8U Softball Practice Plan
An 8U softball practice should be quick, simple, and full of reps. At the coach pitch stage, players ages 7 to 8 are still learning to catch the bigger softball and make an accurate throw, so keep the session around 75 minutes with short activities and frequent water breaks.
This free 8U softball practice plan uses small stations so no one waits in a long line. Download the printable PDF, or open it in the free Practice Planner to swap in the drills your team needs this week.
What to Focus On at 8U
Catching the bigger ball
The 11-inch softball takes getting used to. Spend the most time on two-hand catches, short-distance throwing, and fielding slow ground balls with the glove out front.
Tee and front-toss hitting
Build a repeatable swing with tee work and soft front toss before live coach pitch. Keep groups small so each player gets several quality swings per rotation.
Baserunning and fun
Finish with a baserunning game or relay. Ending on something competitive and fun is what keeps 8U players excited to come back.
Sample 8U Softball Practice Plan (75 minutes)
A ready-to-run structure you can use as-is or adjust to your team. Open it in the free Practice Planner to swap drills and export a printable PDF.
| Time | Block |
|---|---|
| 0:00 - 0:10 | Dynamic warm-up and catchLight jog, arm circles, then partner catch starting close and stepping back. |
| 0:10 - 0:35 | Station rotation (3 stations)Tee or front toss hitting, ground balls, fly balls. Rotate every 8 minutes. |
| 0:35 - 0:55 | Coach pitch live at-batsShort, fast at-bats with the rest of the team fielding live. |
| 0:55 - 1:10 | Baserunning gameRelay races or a base-running competition to finish on energy. |
| 1:10 - 1:15 | Team huddleTwo coaching points and one thing the team did well. |
Download 8U Softball Practice Plans
Free, printable practice plans matched to ages 7 to 8. No account required.
Youth Softball Practice Plan (Ages 7-8) - 90 Minutes
Well-rounded 90-minute practice covering all aspects of the game for younger players.
Download PDFYouth Softball Practice Plan (Ages 7-8) - 120 Minutes
Extended 2-hour practice with foundation skills. Perfect for developing basic softball mechanics.
Download PDF8U Softball Practice FAQs
How long should an 8U softball practice be?
About 75 minutes. Attention spans are short at ages 7 to 8, so keep activities to 8 to 10 minutes each with quick transitions and a water break in the middle.
What should I focus on in 8U softball practice?
Catching the bigger softball, accurate short-distance throwing, and a repeatable swing off the tee and front toss. Finish with a fun baserunning game.
How many drills should an 8U practice have?
Three to four short stations plus live at-bats is plenty. Fewer, well-run stations with high reps beat a long list of drills players barely get to.
Softball Practice Plans by Age
Build a custom 8U softball practice plan
The free drag-and-drop Practice Planner builds a complete, timed plan from 240+ age-appropriate drills and exports a printable PDF in minutes.
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