Short Hop · Wolfpack Drill 05

Teaches

Fielding a ball that bounces just before reaching her, by attacking the hop with soft hands and an open glove.

Bring ● Soft ball ● Glove

Setup

Helper stands 8 feet away.
Underhand bouncer that lands 2–3 feet in front of her on the grass.
Player starts in a low athletic stance, glove out front.

How it works

Toss a soft bouncer that hops once and then rises into her glove.
She gets her glove DOWN to the grass early, palm up.
As the ball hops, she catches it on the way UP, not at its peak.
Two hands — her bare hand covers the ball the moment it lands in the pocket.
Ten reps, then switch to shorter hops (closer bounce) for the next ten.

Watch for

Glove starts low, not at her waist. Down early beats reaching down late.
She catches the ball on the rising part of the hop, not after it peaks.
Her body stays square to the ball — no turning her shoulder away.

What to say

Glove down first.

Catch it on the way up.

Attack the hop.

That was perfect — right on the rise.

High-five moments

She stays low without you reminding her.
Three clean short-hop catches in a row.
She grins when the ball bounces — no flinching.

Make it easier

Roll the ball slowly so it doesn’t actually hop, just so she practises getting low early. Build the habit, then add the bounce.

Level it up

Bounce from a slightly bigger distance so the hop is harder to read. Or mix in a no-hop toss so she has to decide.

★

Key cue

“Glove down, catch it on the rise.”