Catching, observing, and releasing lizards can be difficult and challenging, but with practice and technique, you may just find it is possible for anyone to do.

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[edit] Steps

Learn about the lizards you are trying to catch. Skinks, chameleons, and their kin are fast and shy, where geckos and toads are rather unconcerned about your presence until you make a threatening gesture or movement. You should try to learn as much as you can by reading about and observing the quarry.
Plan your catch. Find the most likely place for locating the lizard. This will usually be associated with their food supply or hiding places, and you will want to enter the area they frequent in a stealthy, sneaking manner to get as close to an undisturbed subject as possible. This may mean removing obstructions like lawn furniture, bicycles, or whatever impedes your access to the area the lizards use.
For the faster varieties of lizards like skinks and chameleons, you may want to have an adult with some sewing or craft skills help you fashion a net. This may be a simple bag sewn with cheesecloth or other open weave fabric, stretched onto a stiff wire loop made from a clothes hanger. The net will allow you to capture the lizard without harming him when he is grabbed, so there is at least that benefit from it.
Turn over anything geckos can hide under, boards, boxes, firewood, or other stuff in cool, moist places in the yard where they can hide undisturbed. They will scurry away, but they are not too fast if you are ready for them.
Hunt for lizards around lights at night. This concentrates them where their food is, near porch lights, lighted windows, and other lights which attract insects and bugs. They will still be wary, so use a slow, careful approach when getting near them.
Use the slowest most nonthreatening posture and approach you are able to. Sudden movements, or violent attacks will cause the lizards to seek safety where it is not likely you will see them for some time.

[edit] Tips

Look for places where lizards gather for food, warmth when they are sunning in cool weather, or other reasons.
Remove what you are able to so that they do not have easy hiding places available.
Do not crush or smash the lizards in your zeal to apprehend them. Lizards are valuable parts of our world, eating many insects around our homes.
Grasp lizards gently, but firmly, by the body. Many lizards make use of limb separation (especially dropping their tails) to escape.

[edit] Warnings

Some lizards bite. Very few are toxic, or venomous, but know your quarry and respect those that are dangerous.
Other creatures inhabit the lizards domain, including venomous spiders, scorpions, and bugs.

[edit] Things You'll Need

Patience. You must be able to approach the lizard without sending it for safety.
An area to hunt. Lizards can be found in flower boxes on apartment building balconies, in gardens, and in storage sheds or firewood stacks, but you have to find a suitable location that is available to you.
An insect net, and a good flashlight are helpful with very shy lizards.