Softball · Player Development Rubric · Ages 11-12
Speed & Baserunning
60-yard dash, secondary leads, base-stealing reads, and game-IQ on the bases. Premium edition includes prescribed drill blocks for advancing each level.
Dugout Edge
Player:
Age / Level:
Coach:
Date:
LevelMastery Criteria60-yard dash by ageNext-Level Drill PlanMark
Rookie Ball
  • Runs hard out of the box every time
  • Knows base path: stays in the running lane
  • Tags up on caught fly balls
10U11.0 sec 60
12U10.0 sec
14U9.0 sec
16U+8.5 sec
Sprint mechanics, secondary lead drill, tag-up reps.
Low-A
  • Proper turn at 1B on extra-base hits
  • Reads the ball: knows when to take an extra base
  • Slides feet-first, both directions
10U10.5 sec
12U9.5 sec
14U8.5 sec
16U+8.0 sec
Bag-turn drill, sliding mat work, situational baserunning circuit.
High-A
  • Reads ground balls correctly (advance or hold)
  • Secondary lead with good shuffle & read
  • Steals bases with simple read of pitcher
10U10.0 sec
12U9.0 sec
14U8.2 sec
16U+7.6 sec
Read-and-react fungo, leadoff timing drill, jumps off pitcher.
Double-A
  • Above-average 60-yard for peers
  • Steals base on pitcher tells (slide-step lapse, etc.)
  • First-and-third reads clean
10U9.5 sec
12U8.5 sec
14U7.8 sec
16U+7.2 sec
Sprint program (10-/30-/60-yard), 1st-and-3rd situational reps.
Triple-A
  • Plus speed (sub 8.0 60 HS / sub 9.0 youth)
  • Disrupts opposing pitcher with leads
  • Steals 2B successfully > 75% of attempts
10U9.0 sec
12U8.0 sec
14U7.4 sec
16U+7.0 sec
Stride-frequency work, weighted-vest sprints, video on top base stealers.
Major League
  • Top-tier 60 (sub 7.4 HS) — recruitable speed
  • Reads pickoff move, breaks at first move
  • Scores from 2B on routine singles
10U—
12U7.5 sec
14U7.1 sec
16U+6.8 sec
Olympic-style sprint program, plyometrics, pickoff-read film study.
All-Star
  • Recruitable / pro speed tool (sub 6.7 60)
  • Elite first-step quickness
  • Game-changing weapon — defines the lineup
10U—
12U—
14U6.7 sec
16U+6.4 sec
Year-round elite speed maintenance + recovery + biomech.
How to use this rubric
  1. Evaluate the player against every level’s criteria, lowest first.
  2. Assign the highest level where they meet ALL criteria.
  3. The next level’s criteria become this season’s focus.
  4. Re-evaluate at mid-season & end-of-season checkpoints.
Typical level by age
4-6 (T-Ball)Single-A → Double-A
7-8 (Coach Pitch)Double-A → Triple-A
9-10 (Kid Pitch)Triple-A → Major League
11-12 (Little League)Low-A → Double-A
13-14 (Travel)Double-A → Triple-A
15-16 (JV)Triple-A → Major League
17-18 (Varsity)Major League → All-Star
College / EliteAll-Star
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