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Stride on the Line

Use a straight line on the ground to check that your stride goes right at the target.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Draw or tape a line from your back foot straight toward the target.

Core: Medium. Keep to your usual pitch count and compare only your own accuracy.

Ages
11 and up
Time
10 min
Players
Just you
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Glove, chalk or tape, catcher or net
Level · skill
Developing · Pitching

The steps

How it works

  1. Draw or tape a line from your back foot straight toward the target.
  2. Do 8 dry strides and check that your front foot lands on or just across the line.
  3. Then throw 10 easy pitches, checking each landing.
  4. Count landings on the line; stop at 10 pitches.

Coaching point

Stride at the catcher, land on the line.

Safety: Count every pitch. Follow Pitch Smart and Little League: stay under your daily limit (50 at ages 6-8, 75 at 9-10, 85 at 11-12, 95 at 13-16 and 105 at 17-18), take the rest days your count calls for (up to 4 days after a big outing), never pitch three days in a row, do not catch on days you pitch, and stop if anything hurts.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Strike-zone game: aim at target squares on a safe backstop, and a partner marks the zones you hit. Keep to your usual number of pitches.

Challenge

Pick a target: Less (large), Core (medium), More (small). Keep to your usual pitch count and compare only your own accuracy.

Story

You are the starting pitcher painting the corners of the plate.

My best

Beat your own count

Keep to your usual pitch count and compare only your own accuracy. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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