“Majors” Little League Baseball (Kid Pitch):

1. Stretching:  Players should be able to prepare pre-game and pre-practice, as a team, early in the season, with little to no coach assistance.  At each rising level stretching becomes more important in the prevention of injury, and MUST occur before any throwing or hitting activity takes place. (EMPHASIS: at the Majors level, players should begin to learn to hold themselves and their teammates accountable in these areas.  The “Team” concept becomes an important learning emphasis as they advance.)

2. Warmup I: Same throwing routine as outlined in AAA.  Free Throws, Ten Toes, Rocker Throws, Normal Throws and Long Toss.

3. Warmup II (Pitchers): Pitchers should be introduced to arm care exercises/awareness/stretches they can do in addition to the standard team warmup exercises.  Extra stretching and arm care early in the season can help prevent injuries to pitchers later in the season when their bodies are fatigued.

4. Warmups III (Catchers):  On game days, if a player knows they are starting the game in the catcher position, they should warm up with their chest protectors and shin guards on.  This allows catchers to practice throwing while “geared up,” which is decidedly more difficult than throwing without gear. 

5. Optional Warmups:  Each day of throwing warmups can include a “secondary” warmup period for the last 5-10 minutes.  This allows players to get daily reps on various portions of the game that don’t receive as much attention in practices.  Coaches should direct catchers to warm up with other catchers (and their mitts), so they can finish their throws by throwing to each other in their primary and secondary positions, practicing receiving and framing pitches.  A) ”PICKS” – players can throw 1-hop grounders from 20-25’ to each other to practice reading short hops.  B) “FOREHANDS/BACKHANDS” – players can throw ground balls from 15-20’ to the side of each other, helping develop a feel for the many angles ground balls can take.  C) “CUTOFFS” – players can take turns throwing fly balls to each other from 50-60’, and then setting up as a cutoff man to practice receiving the throw to the glove side. D) “QUICK TOSS” – players can practice quick throws and catches/exchanges from 25’-30’, focused on learning to be quick without being careless.

6. Fielding I:  Players should readily know and implement the “Three B’s” approach by the time they reach Majors.  (See: AAA and AA notes) What is my responsibility? Ball?  Base? Or Backup/Cutoff?  (EMPHASIS: Coaches should stress that this needs to be reassessed on every pitch.  A stolen base, or out on the basepaths, can change the answer to all 3 questions during the same at-bat.)

7. Fielding II:  Stronger and constant emphasis on “always be in motion” once the ball is in play.  Every player has a role, responsibility, and place to be on every defensive play (or the one about to happen after it – anticipating “next plays” becomes more important at each level of play).

8. Fielding III: Infielders will learn additional positioning concepts, as directed by their coaches, specific to situations–  “Corners In,” “Double Play depth,” “All In,” “Shifts” related to right handed, or left handed, batters, etc.

9. Fielding IV: Outfielders will learn additional positioning concepts, related to coach signals, for moving back, moving in, and various shifting for right handed/left handed batters, or for specific batters.

10. Fielding V: Catchers will learn to relay the number of outs and play scenarios to the Infield, along with any defensive play calls to the team, directed from their coaches.

11. Fielding VI: 2B and SS, before each at-bat, should “echo” the call of the catcher in #10, turning to face their OF and yelling out the number of outs and the correct cutoff/throw for that scenario.  Catcher will make the initial call to the infield, and then 2B and SS will relay, or “echo,” the call to the OF.  This should become 2nd nature by the end of Majors, and helps all players on the field be on the same page, know the current scenario, and make the correct decision in assessing the current “Three B’s.” (NOTE: Cutoff is typically “two bases” - Example: Man on 1B, “Outfield cut Three!”  Man on 2B, “Outfield cut Four!”  Nobody on base, “Outfield cut Two!”)  

12. Fielding VII: Players will begin to learn the concepts of different throwing styles as their bodies get stronger, ie, infield throws (quicker transfer, shorter arm motion, “bow & arrow”, feet following the throw to your target), outfield throws (side address the ball, longer transfer/arm motion, harder/extended follow through, understanding the “tailing effect” of long-distance throws).  

