throws until they trust it.
• Throwing too hard. The thrower's job is to make the catch easy.

Used in these practice plans

• First Flag Football Practice of the Season (8 minutes)
• 6U Flag Football Practice Plan (7 minutes)

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