5 Solo Fielding Drills You Can Do at Home (Cricket & Hockey)

At our Edison showroom we see players from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania walk in looking for solo drills they can run between team sessions. The five drills below cover catching, ground fielding, throwing accuracy and reaction work, and each one scales from a beginner driveway to a full academy net.

Training goal and space required

Each drill below lists the space it actually needs. We recommend measuring your space before buying anything. A driveway or garage bay is usually 20-22 feet deep, which works for short-range work. A backyard with 30+ feet gives you full throwing distance. An academy net lane is the gold standard but not required for solo work.

pick the right drill for your setup

• Buyer / use case: NJ parent with a 2-car garage, beginner child.
• Best fit: Wall catch and reaction ball drills.
• Avoid when: Ceiling is low or garage door is glass.
• Key verification: Measure ceiling height, check for breakable items.
• Relevant collection: Cricket training equipment.

• Buyer / use case: Brooklyn academy player, weekday evening solo session.
• Best fit: Indoor net lane with reaction balls and throw-down targets.
• Avoid when: Hallway or shared space without padding.
• Key verification: Net width, ball type (taped or soft).
• Relevant collection: Cricket training equipment.

• Buyer / use case: PA backyard cricketer, 40ft lawn.
• Best fit: Full throwing drill with cones and a portable net.
• Avoid when: Neighbor windows within line of throw or shared fence.
• Key verification: Lawn slope, ball containment (fence or net).
• Relevant collection: Cricket ground accessories.

Equipment checklist

You can run most of these drills with a basic kit. We recommend starting with:

• 1-2 soft or taped cricket balls (hard balls damage walls and windows).
• 1 reaction ball or uneven ball for hand-eye work.
• Cones or tape markers for target zones.
• A small target or stump set for throwing accuracy.
• A cricket training net if you want full-distance throwing indoors.
• A bowling machine only if you have a net and a power outlet (specs vary by model).

Check current product pages for sizes, weights and stock. Prices vary by model.

Step-by-step drill/setup

Drill 1: Wall catch (beginner, 10 minutes)

Stand 6-8 feet from a brick or smooth garage wall. Throw a soft ball underhand against the wall and catch the rebound with both hands. Aim for 20 clean catches in a row before moving further back.

Drill 2: Reaction ball pickup (intermediate, 5 minutes)

Drop a reaction ball from waist height and field it cleanly with a soft hand. Repeat 15 times on each side. The uneven bounce trains your hands to react.

Drill 3: Cone target throw (intermediate, 10 minutes)

Set three cones at 15, 25 and 35 feet. Throw a ball at each cone in turn and record hits out of 10. We recommend tracking your score week to week.

Drill 4: Pick-up and throw relay (academy, 15 minutes)

Place a ball 20 feet to your right. Field it cleanly, transfer to throwing hand, hit a target at 30 feet. Reset and repeat from the left. Use a portable net if indoors.

Drill 5: High catch self-toss (advanced, 10 minutes)

Toss a ball high above your head using a bowling machine or by hand, settle under it and catch at peak height. Start at 15 feet, move back as you improve.

Safety for garage, driveway, backyard and nets

Solo drills go wrong when the setup is rushed. At our Edison showroom we walk through these checks with every customer.

• Garage: clear cars, bikes and tools. Pad the wall behind you if you can.
• Driveway: check for cars, pets and neighbors before each throw.
• Backyard: confirm the ball cannot reach a window, road or shared fence.
• Net lane: anchor the net properly and check the frame before each session.

Common mistakes we see

• Using a hard cricket ball indoors. It damages walls and can ricochet.
• Skipping the warm-up. Five minutes of soft catches prevents wrist strain.
• No measurement. If you cannot score the drill, you cannot improve it.
• Drilling in the dark. We recommend a clear, well-lit space only.
• Forgetting hydration, especially in summer NJ sessions.

Beginner vs academy use

Beginners should start with drills 1 and 2, two to three times a week. Academy players can layer drills 3-5 into a 45-minute solo session. Hockey players will find drills 1-3 transfer directly to stick handling and passing accuracy.

Three US buyer scenarios

• NJ parent, Edison: A 10-year-old beginner needs a soft ball, reaction ball and a small target. Start with the basics in cricket training equipment.
• Brooklyn academy player: An indoor net lane player needs a taped ball, cones and a portable net. Add a bowling machine only if power and budget allow.
• PA backyard cricketer: A weekend player with a 40-foot lawn needs cones, a target and a containment net. See cricket ground accessories for options.

Shop cricket training equipment for home, academy or team practice. Call/WhatsApp 1-732-250-3598 for a practical setup recommendation.

What to buy first

If you only buy three things, we recommend:

• One soft or taped cricket ball (check current product page for weight options).
• One reaction ball (varies by model).
• One small target or cone set.

Add a portable net and a bowling machine only when you have the space and a clear training goal. We recommend talking through your setup at our Edison showroom before adding bigger items.

FAQ

1. Can I really do cricket fielding drills in a US garage?

Yes. Most US two-car garages are deep enough for short-range catching and reaction work. Use a soft or taped ball, clear the space and pad the wall behind you. Check your ceiling height before overhead throws.

2. How often should I run these solo drills?

Two to three sessions a week is enough for most players. Each session should be 20-45 minutes. We recommend keeping a simple log of catches or hits so you can see progress over four to six weeks.

3. Do hockey players benefit from these drills?

Drills 1-3 transfer well to stick handling and reaction work. The wall catch and reaction ball pickup both train hand-eye speed. Hockey-specific tools are a separate category, but the principles overlap.

4. Do I need a bowling machine for solo practice?

No. Most solo drills work with hand-fed or self-tossed balls. A bowling machine helps with repetition and high catches, but only if you have a net, power and a clear goal.

5. Where can I see these products in person?

Visit our Edison, New Jersey showroom to handle balls, nets and targets before you buy. Call or WhatsApp 1-732-250-3598 to confirm stock and current pricing.

Related Guides

• Home Cricket Practice Equipment Guide 2026: Nets, Balls & Solo Tools
• Cricket Coaching & Training Aids: Beyond the Basics

Need a setup that fits your space? Visit our Edison showroom or call/WhatsApp 1-732-250-3598. We will walk you through the right balls, nets and targets for your level.