Community | Catching - Distraction Catching

Catching is the skill that converts bowling pressure into wickets. A dropped catch not only costs the wicket but can demoralise bowlers and lift opposition batters. Elite teams invest significant practice time in catching drills across all positions and situations.

High Catching Technique

Dealing with skied balls:

Early positioning: Getting under the ball quickly to make final adjustments.

Hands position: Creating a basket with fingers pointing up for balls above the head.

Watching into hands: Tracking the ball all the way into the catch.

Calling: Clear communication to avoid collisions and confusion.

Slip Catching Fundamentals

Ready position: Low stance with weight forward, hands together.

Soft hands: Absorbing the ball rather than snatching at it.

Reaction time: Watching the edge, not the release point.

Lateral movement: Covering ground to both sides efficiently.

Close Catching Positions

Short leg: Low stance, quick reactions to bat-pad chances.

Silly point: Protecting the face while maintaining catching readiness.

Gully: Wider position requiring lateral diving ability.

Leg slip: Reading the ball off the bat for deflections down leg.

Outfield Catching

Ground coverage: Running to get under high hits to the boundary.

Sliding catches: Safe technique for diving forward or sideways.

Over-the-shoulder: Catching while running away from the wicket.

Boundary awareness: Knowing where the rope is without looking.

Key Coaching Points

  • Catching practice should be part of every training session
  • Position-specific drills develop specialist catching skills
  • Soft hands prevent spilled catches at slip
  • Communication prevents collisions and dropped catches
  • Mental preparation helps players stay focused for long spells

Drills for Catching Development

VIEW ALL CATCHING DRILLS

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William Steed Coach, England

DESCRIPTION

2 Pairs stand next to each other throwing catches. Another pair throw catches so the path of the ball travels through / close the the path of the ball form the other pairs. The aim of this drill is to try and maintain focus and ignore the distractions (other balls)

COACHING POINTS

Coaching Points for Low / Cover Catches – For Cover catching it is important to ‘walk into the catch’ you do this by taking 4 – 5 paces then getting into a ‘set position’ – A good way to do this is to ‘jump’ a little and use the momentum of the jump make sure that you can spring left or right. Feet should be comfortably placed approximately shoulder width apart (Maybe slightly wider). Knees should be slightly bent… not so much that you are squatting but then low enough that you can spring to the left or to the right. Your fingers should always be pointed either up or down with your little fingers (down) or thumbs and index fingers overlapping (up), the rest of your fingers should be spread out to cover the largest possible area. Your Hands should be slightly out in front of your body so that you can bring the ball into your belly button after you have caught the ball (absorbing the pace of the ball). Eyes and head should be level at all times (if the catch is coming straight at you) your eyes should always follow the ball even after first contact into your hands. ALWAYS TRY AND USE 2 HANDS Coaching Points for High Catches – There are two main ways to take high catches the ‘English’ way (Fingers pointing ‘down’) and the ‘Australian’ way (Fingers pointing up) The set up prior to the catch is very similar, the Feet should be comfortably placed approximately shoulder width apart (Maybe slightly wider). It is more important that your knees be flexed for high catches because when you take the catch it is a good idea to absorb some of the pace off the ball by bending your knees on contact. It is very important that you stand in the right place for these catches and get into position under the ball early so that you can then get into the correct position. English (Fingers down method) – Your hands move up so they are in front of you chin, again the little fingers should be overlapped and your hands making the biggest target possible. As the ball comes down you let it go beyond the level of yours eyes and into your hands. You then absorb the pace of the ball by bringing your hands down into your chest. Australian (Fingers up method) – Your hands are raised above your head so they are in line with the ball coming down (you should be able to see the ball through your hands), as the ball comes down and makes contact with your hands you absorb the pace of the ball by bringing your hands down to your shoulder as well as bending your knees. Again you need to watch the ball constantly throughout the entire process ALWAYS TRY AND USE 2 HANDS

This practice has no coaching points

PROGRESSION

This practice has no progressions

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