12U Coaches Guide
Strengthen fundamentals, anticipate game situations, and help players understand why a decision fits the play. Build greater ownership of preparation, communication, and performance while continuing to support individual development.
What to Teach
Help players see the situation, understand their responsibility, choose a response, and carry out the play.
Hitting
Build a consistent pre-pitch routine and efficient swing mechanics. Practice adjusting to pitch speed and location, understanding the count, and using a two-strike approach. Develop situational hitting, bunting, sacrifice situations, and use of the whole field. Introduce slapping and squeeze responsibilities where appropriate.
Throwing
Make accurate throws at increasing game speed with efficient transfers and controlled footwork. Develop throws while moving, longer throws, and decisions about using a cutoff or relay. Increase speed as players maintain accuracy and control.
Fielding and team defense
Strengthen routine plays, range, ground-ball and fly-ball skills, and double-play fundamentals. Practice first-and-third situations, cutoffs, relays, backups, bunt coverage, slap defense, and rundowns. Clarify corner responsibilities on bunts and who covers first within the team’s system. Teach outfield movement on gap hits and communication that directs the cutoff.
Baserunning
Develop legal leads, stealing decisions, tagging up, and reading the pitcher, catcher, and batted ball. Practice first-to-third opportunities, scoring decisions, two-out situations, and rundown responses. Teach sliding through qualified instruction; introduce pop-up or slide-by techniques only as players are ready.
Pitching
Reinforce consistent mechanics, strike throwing, location, and changes of speed. Develop a changeup and additional pitches with qualified instruction. Introduce working ahead, sequencing, and recognizing hitter tendencies. Include fielding bunts and comebackers, covering bases, and backing up plays.
Catching
Take turns, listen, encourage teammates, and respect adults and opposing players. Help girls reset after mistakes and enjoy participating. Teach respectful responses to outcomes while following the league’s 6U no-score approach.
Game IQ
Know the count, outs, runners, force plays, likely contact, coverage responsibilities, and intended play before each pitch. Communicate with teammates and make decisions with fewer coach reminders. Ask players to explain what they saw and why they chose a particular play.
Leadership and mental game
Respond constructively to mistakes, encourage teammates, communicate respectfully, and stay involved throughout the game. Accept coaching, prepare with purpose, and set an individual development goal. Help players reset and focus on the next opportunity.
Coaching Notes
First practice priorities
Check throwing and catching, fielding footwork, and hitting routines. Walk through first-and-third situations, bunt coverage, and slap defense before adding speed. Explain when a corner charges a bunt and when second base covers first within the team’s chosen system.
What progress looks like
Look for players preparing before the pitch, communicating responsibilities, directing the cutoff, and choosing a play without repeated reminders. Teach when an urgent play is needed and when securing the ball is the better decision. Reinforce a sound process even when the play is not completed.
Building toward 8U
Ask players to explain their responsibilities and lead pre-pitch checks. Review two-strike hitting, stealing decisions, and squeeze responsibilities through situations they can discuss and repeat. Give each player a development goal and help her identify the next useful adjustment.
Drills & Demonstrations
Open a drill for its setup, teaching cues, and links to free softball instruction.
Hitting approach and pitch recognition
Time: 10–15 minutes. Equipment: Helmets, bats, softballs, a tee, and a clear hitting area.
How to run it: Begin with a short hitting progression to reinforce setup and swing mechanics. Then give each hitter a small set of controlled pitches with a simple count or hitting goal. Ask the hitter to explain her swing-or-take decision. Include a two-strike round and rotate hitters and fielders.
What to look for: A repeatable setup, recognition of hittable pitches, a committed swing, and small adjustments between repetitions.
Free swing instruction: 4 Youth Softball Hitting Drills — Matt Lisle
Bunt placement and game situations
Time: 8–10 minutes. Equipment: Helmets, bats, softballs, and cones.
