Age Appropriate Levels

Ages 6 and under (Tee-Ball)

Psychomotor Development (How they move)

Progress in motor development starts with the head and moves downward to the feet and from the center of the body outward
Easy fatigue, rapid recovery
Emphasis on fundamental movement skills (running, bending throwing, catching, striking)
Increased use of all body parts
Needs to explore qualities of a rolling or bouncing ball

Cognitive Development (How they think)

Thinking is done in a non-logical, non-reversible manner. Egocentric thinking predominates
needs concrete physical situations
can tend to only one task at a time in problem solving
can process only small bits of information at a time, long sequential instructions are not processed
Simple rules only!
Limited understanding of time, space relations and boundaries

Social Development (How they interact with others)

Beginning to develop self-concept, body awareness and self-image through movement
See world only from their perspective, egocentric
Need generous praise and play without pressure
Influential person in their life is most likely the mother or significant parent
Does not understand group or team play

Baseball Skills (What they should be learning)

Play to have fun
Follow the instructions of the manager and coaches
Learn to be part of “a team” respecting other players, coaches, & parents
Identify the bases and the order in which they should be touched
Identify the nine field positions (pitcher, catcher, short-stop, etc.)
Throw the ball keeping the elbow up
Pay attention to the batter
Throw infield ground balls to first base, throw outfield hits to second base
Make solid contact with the ball when hitting off the tee
Run straight through the bag at first base
Warm-up in the outfield grass prior to a game
Safety tips (no touching a bat unless you’re on your way to the plate, mandatory cup rule, no throwing equipment, etc.)

Ages 7-8 (Lower Minors)

Psychomotor Development (How they move)

Perceivable improvement in pace and coordination from age 6 however the immaturity of their physical ability is still obvious
Continue emphasis on fundamental skills
Temperature regulation is less efficient than an adult’; more prone to overheating

Cognitive Development (How they think)

Operational thinking develops (mental actions that are reversible). Egocentric thought diminishes
Limited ability to attend to more than one task at a time
Concept of time and space beginning to develop
Limited ability for self-evaluation, i.e. effort is equal to performance (“if I try hard, then I performed well”)

Social Development (How they interact with others)

Great need for approval from adults, like to show individual skills
Easily bruised psychologically by both peers and adults, negative comments carry great weight
Like to play baseball because it is “fun”
Universe is expanding from home to neighborhood, other kids are now “real” and can be partners/friends
Team identify is limited (“I play on Coach Bob’s team” or “I play on Timmy’s team”) – league concepts are non-existent
Desire for social acceptance, they want everyone to like them
Most influential person is most likely father or significant parent

Baseball Skills (What they should be learning)

Play to have fun
Follow the instructions of the manager and coaches
Learn to be part of “a team” respecting other players, coaches, & parents
Identify the bases and the order in which they should be touched
Identify the nine field positions (pitcher, catcher, short-stop, etc.)
Throw the ball keeping the elbow up
Pay attention to the batter
Understand ‘Force Play’
Get in front of the ball on fielding plays
Use two hands to catch the ball (alligator grip)
Catch balls on the fly withtwo hands and thumbs up
Throw infield ground balls to first base using 3-step technique, throw outfield hits to second base
Outfielders will back-up each other on hit balls
Run straight through the bag at first base on infield hits
Take a turn at first base on outfield hits, watch and listen to the first base coach
Slide into second, third base, and home on close plays
Make eye contact with the 3rd base coach while running to 2nd or 3rd base
Warm-up in the outfield grass prior to a game
Make contact with a pitched ball with a level swing
Take pitches outside the strike zone
Safety tips (no touching a bat unless you’re on your way to the plate, mandatory cup rule, no throwing equipment, etc.)

Ages 9-10 (Upper Minors and Majors)

Psychomotor Development (How they move)

Gross and fine motor skills become more refined
Ability to stay on task is longer
Greater diversity in playing ability and physical maturity among players
More prone to heat injury than adults

Cognitive Development (How they think)

Longer attention span
Ability to sequence thought and actions
Ability to think ahead to next steps while performing
Demonstrate increased self-responsibility (e.g. aware of place in batting order and ready to go)
Starting to recognize fundamental tactics

Social Development (How they interact with others)

Continued positive reinforcement needed
Becoming more serious about their “play”
May initiate activities on their own (“Let’s go warm up”)
Peer pressure begins to become a factor
Prefer identification with a team
An adult outside the family may take on added significance

Baseball Skills (What they should be learning)

