The Tricky Transition from 10U to 12U Softball
The summer season is almost over for some of the 10U teams across the country. This means several of these players will be moving up to the 12U age groups for fall ball. The summer to fall ball turn-around happens in a matter of weeks. A few weeks is not a lot of time for players to get used to the bigger ball and the five-foot pitching distance change. Luckily, all of the rules and regulations of the game remain the same.
Below are some quick tips coaches and parents can implement for their player who will be making the jump from 10U to 12U and speed up the adjustment process. We have broken the following tips down by position.
All players: When sitting at home on the couch watching Netflix or TV, get a ball in your hand and practice holding and gripping the ball. There is a good chance that the ball will feel too big for some players, which is totally normal. Unfortunately, there is no way to speed up hand growth for young softball players, but getting a ball in their hand before actually doing something on the field with it, will help them feel more comfortable with the size.
Pitchers: Pitchers should begin pitching with the bigger ball right after their summer season at 10U ends. I would even encourage pitchers to begin using the 12U ball a few weeks before that at the end of pitching lessons or practices. Start pitchers out with their basic pitching drills/warm up with the bigger ball. Once the drills are mastered, they are ready to take the mound. The first practice outing with the bigger ball might be rough for some pitchers who have smaller hands. Other pitchers may have no problem with the grip and struggle with the five-foot further distance. If this occurs, have the catcher back up to 43 or 45 feet and have the pitcher throw 5-10 pitches from longer, then move back to 40 feet. This will give the pitcher more confidence and actually make the 12U distance seem shorter.
Hitters: The timing for hitters may be off, the first time they hit from 40 feet. Sometimes this isn’t the case if they are facing a second year or more advanced 12U pitcher. I would suggest having hitters engage in longer front toss, or have a parent or a coach pitch live from the new distance. The size of the ball should actually give hitters an advantage at this next level because it’s bigger and easier to see. Hitters will find they have more time and will need to adjust their timing. Sometimes just getting into game settings and seeing pitching will do the trick.
Infield and Outfield: I would suggest infielders and outfielders take reps at their positions with the bigger ball before their 10U season comes to an end. This way, parents, and coaches will know if it’s time for a bigger glove which is almost always the case as players move from 10U to 12U. The 12” ball will swallow a glove that is meant for an 11” ball. It will be good to know sooner rather than later if a player needs a new glove before fall ball begins. Take lots of reps at positions and work on throws. Again, you can’t control the hand size of players. Even if fielders have small hands, they will need to adjust and learn how to field and throw the 12” ball.
