Resources · Section 3
Season Roadmaps
Age-specific development plans: what to teach, when to teach it, what success actually looks like, and the mistakes to avoid. Leagues name levels differently, so match by how your league pitches, not the label.
Tee Ball
Usually ages 4 to 6 · Hitting off a tee · First exposure to organized baseball
What to teach
- Which way to run (yes, really) and running through first base.
- Catching soft tosses with two hands, fielding a rolled ball.
- A basic swing off the tee: eyes on ball, big swing, drop the bat.
- What a team is: cheering, sharing, taking turns.
When to teach it
- Weeks 1 to 3: running, throwing motion, tee swings. Everything as a game.
- Weeks 4 to 6: fielding rolled balls, throwing toward a target.
- Rest of season: repeat everything with more fun variations. Repetition is the curriculum.
What success looks like
- Every kid wants to come back next season.
- Most kids run to first without a tour of the infield.
- Kids make contact off the tee and stop fearing the rolled ball.
Common mistakes
- Teaching mechanics. At this age it is exposure, not technique.
- Drills longer than 8 minutes. Attention spans are tiny.
- Caring about the score. Nobody else does, including the kids.
Coach Pitch
Usually ages 6 to 8 · A coach pitches gently · The game starts to look like baseball
What to teach
- Hitting a moving ball: tracking it from the coach's hand.
- The four-seam grip, stepping toward the target on throws.
- Ready position and fielding grounders out front.
- Where first base is on every play (the universal answer at this age).
When to teach it
- Weeks 1 to 3: throwing and catching fundamentals daily. This is the foundation year.
- Weeks 4 to 6: live hitting against coach pitch, simple fielding decisions.
- Late season: mini scrimmages with frozen-moment teaching.
What success looks like
- Most kids make contact within their at-bat most of the time.
- Throws mostly arrive near the target from short distance.
- Fielders know to throw to first without being told.
Common mistakes
- Pitching too fast or too cute. Groove it so they can hit. Confidence first.
- Position politics. Rotate everyone through everything.
- Skipping catch play to do "real" drills. Catch play is the real drill.
Machine Pitch
Usually ages 7 to 8 · Consistent machine pitching · Hitters learn timing
What to teach
- Timing a consistent pitch: load early, swing level, finish.
- Catching balls in the air, calling "Mine!" on pop-ups.
- Force outs and what to do with the ball after fielding it.
- Backing up bases and simple two-step plays.
When to teach it
- Weeks 1 to 3: machine timing in practice, lots of swings per kid.
- Weeks 4 to 6: fielding decisions with runners, force out games.
- Late season: situational mini games (runner on first, one out).
What success looks like
- Hitters stop being surprised by the pitch and start attacking it.
- The team records routine outs at first base regularly.
- Players call for pop-ups instead of colliding under them.
Common mistakes
- Not enough live machine reps in practice. Game speed needs practice speed.
- Teaching ten situations at once. Master "throw to first" before anything fancy.
- Forgetting fun. The skill jump is real and kids need wins.
8U
Competitive 8-and-under play · Coach or machine pitch by league · Fundamentals get sharper
What to teach
- Clean fielding mechanics: triangle fielding, soft hands, short hops.
- Crow hop and accurate throws at longer distances.
- Base running decisions: when to take the extra base, rounding properly.
- Outfield basics: drop steps, communication, hitting the cutoff.
When to teach it
- Weeks 1 to 2: re-establish throwing and catching quality. Standards matter now.
- Weeks 3 to 6: position-specific work in stations, live situations weekly.
- Late season: team defense concepts and game-speed scrimmages.
What success looks like
- Routine plays become actually routine.
- Players start anticipating where the next play is before the pitch.
- Kids correct themselves using your cues without being prompted.
Common mistakes
- Specializing kids in one position. Their bodies and interests will change.
- Win-now lineups that bury developing players. You are building for age 12, not this Saturday.
- Long talks at practice. The standard is still: move, rep, play.
10U
Usually ages 9 to 10 · Kid pitch begins · The biggest mental jump in youth baseball
What to teach
- Hitting live pitching, including managing the fear of getting hit.
- Pitching basics: strikes first, a simple repeatable motion, mound composure.
- Real team defense: cutoffs, force vs tag, backing up, situational awareness.
- The mental game: reset routines and moving on from mistakes. Start with The Mental Game.
When to teach it
- Weeks 1 to 2: live arms in practice immediately, hitters tracking pitches.
- Weeks 3 to 6: pitcher development plus team defense installs, one concept per week.
- All season: mental game woven into every practice, not saved for game day.
What success looks like
- Batters stay in the box and compete instead of bailing out.
- Pitchers throw strikes more often than not and recover after walks.
- The team turns routine plays under game pressure.
Common mistakes
- Riding your two best pitchers. Develop five arms and protect them all.
- Treating strikeouts and walks as failures instead of the cost of learning kid pitch.
- Skipping the mental game. At 10U it is half the sport.