Ages: 7-8 (Coach Pitch)

Program Outcome / Skill

• Knows field of play (bases, infield, outfield)
• Understands ball in play (fair vs. foul)
  • Swing attempts (5 pitches or 3 swings + 2 swings off the tee)
  • Safely dropping the bat
• Understands out vs. safe
  • Force outs, tagged runners, fly ball outs
• Understands pitch outcomes
  • Strikes, balls, foul balls, fair balls
• Understands basic baserunning

 Positions

• Knows infield positions (including catcher)
• Knows outfield positions

 Throwing

• Uses the correct hand
• Grips the ball correctly
• Makes eye contact with throwing partner / keeps eyes on target throughout throw
• Understands basic throwing motion
  • Glove foot forward
  • Arm motion / body positioning
  • Release point & follow through

 Catching

• Uses the correct hand
• Makes eye contact with throwing partner / follows the ball, eyes open throughout catch
• Demonstrates proper body positioning
  • Square to partner, glove foot slightly forward, glove up ready to catch
• Uses the glove to catch
  • No bare (throwing) hand
  • Fingers up or fingers down
• Catches the ball on glove side and across the body
  • Moves glove to ball in flight
  • Attempts to catch / squeezes glove

 Fielding

• Demonstrates ready position
• Follows the ball from bat to glove
• Moves body to the ball while in play
• Demonstrates proper body positioning when fielding ground balls
  • Glove foot slightly forward, knees bent, hands out
  • Glove hand down, throwing hand on top
• Demonstrates proper body positioning when fielding flyballs
  • Glove foot slightly forward, knees bent, hands above head
  • Hands away from face, throwing hand bracing glove
  • Tracks the ball above the glove
  • No basket catches
• Transitions from fielding to throwing

 Batting

• Demonstrates proper batting stance
  • Feet and hands positioned correctly
  • Eyes on the pitcher
• Tracks ball from pitcher's hand to the bat
• Demonstrates proper swing technique
  • Keeps both hands on the bat
  • Rotates torso and hips
  • Keeps both feet on the ground, does not spin
• Safely drops the bat after hitting and runs to first base

 Baserunning

• Runs to and through 1st base on batted ball
• Waits for fair ball, ball on the ground, to advance
• Runs in straight line to the base
• Listens to coach while running bases
• • Stops, when appropriate, at 2nd and 3rd base
  • Advances, when appropriate, at all bases
  • Runs through home plate
• Does not pass other players on the bases
• Leaves the bases when called out

• Follows batting order (listens to coaches)
• Safely waits to bat (on-deck circle)
• Pays attention while on defense