Two Knee Catch is a throwing drill typically done as part of the Throwing Progression (a routine to follow while warming the arm up).  Depending on age, this progression involves Two Knee Catch, One Knee Catch, and then Feet in Concrete.  Thus, Two Knee Catch is frequently combined with other throwing drills.  Dugout Captain practice planning programming follows this logic often, following Two Knee Catch with some sort of catch play or even long toss.

When carried out as part of the Throwing Progression series, Dugout Catpain recommends focusing on the glove during Two Knee Catch.  The arm will be the primary point of focus for One Knee Catch.  And both arms in combination with a trunk twist will be the instruction points of Feet in Concrete.

EXECUTION – Two Knee Catch is executed with the thrower down on both knees.  Begin with broken movements first, involving a freeze after the body has turned and arms extended.  Athletes are to throw only on a coach’s verbal, and then also HOLD THE FINISH.  Here, coach can check that the glove is still in front of the body (“shield”) and that the throwing arm follows through to tap the opposite thigh.  Reminder that the primary focus during Two Knee Catch is the glove:  

• Glove – Glove arm extends (“Reach”) and then finishes in front of the chest (“Chest” or “Sheild”).
• Throwing Arm – Throwing arm extends (“Cobra”) and then follows through to tap the opposite thigh.
• Hold Finish – Look for “Shield” and have the athletes “tap, tap, tap” the opposite thigh.

DC KEYS

1. Careful No Feet – Pay attention to safety and ensure receivers have hands up, ready to catch the ball.
2. Tap, Tap, Tap – Force the top-to-bottom arm path by having athletes hold finish and “tap, tap, tap” the opposite thigh with their throwing hand
3. Fill Pockets – Act like a chipmunk preparing for winter, stuff them pockets!  Keep the athletes playing catch, rather than chasing baseballs.
4. Use Verbals – Young players remember “reach, chest, shield, tap-tap-tap”… so use them!  Use these keywords to build familiarity.  Whether it’s these words, or your own, you will use these the rest of the season during drills and instruction.

EQUIPMENT LIST