Softball drills for 9 year olds

At 9

The age at a glance

This year

Fastball and change-up first: spin pitches like the rise ball wait until about 13, with a pitching coach (SSTracker's softball rule).

Drills this year

Beginner drills. Developing drills start at 11, 2 years from now.

Pitching limits

Little League Softball counts innings, not pitches: at most 12 innings in a day, and 7 or more innings in a day earns 1 day of rest. A single pitch counts as an inning.

At 9

Organized sport in all: no more hours a week than the child's age (NATA), so at most 9 hours for a 9 year old, with two rest days a week.

At home

SSTracker keeps one home session for a 9 year old within 45 minutes and plans at most 4 home days a week, with rest days between. That is up from 30 minutes and 3 days at 8.

30 drills

Drills for 9 year olds

Every drill here is one the app opens for 9 year olds, at the level for the age. Each page has the steps, a diagram where the setup can be drawn, three ways to make it a game and a practice log to print.

What you need at home

What you need at home at 9

32 of the 32 softball drills for 9 year olds work at home, in a room, garage or yard. Most used: glove (10 of the 32 drills), softballs (9), bat (5), soft balls (4), ball (2), base (2), batting tee (2), mirror or window (2). 2 drills need nothing but space. 13 are for two, and a parent can be the partner.

• Lead-Off First StepsAges 7 and up · 8 min
• Round First and LookAges 7 and up · 8 min
• Slow Windmill CirclesAges 7 and up · 8 min
• Squat and Reach JumpsAges 7 and up · 6 min
• Barehand Roll and FieldAges 7 and up · 8 min
• C Grip and Elbow UpAges 7 and up · 6 min
• Clap and Go StartsAges 7 and up · 6 min
• Dry Swings in a MirrorAges 7 and up · 8 min

Questions parents ask

Softball for 9 year olds: questions and answers