14-Day Baseball Jumpstart
Your kid is starting baseball. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s confidence. A kid who can catch, throw, and make contact will have fun. A kid who has fun will keep playing.
This plan is built for dads who can do 10–20 minutes a day, 4–5 days a week.
What matters most
| Priority | Skill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Catch + throw | The most repeated action in baseball — everything starts here |
| 2 | Field a ground ball | Get in front, funnel to the glove, throw to first |
| 3 | Hit off a tee | Build a repeatable swing before adding pitch timing |
| 4 | Run the bases | First step, rounding, stopping safely |
What you need
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Glove that fits | Should close easily — too big is worse than too small |
| Baseballs (3–6) | Safety balls for younger kids, regulation for 10+ |
| Batting tee | The single best hitting investment under $30 |
| Bat | Correct length and weight for age — see our bat guide |
| Stopwatch | Phone timer works fine |
The 14-day plan
Days 1–3: Catch and throw
Warm up with arm circles, then work through the catch and throw routine. Start at 20 feet and move back as accuracy improves. Focus on throwing with the whole body — step, rotate, release — not just the arm.
Days 4–5: Ground balls
Use the ground balls at home drill. Roll balls from 15 feet. The key cue: “Get your body in front. Glove out front, funnel to your belly.” Start slow and stationary before adding movement.
Days 6–7: Hitting off a tee
Set up the tee at waist height. Work through the tee work drill. Focus on stance, load, swing path, and follow-through. 20–30 swings per session. Quality over quantity — stop when form breaks down.
Day 8: Light day
Repeat whatever felt best. End on a positive rep. This is a confidence day.
Days 9–14: Combine and build
Mix all three skills each day. Add soft toss for hitting, fly balls for fielding, and base running when legs are fresh. Rotate daily so every skill gets touched twice more.
Positions 101
| Position | # | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | 1 | Throws to the batter — the most demanding position |
| Catcher | 2 | Receives pitches, calls the game, controls the running game |
| First base | 3 | Receives throws from infielders — needs to catch everything |
| Second base | 4 | Covers the middle, turns double plays |
| Shortstop | 6 | Most athletic infielder — range, arm, and instincts |
| Third base | 5 | ”Hot corner” — fast reactions to hard-hit balls |
| Left field | 7 | Covers left side outfield |
| Center field | 8 | Fastest outfielder — covers the most ground |
| Right field | 9 | Strongest outfield arm — longest throw to third base |
Ball size by age
| Age | Ball |
|---|---|
| 4–6 (tee ball) | Safety ball or reduced-injury ball (softer, lighter) |
| 7–8 | Transitional ball or standard Little League ball |
| 9–12 | Standard Little League ball (9″, 5 oz) |
| 13+ | Regulation baseball (9″, 5.25 oz) |