LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Stretching Warm Up
Skill
(D) Warm up laps around entire field
WARMUP DRILLS - (Should be done from outfield foul line to
an extended line from second base)
(D) High Knees
(D) Karaoke (sideways leg crossover)
(D) Butt Kicks
T-Ball
X
Single A
X
Double A
X
Triple A
X
Majors
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(D) High Kicks (hands extended in front alternating leg kicks)
(D) Arm Swings (side shuffle while extended arms above head
and below waist)
(D) Lunges
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(D) Scissors (forward jog while extended arms cross eachother)
(D) Donkey Kicks (Walking raising one leg at a time them kicking
back)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
STRETCHES (Done while standing in one place)
(S) Neck Rotations
(S) Arm Rotations (forward and back, little to big circles)
(S) Alternating Rotations (similar to a freestyle and backstroke
in swimming)
(S) Shoulder Press (Arms bent at 90 degrees as if you are
pressing a weight above your head)
(S) Fly Press (Arms same as Shoulder Press above but bringing
arms into chest)
(S) Side Bends (one arm above he head then bending to one
side)
(S) Hamstring Stretch (toe touch)
(S) Quad Stretch (Pulling one leg up behind you while standing
on one leg)
(S) Calf Stretch (One leg back on leg forwarded bent slightly
while keeping back foot on the gorund)
(D) Jumping Jacks
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Base Running
Skill
T-Ball
(BR) Getting out of the box
X
(BR) Running through 1st base and looking toward the fence for an overthrow
X
(BR) Sliding (all types)
X
(BR) Rounding the bases (inside corner)
(BR) Peak at 3rd step
(BR) Right of way on the base paths
(BR) Basics of reading the ball off the bat
(BR) Setting proper lead distance
(BR) Stealing 2nd
(BR) Stealing 3rd
(BR) Stealing on passed balls
(BR) Picking up signs from 3rd base Coach
(BR) On deck batter role for plays at Home
(BR) Movement in force plays
(BR) 1st and 3rd stealing situation
(BR) Running in bunt situations
(BR) Tagging up on fly ball
(BR) Getting over/advancing on ground out
(BR) Advanced reading the ball off the bat
(BR) Reading the play in the LF/CF while advancing to 2nd and
picking up 3rd base coach
(BR) Double steals
(BR) Delayed steals
(BR) Diving back
(BR) Secondary lead
(BR) Sliding to disrupt double plays
(BR) Getting hung up on purpose
(BR) Stealing Home
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
Single A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Double A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Triple A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Majors
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Season- Throwing
Skill
(T) Grip: 4 seem two fingers (three for smaller hands); firm grip
but not tight
(T) Balanced stance; knees bent
(T) Shoulder and hip point at the target
(T) Drive feet toward the target
(T) Throw with the legs and push off back leg
(T) Crow hop
(T) Arm path: hands comes out of glove on top of ball (Good
break with palm out
(T) Arm Path: hand goes down, back and then up
(T) Elbow higher than shoulder
(T) Hand back higher than head
(T) Follow through: throwing hand to ground, outside opposite
knee
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
T-Ball
Single A
Double A
Triple A
Majors
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Hitting
Skill
(H) Safety in the batters box
(H) Gripping the bat
(H) Stance
(H) Bat location
(H) Picking up the ball out of the pitcher's hand
(H) Swing motion; bat plane through contact point
(H) Swing motion; follow-through
(H) Head position through the swing
(H) Swing motion; 5/6 steps (Load, Step, Launch, Contact, Extend
& Extend Again) and slotting
(H) Balance through the swing
(H) Taking a pitch
(H) Swing motion; hands inside the ball
(H) Bunting for a hit
(H) Sacrifice bunting
(H) On deck batter's role for plays at home plate
(H) Squeeze bunting
(H) Going with the pitch
(H) Pitch recognition
(H) Hit and run situational hitting/running
(H) Staying alive; fouling a pitch off
(H) Knowledge of the count; situational hitting
(H) Pitch selection
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
T-Ball
X
X
X
X
Single A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Double A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Triple A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Majors
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Infield Fielding
Skill
(IF) Pre-Pitch Position
(IF)- Relaxed
(IF)- Understanding what to do if the ball comes to you
(IF)- What is your responsibility
(IF) Ready Position
(IF) -When pitcher engages rubber be prepared to enter READY
Position
(IF) - Player should enter ready postion as the ball is entering the
Hitting Zone
(IF) Fielding Position
(IF) - Square our feet behind the ball if possible
(IF) Throwing Position
(IF) - From fielding the ball into throwing position
(IF) - make asmooth transition and pop up from fieldiing the ball inot
the throwing position
(IF) - Glove hand or elbow and eyes are facing our target
(IF) - We are in a good "break"postion and good throwing motion
towards the target
(IF) Get Through the Ball
(IF) - Follow-trough on their throw to their targeted base.
