Stamford Travel Baseball

Development Roadmap

Program Goals by Age

8U Player Goals

The primary objective for this age group is to ensure that each player has a fun, positive experience with baseball, desires to play again the following year, and can successfully execute the skills listed below.

• Common Warm-up techniques

• Mastering catching skills

• Names of and placement for defensive positions

• Proper throwing mechanics

• Proper fielding position

• Understand the lower and upper body batting checklist

• What to do after the ball is hit as a batter and a runner

• Knows how, why, and when to run to the next base

• Understand the difference between force and tag plays

9U/10U Goals

The primary objective for this age group is to ensure that each player develops a love and passion for practicing baseball, understands and starts to manage the emotional aspect of the game, and can begin to execute the skills listed below.

• Proper running mechanics to increase on-field speed

• Mastery of upper body + lower body setup and proper loading techniques

• Sacrifice bunting and bunting for a base hit

• Introduction to Visual Game Plan

• Fundamental understanding of 5 Step Pitching mechanics

• Introducing 4-seam, 2-seam, and change-up pitches

• How to slide properly and effectively

• Groundball fielding techniques

• Introduction to Tags and Picks

• Differing footwork techniques to field and throw quickly

• Intro to fielding slow rollers

• How to recognize and either charge or go back on a fly ball

• Throwing and relaying the ball to the infield

• How to run down a base runner

• Understand how to execute a double play at all infield positions

• Introduction to Bunt Defenses at 9U

11U/12U Goals

This level jumps from 46/60 fields to 50/70 Baseball. This transition is challenging and will require focusing on all previous baseball skills, plus those below.

• Continue to master fundamental skills of 10U

• Introduction/Advancement of:

  1. 1.  50/70 Baseball

     2. Balks

     3. Leading/Stealing

     4. Player Fielding Position (PFP)

     5. Throwing distances for Fielders/Catchers/Pitchers

     6. Strength Training for some players

• More Regular Bullpen Sessions for Pitchers/Catchers

• Pick off Plays, Bunt Defenses, and Advance Cut Off Situations

12U/13U Goals

The most significant and most challenging jump in baseball is the successful transition to the 60/90 field.  Players and parents must be aware of the fun, the rewards, and the difficulties of playing baseball on the bigger diamonds after 12yrs old.

• Continue to Master fundamentals skill learned in 12U

• Introduction to Strength Training for Speed , Change of Direction, and Arm Strength

• Deeper understanding of aspects of strategy in the game

• Bunting consistently, leads and stealing, pick-off plays, bunt defenses

• Situational hitting

• Mental Skills