6U — Fun & First Contact
At 6U, the benchmarks are emotional and motor, not technical. A successful 6U player at end of season should: be excited to come to practice, make contact off the tee at least 50% of swings, field a rolling ball to their glove, and run the bases in the right direction.
- Proper two-hand fielding position (glove down, bare hand ready)
- Understands concept of "force out" — when to throw to a base
- Makes consistent contact on coach-pitched balls
- Knows batting order position and when to run
- Understands "three outs = switch sides"
Note: Do not assess 6U players on outcomes. Assess them on effort and attitude. These are the milestones that predict career-long success.
8U — Basic Skill Acquisition
8U is where physical fundamentals are installed. By end of season, players should be able to execute basic skills with consistency — not perfection, but repeatability.
- Throws overhand with a recognizable step toward target
- Fields ground balls in a fielding-ready position at least 60% of the time
- Makes contact on coach pitch OR simple kid pitch at least 50% of at-bats
- Knows which base to throw to in standard situations (ground ball, no runners vs. runner on 1st)
- Demonstrates basic base running: reads the ball in play before leaving the base
10U — Mechanics and Decision-Making
At 10U, the fundamentals should start becoming automatic. Players can start focusing on reading situations and making decisions, because the physical skills are no longer consuming all their attention.
- Throwing mechanics are consistent — proper grip, stride, arm path, and follow-through
- Fielding: glove angle correct on grounders, sets feet before throwing to target
- Hitting: recognizable load, stride, and rotational swing; can make contact on kid pitch
- Pitchers: basic windmill delivery (softball) or overhand delivery (baseball) — repeatable mechanics
- Base running: reads the ball, knows when to advance and when to hold
- Catcher: receives without flinching, blocks low pitches, understands inning-out count
11U–12U — Position Development
This is the window where players start to specialize — not exclusively, but with a primary position in mind. Physical differences between players become more pronounced. Coaches should individualize skill work.
- Infielders: backhand ground ball, double-play footwork, reading hops
- Outfielders: drop step, communication on fly balls, crow hop throw
- Pitchers: 2+ pitch types (fastball + off-speed), consistent delivery mechanics
- Catchers: blocks balls in the dirt 70%+, pop time under 2.5 seconds, signals system with pitcher
- Hitters: opposite-field contact, two-strike approach, pitch recognition basics
- Base running: leads, reads, and delayed steals understood and executed
13U–14U — Advanced Competitive Skills
At 13U and 14U, players who have built proper fundamentals can now focus on competition-level execution, physical development, and mental game. The gap between trained and untrained players becomes very visible here.
- Velocity development: pitchers should be working on arm strength alongside mechanics
- Pitch sequencing: pitchers understand how to set up hitters across an at-bat
- Defensive reads: infielders anticipate rather than react — pre-pitch positioning based on count and situation
- Batting: advanced pitch recognition, launch angle awareness, situational hitting (hit-and-run, sac fly, contact with runner on 3rd)
- Leadership: older players mentor younger teammates; demonstrates coachability under pressure
- Mental game: composure after errors, pitcher reads between games in a doubleheader
