This two-part, two-month survey was one of our most extensive yet - not only in the number of participants, or the volume of results, but also in its purpose. The plan is to build the results into a coaching guide chart, breaking out skills by suggested age. Also, we hope to label our skill pages (and points) throughout the site according to skill-age factors.

However, before either you, or WebBall, commits these results into some kind of 'bible', it's important to consider some of the comments that follow the chart. Some of the results are not consistent with what we around here believe is good coaching. (More about that when we build the label system.)

Some other observations: The range of votes for almost every skill ran the gamut from young to old. Some believed all skills should be taught young; others felt that baseball should be fun now and only serious after high school! Also individual voters where often inconsistent - the most common example (to WebBall's thinking) - learning complex running plays before learning signals (?).

What age should a skill be introduced	6-8	9-10	11-12	13-14	15-17	18+
GLOVE SKILLS
Ground Balls (rollers and hops)	73%	15%	6%	4%	0%	2%
Ground Balls (side stabs)	31%	37%	22%	8%	2%	0%
Ground Balls (short hops)	22%	51%	18%	8%	0%	2%
Ground Balls (banana route)	12%	39%	27%	18%	4%	0%
Pop-ups	67%	19%	6%	6%	2%	0%
Fly Balls (in front)	46%	35%	12%	4%	0%	4%
Fly Balls (over the shoulder)	14%	33%	35%	18%	0%	0%
FIELDING THROWS
Throwing across body	30%	40%	17%	11%	0%	2%
Throwing grip (finding seams)	22%	45%	22%	10%	0%	2%
Shuffle Step (crow hop)	25%	45%	16%	10%	4%	0%
Cross-0ver Step	14%	44%	22%	18%	2%	0%
Drop Step	8%	41%	35%	14%	2%	0%
Overhead Throw (outfield)	30%	40%	21%	8%	2%	0%
Side arm throw (infield)	4%	33%	31%	24%	6%	2%
Shovel Toss (infield)	14%	41%	24%	12%	6%	2%
Tag Throw	8%	38%	31%	19%	4%	0%
Distance and Accuracy	18%	37%	27%	12%	4%	2%
DEFENSIVE SPECIALTIES
Relays and Cut-offs	23%	44%	19%	12%	2%	0%
Base Coverage (sweep tags, etc)	22%	39%	22%	16%	0%	2%
Double Plays	10%	42%	32%	16%	0%	0%
Bunt Coverage	8%	41%	29%	12%	8%	2%
HITTING TECHNIQUES
Basic mechanics	78%	12%	6%	2%	0%	2%
Situational (h&r, sac fly, etc.)	6%	28%	46%	14%	6%	0%
Sacrifice Bunts	8%	39%	31%	16%	6%	0%
Drag Bunt	2%	24%	46%	20%	8%	0%
Slap Bunt	2%	23%	43%	23%	9%	0%
SLIDING SKILLS
Basic Safety Slide	54%	30%	10%	4%	0%	2%
Hook Slide	6%	42%	38%	15%	0%	0%
Pop-up Slide	2%	26%	43%	26%	2%	2%
TACTICS FOR OFFENSE
Stealing (lead-off, retreat)	10%	49%	24%	16%	2%	0%
Signals	8%	43%	33%	12%	4%	0%
Double Steal	2%	30%	40%	26%	0%	2%
Delayed Steal	2%	16%	51%	29%	2%	0%
Suicide Steal/Bunt	2%	15%	35%	40%	6%	2%
PITCHING SKILLS
Basic mechanics	45%	41%	3%	5%	3%	2%
Basic fastball	36%	47%	9%	3%	5%	0%
Basic change-up	2%	56%	25%	13%	4%	0%
Curveballs, sliders	0%	6%	19%	40%	32%	4%
Other pitches	0%	5%	19%	25%	44%	7%
Detailed mechanics	4%	19%	47%	19%	11%	0%
Location and control	3%	45%	29%	12%	10%	0%
Pick-off plays	0%	24%	25%	45%	5%	0%
Base coverage	18%	45%	20%	14%	2%	2%
Strike-out strategy	0%	21%	44%	23%	9%	4%
CATCHING SKILLS
Pitch blocking	16%	64%	5%	9%	4%	2%
Calling pitches	6%	15%	39%	26%	13%	2%
Covering at first	11%	35%	26%	19%	7%	2%
Throwing out runners	9%	49%	25%	9%	5%	2%
Fielding bunts	24%	55%	9%	7%	5%	0%
Blocking the plate	11%	38%	25%	9%	15%	2%
Positioning fielders	7%	14%	32%	32%	14%	0%
UNDERSTANDING THE RULES
Slide or avoid	32%	46%	13%	4%	5%	0%
Tags and force-outs	57%	27%	4%	7%	2%	4%
Fair-foul rules	65%	19%	7%	6%	2%	2%
Infield fly rule	18%	42%	27%	7%	2%	4%
Interferance/obstruction rules	20%	42%	29%	5%	2%	2%
Scorekeeping	16%	22%	36%	20%	2%	4%

For each skill, the age class which had a dominant number of votes is highlighted .
If a couple of age ranges are close - showing a trend to younger or older teaching, the combined range is highlighted .

I feel the earlier you can teach a youngster the real game, the better. For example, so what if you may not turn a double play as a 7 yr old, it certainly is fun to learn and helps their confidence to work on it. As they grow older, by exposing them to the early tactics, they will learn to "think" the game.
- Jeff Taylor

Unfortunately, I'm finding that a lot of the sites are leaving out the ages when the basic fundamentals need to be introduced. 3-5 and TBall. This is when a child is most impressionable and his/her first contact with sports needs to be a positive one or we will lose them.
- Lori Phipp

My answers were motivated by the way I was taught. I learned alot at a young age and took it in well. Other kids may not be the same. In reality it has to be taught on a one on one basis.
- Tony Fields

One of the items which needs to be looked at here are the Youth (LL) Baseball rules which would preclude teaching certain aspects of the game to certain ages. For example, in a twelve y.o. league, all steals would be dubbed "delayed" due to the rules in effect. 13-14 years of age is USUALLY the age where stealing and longer base paths come into play, with a gradual increase in skills as they get older. For example, at early ages I teach a very basic windup. At 13 I teach a small (calf-high) kick, and gradually increase the elevation as balance and stronger mechanics are reached.
- Frank Cinnella

I'm speaking first hand when I say that if you are patient enough, the 6-8 age group can grasp basic skills. For sake of a child's healthy arm, he/she should stick with fastballs & straight changes until about the age of 15.
- Coach J

My son had a couple of pitching clinics and both were insistent that these young pitchers should not even consider throwing any kind of curveball until they were finished with high school! I don't know what the sports medicine experts say, but it's my view that, when it comes to your child's physical well-being, it's best to err in the cause of conservatism. Better to protect him than to expose him to possible long-term injury. .
- Bob Rosson

I feel the game should be more fun than anything else from ages 6-10 but after that the meat and potatos should be served, and it would make it easier for coaches, because more kids will be at the same playing level. .
- Mark Visconti