13. Fielding VIII: Players will learn how to properly play the role of Cutoff (arms up and square, creating a “big” and obvious target for the outfielder) before moving to receive the throw to their glove side once the ball is in the air, letting the catch carry them through and into their relay throw, in one fluid motion.

14. Catchers I (calling pitches): Catchers will learn to call pitches, and the concept of pitch sequencing, either called on their own or as directed by their coach.  They should learn to use the “pitch call” position (hiding their signal to the pitcher) before moving into their primary or secondary catcher positions.

15. Catchers II (blocking pitches): Ideally, each practice will provide catchers with an opportunity to practice blocking pitches, thrown slowly at close range from a coach.  Blocking pitches is one of the most difficult skills in youth baseball. It is essential to spend extra time on blocking drills, especially for teams whose pitchers have begun to throw breaking balls.  Breaking balls in the dirt will bounce at an odd angle, in the opposite direction of their spin.  Likewise, fastballs at higher velocities will “skip,” while slower pitches and changeups will bounce at a higher angle.  Catchers will benefit immensely from as many reps as possible blocking various types of pitches during the season.

16. Baserunning:  Baserunners should be prepared at all times to take an extra base when the defense allows it.  Runners should continue to use the “stealing on every pitch” mindset, taking aggressive secondary leads as the ball crosses the plate and only stopping when the catcher has caught the ball.  By anticipating passed balls the runner is fully prepared to take an extra base when it happens.  Likewise, runners should maintain their secondary lead until the catcher successfully throws the ball back to the pitcher.  Again, by anticipating the ball getting past the pitcher, runners are also ready to advance on this common mistake.  (EMPHASIS:  If baserunners fail to anticipate mistakes before they occur, it’s usually too late to advance at that point.) 

17. Pitching:  Pitchers will learn to ALWAYS be well stretched and warmed up before pitching.  Ideally, coaches will design their lineups so that the “next pitcher” is warming up in the bullpen in the inning before they pitch.  This also allows the new pitcher to be prepared to come in earlier if the previous pitcher struggles.  This both keeps the flow of the game moving, and also protects each pitcher from increased injury risk, caused by unexpected and inadequate warm up time.

18. Pitching: Pitchers will continue to refine their “secondary” pitches.  Pitchers with strong mechanics can consider developing breaking pitches, with an emphasis on proper technique and arm safety*.  All Pitchers should continue to develop and refine an understanding of using different speeds and different pitches to compete against batters, and create advantages, by disrupting the hitter’s rhythm at the plate.

*NOTE: Modern research continues to dispel the idea that properly thrown breaking balls increase the risk of injury to a player, moreso than fastballs and change-ups.  Major studies at the University of North Carolina, and the American Sports Institute both show that breaking balls create no additional risk of injury for pitchers.  All leading studies indicate that overuse, poor mechanics, and fatigue, are the leading factors of injuries to youth pitchers.  

SPECIAL NOTE:  Taking care of our players’ arms is one of our top coach responsibilities in MCLL.  Over the past decade, the incidence of Tommy John surgeries nationally in players 18 years and younger has gone from 40%, to 50%, to now over 60% of all TJ surgeries performed annually.  ALL MCLL COACHES are required to enforce strict pitch limits, on all pitchers, at all times.  For players who also play travel baseball in addition to MCLL, coaches should be in communication to make sure their combined pitch counts don’t exceed these recommendations. 

On the MCLittleLeague.org website, as well as many other places on the internet, you will find the USA Baseball “PItchSmart” Guidelines for pitch limits.  By rule, Little League  players are not allowed to exceed these guidelines:

PitchSmart Guidelines

Daily Max   REQUIRED OFF DAYS FOR # OF PITCHES PITCHED IN A SINGLE DAY

Age     Pitches       0 days       1 days           2 days             3 days           4 days

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9-10         75 1-20  pitches   21-35  pitches      36-50  pitches      51-65 pitches          65+

11-12         85 1-20  pitches   21-35  pitch