Play to have fun
Follow the instructions of the manager and coaches
Learn to be part of “a team” respecting other players, coaches, & parents
Identify the bases and the order in which they should be touched
Identify the nine field positions (pitcher, catcher, short-stop, etc.)
Throw the ball keeping the elbow up
Pay attention to the batter
Understand ‘Force Play’
Get in front of the ball on fielding plays
Use two hands to catch the ball (alligator grip)
Catch balls on the fly withtwo hands and thumbs up
Throw infield ground balls to first base using 3-step technique, throw outfield hits to second base
Demonstrate how to back-up bases based on defensive position
Second basemen will demonstrate their outfield cutoff position
Second basemen and short-stops will backup pitcher on throwbacks when base runner is on base
Short-stops will demonstrate their outfield cutoff position (between of and 2b & of and 3b)
Outfielders will back-up each other on hit balls
Outfielders will throw to the cutoff man
Pitchers will learn to throw two-seam and four-seam fastballs. NO CURVEBALLS!
Pitchers will cover home plate on pass-balls with runner on 3b
Catchers will learn to block balls in the dirt
Catchers will learn to throw out attempted base stealers
Infielders will be able to turn double plays
Infielders will be able to execute bunt coverage with no runners on base and runners on base
Batters will learn to bunt
Advance to next base on a pass-ball
Learn the coach’s signs
Run straight through the bag at 1b on infield hits
Take a turn at 1b on outfield hits, watch and listen to the 1b coach
Slide into 2b, 3b, and home on close plays
Make eye contact with the 3rd base coach while running to 2nd or 3rd base
Warm-up in the outfield grass prior to a game
Make contact with a pitched ball with a level swing
Take pitches outside the strike zone
Safety tips (no touching a bat unless you’re on your way to the plate, mandatory cup rule, no throwing equipment, etc.)

Ages 11-12 (Majors and Upper Minors)

Psychomotor Development (How they move)

Physically active
Well coordinated large and fine motor skills
Will begin to show unique talents in certain areas that need special encouragement and attention
Ready to learn the fine points of team sports and will relate to the knowledge and experience of a coach, trainer or instructor.

Cognitive Development (How they think)

Increasingly independent and autonomous.
Mature and sane.
Adventurous.
Sense of justice and fairness
Able to give long attention span to a challenging project over time
Feel comfortable with a problem having lots of possible solutions. In fact, they like the idea of researching all possible sides of an issue and then testing them or putting them to a vote. This group is really interested in the point of view of other people. "What do you think, Mary?" is the type of question that you will frequently hear.
They are ready to learn good practice skills.

Social Development (How they interact with others)

Need peer group identity but also need recognition of their autonomy.
Ready to be valued outside the family
Horizons are expanding to include the world beyond the neighborhood. They are interested in cultures, foods, languages and customs of people different from themselves.
Beginning to understand the meaning of friendship. Qualities such as loyalty, honesty, trustworthiness and being a good listener are the characteristics that make a good friend. Being someone's best friend is important. Friendship groups are often small but intense in their feelings of togetherness. Often these groups or cliques serve as a security blanket for the members.
Have a much more realistic understanding of who they are and what they can do. They are now able to describe themselves using a variety of adjectives. They tend to compare themselves to the adults they see.

Baseball Skills (What they should be learning)

Play to have fun
Follow the instructions of the manager and coaches
Learn to be part of “a team” respecting other players, coaches, & parents
Identify the bases and the order in which they should be touched
Identify the nine field positions (pitcher, catcher, short-stop, etc.)
Throw the ball keeping the elbow up
Pay attention to the batter
Understand ‘Force Play’
Get in front of the ball on fielding plays
Use two hands to catch the ball (alligator grip)
Catch balls on the fly withtwo hands and thumbs up
Throw infield ground balls to first base using 3-step technique, throw outfield hits to second base
Demonstrate how to back-up bases based on defensive position
Second basemen will demonstrate their outfield cutoff position
Second basemen and short-stops will backup pitcher on throwbacks when base runner is on base
Short-stops will demonstrate their outfield cutoff position (between outfield and 2b/of and 3b)
Outfielders will back-up each other on hit balls
Outfielders will throw to the cutoff man
Pitchers will learn to throw two-seam and four-seam fastballs, change up, or any pitch the manager or coach feels comfortable with that willnot endanger the pitcher’s arm
Pitchers will cover home plate on pass-balls with runner on 3b
Catchers will learn to block balls in the dirt
Catchers will learn to throw out attempted base stealers
Infielders will be able to turn double plays
Infielders will be able to execute bunt coverage with no runners on base and runners on base
Batters will learn to bunt, fake bunt, slug bunt
Advance to next base on a pass-ball
Learn the coach’s signs (more advanced)
Run straight through the bag at 1b on infield hits
Take a turn at 1b on outfield hits, watch and listen to the 1b coach
Slide into 2b, 3b, and home on close plays
Make eye contact with the 3rd base coach while running to 2nd or 3rd base
Warm-up in the outfield grass prior to a game
Make contact with a pitched ball with a level swing
Take pitches outside the strike zone
Safety tips (no touching a bat unless you’re on your way to the plate, mandatory cup rule, no throwing equipment, etc.)

The 25 Most Common Little League Mistakes

Throwing

Failing to square the lower body and shoulders to the target

Little of no arm swing

Abbreviated follow-through

Catching

Failing to cradle the ball when catching it

Catching the ball off to the side of the body

Hitting

Poor balance in the stance

“stepping in the bucket” – stepping away and out of the batter’s box

afraid of being hit by the ball

dropping the rear shoulder or “uppercutting”

lunging or reaching for the ball

cutting the swing short

no separation

Pitching

No balance over the rubber

Fingers under the ball

Rushing the delivery

Incorrect placement of the stride foot

Misalignment of shoulders and arms

Lack of trunk rotation

Fielding

Poor setup position

Infielder fielding the ball back under the legs (not in front)

Failure to position body in front of the ball

Fear of the baseball

Backpedaling to catch fly balls

Outfielders taking their first step in

Catching the ball above the head