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Spot Pitching to Quadrants

Hit each corner of the strike zone on purpose to build command.

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

Set up

Mark or imagine four zones: up-in, up-out, down-in, down-out.

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

Ages
11 and up
Time
15 min
Players
Just you
Space
Yard or field
Bring
Softball, glove, catcher or target with 4 zones
Level · skill
Developing · Pitching

The steps

How it works

  1. Mark or imagine four zones: up-in, up-out, down-in, down-out.
  2. Throw 5 pitches to each zone.
  3. Count how many hit the right zone.
  4. Repeat the weakest zone.

Coaching point

Pick the spot, then commit.

Safety: Count every pitch, practice included; these count toward today's total. Follow your league limits (about 50 a game at ages 8-10, 65 at 10-12, 80 at 13-14), rest after a big outing, play another position on rest days, and stop if your shoulder, elbow or back 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 ace 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

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

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Sign up and the free softball week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

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