(IF) - use their body as they release and follow-through to the base
(IF) -When the pitcher starts his windup, fielders MUST get into a
ready position.
(IF) -Ready position players on the balls of their feet with their hands
slightly out front of them. Glove, hand and body facing the batter
(IF) - Glove down to the ground with throwing hand in an "aligator"
or 2 o'clock poistion
(IF) - Bend down with our back down to the ball and our head up and
arms extended infront of our head.
(IF) - Stay low to the group and form a trangle with our arms to the
ground
(IF) First base position -- use the proper foot
(IF) First base position -- finding the bag
(IF) First base position -- fielding off target throws (L to R)
(IF) First base position -- fielding short throws and scoops
(IF) -Ready position stay upright for middle infielders, lower to the
ground for 3rd and 1st base
(IF) Attack Position
(IF) -Attack the ball when it is hit to you. Step towards the ball w a 2
step approach. 1st step with throwing hand and the 2nd step with
glove foot leading to Fielding position
(IF) - Fielding the ball on the glove side if we cannot get our body
behind the ball
(IF)- Groom Dirt
(IF)- Watching signs from the coaches
(IF)- Situational positioning on the field depending upon batter or
how many outs/runners on base
(IF) Prepartory Steps
(IF) - Use a 2 step approach to enter Ready Position
(IF) - Fielding the ball on our throwing side by using a backhand with
our glove
(IF) - Fielding a bunt with a bare hand
(IF) - how to Turn a double play at each infield position,
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
T-Ball
X
X
X
X
X
Single A
X
X
X
X
X
Double A
X
X
X
X
X
Triple A
X
X
X
X
X
Majors
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Outfield Fielding
Skill
(OF) Calling outs
(OF) Proper stance & glove position, watching the ball
(OF) Calling for the ball
(OF) Thumbs together to catch
(OF) Backing up other outfielder
(OF) First movement on ball (one step back)
(OF) Knowing plays - where to throw
(OF) Relays
(OF) Catch ball above the waist w/ two hands
(OF) Backing up throws in the infield
(OF) Proper foot technique to position themselves to throw
(OF) How and when to charge ground balls
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
T-Ball
X
X
X
Single A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Double A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Triple A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Majors
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Catching Postion
Skill
T-Ball
Single A
Double A
Triple A
Majors
(C2) Mandatory catcher's equipment including protective cup
(C2) How to wear the equipment
NA
NA
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(C2) Proper alignment in relation to batter, batter clearance
(C2) Setting up in the primary(receiving) position
(C2) Receiving the pitch
(C2) Blocking a pitch, straight on and to the sides
(C2) Setting up in the secondary(throwing) position
(C2) Catching pop ups
(C2) Throwing to each base
(C2) Taking throws on a force out at the plate
(C2) Taking throws for tag play at the plate
(C2) Blocking the plate without interfering
(C2) How to make the tag at the plate
(C2) Mechanics of throws to second base on steals
(C2) Fielding bunts - clearing runner on throw to first
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
(C2) Retrieving past balls and plays at the plate with pitcher
(C2) Giving signs
(C2) Backing up first with no men out ground balls left side of
infield
(C2) Dropped third strike throws to first, clear runner in foul
territory
NA
NA
X
X
X
X
NA
X
X
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
NA
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
LLL Player Skill Development Matrix
Pitching Position
Skill
STRETCH/WARM UP-swim freestyle;back stroke;scissors
LONG TOSS until fully stretched
Holding a baseball: 4 seam vs 2 seam
Stand off center on rubber and do not loose contact w/ rubber
First movement is a slight step backward
Placing your pivot foot parallel with the rubber
Feeling the weight on the pivot foot with the leg lift
Lift leg straight up but toward 1:00 O'clock for balance pt.
Eyes remain on catchers mitt
Ball comes downward out of glove until thumb meets hip
Do not short arm the ball
Extend pitching arm so that the elbow is above shoulder
Pitching fingers should be on the inside of the baseball
First movement forward is to lead with the hip
Glove hand stays close to chest
Shoulders open to the plate
Pivot foot pushes off the rubber slightly bending back leg
Control Fall forward with hips and body
Do not land on heel
Be prepared to field your position
Landing foot / stride should be = to 5 1/2 of the players foot steps
Be consistent with landing spot
Stay within door frame after delivery/don't fall left or right
Upper body comes into tucked glove
Follow thru so ball hand touches opposite calf
Pivot foot heel to sky
Throwing a change up
Knowing the strike zone and your batter
Key
(K) Game Knowledge
(H) Hitting
(IF) Infield Fielding
(OF) Outfield Fielding
(T) Throwing
(BR) Base Running
T-Ball
X
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Single A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Double A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Triple A
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Majors
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X