Baseball drills for the different age groups

Question
I coordinate a baseball league ages ranging from 5-6 tball,7-8 machine pitch, 9-10 kids pitch, 11-12 and 13-14 both baseball and softball.  My question is what main skills should be taught at each one of these age groups.  We end up with moms or dads as coaches and they all have a different opinion.  I want to give them a minimum guideline for the different age group to target for the season as a must learn before the next age movement.  Can you please advise.
Thanks

Answer
John,

Thanks for the question.  It is a great one and a great idea.  I tried to attempt this in a little league in the town we lived in previously, but egos got in the way. The dads a lot of times put winning ahead of teaching.  Teaching is the key at the 5-8 year old levels and beyond.

Obviously, the skills will change and increase as the age levels increase.  The key is to teach the key fundamentals. I read an article yesterday about Phil Garner, manager of the Houston Astros.  He was speaking of spring training and stated he will approach it just like every other.  They work the fundamentals: bunt coverages, ground balls, fly balls, cut off throws, etc..   If the big leaguers concentrate on the fundamentals, don't you think we should with our kids?

I recommend seeking some written or video information regarding specific drills, etc.  I am actually thinking about putting something like that together myself in the future.

5-6 year olds: throwing mechanics, catching ground balls, proper batting swing mechanics (no uppercut swings), running the bases.  They should also learn the dynamics of throwing to the right base, etc.

7-8 year olds: hitting mechanics become key. ground balls, fly balls and expand on everything else.

9-10: Know they need to begin to learn baseball intelligence and expand on all mechanics.  Learn base running and stealing, cut off men, positional responsibilities.

11 and up: fundamentals, mechanics, repetition.  

Mechanics are the most important thing that a player can learn and should learn from day 1.  If I get a 14 year old who has poor mechanics, I know that he will not become a ballplayer in high school.  You cannot fake mechanics.  Poor mechanics show up under pressure.  To do it right, kids have to learn it right, so they have to be taught the right way.  

Obtain some skills and drills types information or videos and have a clinic that your coaches (moms and dads) can see how to do it right.  A volunteer may have the best intentions and feel that they are doing something correctly, but end up showing a youngster the wrong way to do something.  The youngster may then develop that wrong way and make it work, or not. The problem is that the wrong way is no engrained into them and they develop bad habits. These can be hard to break as a kid ages.

If you have any other questions, let me know.  You may send me your personal email and I would be happy to contact you directly by email or phone.

I hope this helps.

Mike Boss