First Fly Balls: Teaching Young Outfielders to Track and Catch Overhead

For most young outfielders, the fly ball is the most intimidating play in the game. The ball goes up out of their normal line of sight, hangs, and comes down on top of them. The skills that turn that fear into a routine catch are learnable and ordered: track the ball the whole way, get the body behind it, and catch it overhead with two hands - all built with soft, easy tosses before any real fly balls. This guide walks coaches and parents through each step.

Tracking is the whole game

Everything starts with the eyes. A young outfielder has to watch the ball from the instant it leaves the hand (or bat) until it's in the glove. The most common reason kids drop catchable fly balls isn't the catch - it's losing the ball partway through. Two habits keep the eyes steady: getting behind the ball so it comes down in front of the face, and running on the balls of the feet rather than the heels, which stops the head and the ball from bouncing in the player's vision.

Get behind it - and learn to start back

Good outfielders catch the ball moving forward, behind it, under control. A big part of teaching that is the first move on a ball hit overhead. Former MLB infielder Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider, frames the priority clearly for developing players:

"It is easier to come in and catch a fly ball, than to run back and catch a fly ball." - Doug Bernier, former MLB player, Pro Baseball Insider (Pro Baseball Insider)

That's why young outfielders are taught to start back with a drop step on anything over their head and adjust in, rather than drifting forward and getting beaten deep. Bernier adds that "it is better to get a slightly later jump after holding your ground, compared to committing in one direction and then determining you are going the wrong way" (Pro Baseball Insider). Read the ball first, then go - and get behind it.

Catch it overhead with two hands

The catch itself should happen above and slightly in front of the head, glove fingers up, with the bare hand right alongside to secure it. Catching overhead lets the player see the ball all the way into the glove; catching at the chest or waist hides the ball at the last second and is where drops happen. Two hands prevent the ball from popping out and put the player in position to throw. The full step-by-step is in our first fly balls drill.

Build confidence with soft balls and easy tosses

Fear is the real obstacle, and it's beaten with progression, not bravery. Start with self-tosses, then gentle lobs the player can catch standing still, then lobs that make them move a step, then balls over the head that require a drop step. Use soft or tennis balls until the player is comfortable - a kid who isn't scared of the ball keeps two hands up and eyes open. A great confidence builder for the youngest players is catching tossed scarves or balloons overhead first, removing the sting entirely while grooving the high two-hand catch.

Common mistakes to watch for

• Losing the ball / turning the head. "Track it - eyes on it the whole way."
• Catching off to the side. "Get your body behind it."
• Running on the heels. "Run on the balls of your feet so your eyes stay still."
• Catching low at the chest. "Catch it up high where you can see it."
• One-hand stabbing. Go back to soft balls and "two hands - catch and cover."

Age-appropriateness and load

This is foundational, low-stress work for 10-12 year olds, and even 8U players can start with self-tosses and scarves. Soft, arcing tosses at easy effort carry essentially no physical load, so it's a daily warm-up and teaching block in one. There's no arm-care or volume concern at this effort; the only caution is to keep tosses soft and within reach until the overhead catch is automatic, so confidence grows instead of getting set back by a ball off the face.

The takeaway

Track it, get behind it, catch it overhead with two hands - and build all of it with soft balls and easy tosses so confidence comes first. Teach the drop-step "start back and adjust in" habit early, and your young outfielders will be camping under fly balls instead of running from them. The skills are identical for softball, so one progression covers your whole program.

Sources

• Pro Baseball Insider - Outfield 2: Tracking Fly Balls (Doug Bernier) - reading the ball, the start-back/drop-step priority, and 'easier to come in than go back.'
• Little League University - Backyard Tip: Reaction Pop-Up Drill - moving the feet while tracking and catching the ball in the pocket for young players.
• Dugout Captain - Fundamentals: Fly Balls - the drop step, crossover, and go footwork sequence for tracking fly balls.
• MOJO Sports - 3 Go-To Fly Ball Drills - confidence-building fly-ball progressions and overhead two-hand catching for beginners.