How to run it: Review the instructor’s setup, then use controlled coach deliveries and a placement target. Give the hitter a runner-and-outs situation and ask why a bunt might fit. Rotate in fielders to walk through charging, throwing, and covering responsibilities.
What to look for: Controlled contact, purposeful placement, and an understanding of both the offensive goal and the defensive response.
Free fundamentals video: Beginner Bunting — Aubree Munro, USA Softball
Partner target throws
Time: 6–10 minutes. Equipment: Gloves, softballs, and cones.
How to run it: Pair players in separate throwing lanes at a comfortable distance. Each receiver presents a target and confirms she is ready. Practice catching, setting the feet, and making an accurate return throw. Gradually increase distance as players maintain control. For 12U, add movement before the catch and quicker transfers while keeping throws accurate.
What to look for: A ready receiver, balanced footwork, secure catches, efficient transfers, and throws toward the intended target.
Free fundamentals video: Beginner Throwing Instruction — Megan Rembielak
Field, decide, and throw
Time: 8–10 minutes. Equipment: Gloves, softballs, cones, and bases.
How to run it: Give players a simple outs-and-runners situation before rolling the ball. Have the fielder name her intended play, field the ball, and make the throw. Rotate fielders and receivers. Add movement to either side or a slow roller once routine plays are controlled.
What to look for: Preparation before contact, controlled footwork, a clear decision, and a throw to the intended target. Ask players to explain their choice.
Free mechanics video: Fielding Technique Breakdown — Morgan Stuart
Track, communicate, and relay
Time: 8–10 minutes. Equipment: Gloves, softballs, cones, and a marked throwing target.
How to run it: Begin with individual tracking and a clear call for the ball. Then walk through a ball hit into the gap. Assign who fields, who backs up, and where the cutoff stands before adding controlled repetitions. Change the runner situation and have players identify the relay destination.
What to look for: Early tracking, clear calls, purposeful backup movement, and communication that directs the cutoff toward the next play.
Free tracking video: Beginner Fly Balls — Michelle Moultrie, USA Softball
Beginning pitching progression
Time: Short, focused sets. Equipment: Softballs and a target or a catcher in properly fitted gear.
How to run it: Choose one beginner drill and demonstrate it. Start at a comfortable distance in a clear lane. Use one cue for the motion and one target to throw toward. Give interested pitchers regular turns.
What to look for: A motion the player can repeat, pitches moving toward the target, and a calm reset after a miss.
Free videos: Two Beginner Softball Pitching Drills — Coach D Rubin
Catching foundations
Time: 8–10 minutes. Equipment: Properly fitted catcher’s gear, softballs, and a supervised receiving area.
How to run it: Pick one beginner receiving or blocking drill from the video. Use short sets at a comfortable pace and give one cue at a time. Finish each rep with a controlled return throw.
What to look for: A balanced setup, eyes tracking the pitch, and a controlled return to the pitcher.
Free video: Jen Schro Catching Workout
Sample Practice
90-minute sample practice
0–5 min: Share the practice goal and complete a movement warm-up.
5–15 min: Progress through throwing and catching. Reinforce transfers, footwork, accuracy, and communication as distance increases.
15–45 min: Rotate through three 10-minute stations: situational hitting or bunt placement, ground-ball decisions and throws, and outfield tracking with communication.
45–55 min: Practice cutoffs and relays. Change the runner situation and have players identify the target and their responsibilities.
55–80 min: Work through one or two team situations, such as first-and-third plays, bunt coverage, or slap defense. Add controlled live hitting and baserunning under current 12U rules. Repeat the situation so players can apply an adjustment.
80–90 min: Ask players to explain one decision and identify one improvement. Set the next practice focus and clean up.
Station setup: Assign an adult to each active station. Run fewer stations if you’re short on help, and keep waiting players clear of swings and throws.
Division Rules & Guidelines
Use the league’s current 12U rules during games. These skill goals and practice progressions support development; proposed rule changes are handled separately.
