Catching can turn the tide in games as performing this skill successfully means a previously-eliminated teammate can return to play in addition to elimination the thrower.
There are a variety ways of catching a ball, including:
- Tunnel: The safest way to catch a ball in dodgeball as it uses 3 points of contact between a catcher’s body and the ball
- Adopt the Ready Position
- Move your body towards the ball
- Bring your hips back and create a tunnel just before the ball hits you
- Let the ball hit your torso and trap it against your body using both hands/arms
- Snatch: A higher-risk hands-only catch made on balls throwing outside the catcher’s body
- Adopt the Ready Position
- Move your hands towards the ball
- Bring your hands back to cushion the ball between them
- Parry: A secondary catch made on fast throws
- Adopt the Ready Position
- Angle body parts up at 45 degrees
- Aim to deflect the ball upwards and deaden the ball’s pace upon first contact
- Make a catch on the ball before it moves too far away
- Low Tunnel: A variation of the Tunnel catch, completed by moving your torso lower to the floor to complete the catch
- Adopt the Ready Position
- Move your body towards the ball – this is done by performing a deep squat or by dropping to the knees to bring the torso lower down
- Bring your hips back and create a tunnel
Basic pointers for teaching good catching technique are:
- Adopt the Ready Position
- Watch the ball all the way as it travels towards you
- Use all of your body to cushion the ball
- Always consider the risk of dropping the ball – is this catch worth attempting?
