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.
Stride Line Pitches
Step along a straight line so your pitches go straight at the target.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Lay a rope or chalk line from your pitching foot to the target.
Core: Medium. Keep to your usual pitch count and compare only your own accuracy.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 10 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Softball, glove, chalk or rope, partner or net
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Pitching
The steps
How it works
- Lay a rope or chalk line from your pitching foot to the target.
- Stride so your front foot lands on the line.
- Pitch easy from a short distance.
- Do 2 sets of 10.
Coaching point
Land on the line.
Safety: Count every pitch, bullpen and practice included. There is no single official softball limit; some sports-medicine groups suggest about 50 pitches a game at ages 8-10, 65 at 11-12 and 80 at 13-14, so follow your league limits, 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
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
Save this drill to your child or team, free
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.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
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An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.