4 outfielders

In 8u and 10u we play 4 outfielders. Who backs up who with infield and outfield? How do you play cut offs from each position? How do you practice taking angles for backing up other outfielders? Thanks

teamM said:

In 8u and 10u we play 4 outfielders. Who backs up who with infield and outfield? How do you play cut offs from each position?

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It's entirely up to you. I'm maybe exaggerating a little, but 75% of 8-year-olds will understand backing up and cutoff/relays, and none will execute it ever. All of the 10-year-olds will understand it, but 75% of them will execute it 75% of the time. That's what you're up against.

teamM said:

How do you practice taking angles for backing up other outfielders?

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I like to make two lines of outfielders about 50' apart, and fungo balls in between them. One of them needs to call the ball, and the other needs to back them up.

teamM said:

In 8u and 10u we play 4 outfielders. Who backs up who with infield and outfield? How do you play cut offs from each position? How do you practice taking angles for backing up other outfielders? Thanks

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RF backs up 1B, RC or LC back up 2B (whoever gets there fastest), LF backs up 3B.

Depending which side of the OF the ball goes to, 2B or SS is the cutoff player for OF. Which ever middle IF is faster, handles cutoffs for balls up the middle.

I put one right behind second base and let the other ones play true positions. But, I agree with the above, the girls still don't understand cut offs.

With the extra player, put her in shallow right field at the edge of the grass between 2nd base position and 1st base position. At this age, lots of balls are hit to the right side because pitchers work outside to right handed batters for a variety of reasons. The biggest is they are afraid to hit batters working inside. The 4th outfielder will make outs at 1st base on hard hit balls and get a lot of pop ups hit to her. The other outfielders can play normal depth and hit the usual cutoffs. The other benefit of a shallow right fielder is she can more easily backup throws to 1st base.

Eric F said:

RF backs up 1B, RC or LC back up 2B (whoever gets there fastest), LF backs up 3B.

Depending which side of the OF the ball goes to, 2B or SS is the cutoff player for OF. Which ever middle IF is faster, handles cutoffs for balls up the middle.

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I agree except rc and lc should both back up 2nd with sufficient spacing between them for effective backup
Cutoff doesnt change from 3 outfielders... ss or 2nd as you stated

You also want to teach them to cover each other lc should back up lf and rc, lf backs up lc and 3rd, same on other side... Rf covers 1st and rc and so on... Nobody ever sits still on any play

I agree with Mocoso, with one Add in LC has call over Rt Center. In other words the Higher Archey of outfield calls is Left Center like a center fielder has over the other two in a traditional outfield. Our league, and the only Fast pitch League my kids have been involved with plays 4 outfielders thru 18 years old. It's a true Rec league most girls less than 3 years experience so the older kids get a little action out their but not a lot