Stamford Travel Baseball
Development Roadmap
Stamford Travel Baseball offers year round programs, as well as Season to Season. Below is an outline of the offerings, as well as Goals for each Age Group.
Annual Roadmap
| Age | Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8U and 9U | Winter Workouts | GHVBL (Sundays Only) Little League Travel Clinics / Practices Travel Games | Cal Ripken Tournament GHVBL Schedule Travel Tournament(s) | GHVBL Schedule Travel Tournament(s) Next Year Tryouts |
| 10U | Winter Workouts | Little League Travel Clinics / Practices Travel Games (Sunday Only) | Little League All-Stars Cal Ripken Tournament* GHVBL Schedule Travel Tournament(s) | GHVBL 50/70 Travel Tournament(s) Next Year Tryouts |
| 11U and 12U | Winter Workouts | Little League Travel Clinics / Practices 50/70 Travel Games (Sunday Only) | Little League All-Stars Cal Ripken Tournament* GHVBL 50/70 Schedule Travel Tournament(s) | GHVBL 50/70 Travel Tournament(s) Next Year Tryouts |
Program Goals by Age
8U Player Goals
The primary objective for this age group is to ensure that each player has a fun, positive experience with baseball, desires to play again the following year, and can successfully execute the skills listed below.
- Common Warm-up techniques
- Mastering catching skills
- Names of and placement for defensive positions
- Proper throwing mechanics
- Proper fielding position
- Understand the lower and upper body batting checklist
- What to do after the ball is hit as a batter and a runner
- Knows how, why, and when to run to the next base
- Understand the difference between force and tag plays
9U/10U Goals
The primary objective for this age group is to ensure that each player develops a love and passion for practicing baseball, understands and starts to manage the emotional aspect of the game, and can begin to execute the skills listed below.
- Proper running mechanics to increase on-field speed
- Mastery of upper body + lower body setup and proper loading techniques
- Sacrifice bunting and bunting for a base hit
- Introduction to Visual Game Plan
- Fundamental understanding of 5 Step Pitching mechanics
- Introducing 4-seam, 2-seam, and change-up pitches
- How to slide properly and effectively
- Groundball fielding techniques
- Introduction to Tags and Picks
- Differing footwork techniques to field and throw quickly
- Intro to fielding slow rollers
- How to recognize and either charge or go back on a fly ball
- Throwing and relaying the ball to the infield
- How to run down a base runner
- Understand how to execute a double play at all infield positions
- Introduction to Bunt Defenses at 9U
11U/12U Goals
This level jumps from 46/60 fields to 50/70 Baseball. This transition is challenging and will require focusing on all previous baseball skills, plus those below.
- Continue to master fundamental skills of 10U
- Introduction/Advancement of:
- 50/70 Baseball
- Balks
- Leading/Stealing
- Player Fielding Position (PFP)
- Throwing distances for Fielders/Catchers/Pitchers
- Strength Training for some players
- More Regular Bullpen Sessions for Pitchers/Catchers
- Pick off Plays, Bunt Defenses, and Advance Cut Off Situations
12U/13U Goals
The most significant and most challenging jump in baseball is the successful transition to the 60/90 field. Players and parents must be aware of the fun, the rewards, and the difficulties of playing baseball on the bigger diamonds after 12yrs old.
- Continue to Master fundamentals skill learned in 12U
- Introduction to Strength Training for Speed, Change of Direction, and Arm Strength
- Deeper understanding of aspects of strategy in the game
- Bunting consistently, leads and stealing, pick-off plays, bunt defenses
- Situational hitting
- Mental Skills
