/ Why this drill
What it teaches.
In every game, your receiver will face a defender waving arms in their face at the catch point. The Concentration Catch builds the mental discipline to ignore everything except the ball — through fingers, through arms, through trash talk.
/ How to run it
Step by step.
- Receiver stands 10 yards from the coach.
- A second player (or assistant coach) stands directly between them, waving their arms.
- Coach throws the ball through or around the distractor's arms.
- Receiver must track the ball and catch it cleanly.
- Run 5-10 reps per receiver.
/ Coaching points
What to watch for.
- Eyes never leave the ball — even when the arms are right in your face.
- Hands ready early. The ball will arrive in less time than usual.
- If you flinch, you drop. Drill the eyes-on-ball habit until it's automatic.
- Praise the kids who don't blink. That's the skill.
/ Variations
Progress the drill.
Two distractors
Add a second arm-waver. Forces even tighter focus.
Verbal trash
Distractor talks loudly during the throw. Tests mental discipline.
Faster pace
Increase the throwing tempo so receivers don't have time to brace.
/ Common mistakes
Where it goes wrong.
- Closing eyes at the last second — the most common mistake at every age.
- Flinching away from the distractor's arms.
- Catching with body to shield from the distractor — leads to drops.
- Running the drill once — concentration is built through repetition.