Player Development

• ​Tee-Ball and Coach Pitch-  6 - 8 player teams
  • Everyone bats each inning (keeps 1/2 innings much shorter)
  • Allows for more action defensively
  • Much easier to coach and instruct with smaller group
• Bam-Bam Bats (5u - 8u)
  • Why don't we ask bat manufacturers to create larger barrel bats for our youngest players?
    • Contact and success at the plate keep kids playing the game (too much failure drives kids and parents away)
• Hitting Mats (5u - 8u)
  • Putting hitting mats in the batters box to show kids where to put their feet is critical (tee out in front)
• Positional Disks (5u - 8u)
  • Utilizing the color coded disks like they use in P.E. classes is a great way to help them know where to position themselves defensively
• No walks in first year of player pitch (coach comes into pitch until result other than BB occurs)
• Keep games moving and short (5u - 8u- 80 minutes / 9u - 12u- 120 minutes)
  • 2 minute time limit between innings (no meeting on the way out)
  • Courtesy Runner with 2 outs for Catcher is mandatory
  • Defensive coach/parent in charge of defensive spreadsheet
• Throwing (5u - 8u)-  When focusing on throwing, having them throw thru a fence or coach/parent (not to each other)
  • They let up to help the other player catch the ball which teaches poor throwing mechanics
  • Work on catching the ball and throwing the ball separately at a young age
• Create League Rules that puts all coaches on same level with regards to playing time and positional decisions
  • Win at all costs coaches / Coaches who pick all friends / Coaches in the middle

Concepts and Ideas=  Player / Coach Development and More...

You will find options on different ways to think outside of the box to adjust and improvise within the game at the youth level.