We played 8U this summer and it seemed that every tournament had a different set of rules with respect to: stealing, leading off, advancing on an over throw to various bases, and when runners were allowed to advance on balls in play.
I will say that what helped us most was tournament experience. There is nothing like actual game experience for the kids seeing what does and doesn't work.
In practice we still split them up a lot in stations to work on fundamentals but also devoted about 1/3 to 1/2 of the practice to situation stuff with the team on the field.
One drill we found worked good for teaching base running was to split the girls up on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and put coaches/parents in the IF and run through various scenarios, ground balls, passed balls, pop flys, leading off when catcher catches the ball. We do several rounds of that and then after all girls had 3 or 4 rounds, do an elimination, last girl out wins. It helps if fielders alternating making plays and "intentional" errors dropped pop flies, bad throws to simulate actual 8U play.
I will say that what helped us most was tournament experience. There is nothing like actual game experience for the kids seeing what does and doesn't work.
In practice we still split them up a lot in stations to work on fundamentals but also devoted about 1/3 to 1/2 of the practice to situation stuff with the team on the field.
One drill we found worked good for teaching base running was to split the girls up on 1st, 2nd, 3rd and put coaches/parents in the IF and run through various scenarios, ground balls, passed balls, pop flys, leading off when catcher catches the ball. We do several rounds of that and then after all girls had 3 or 4 rounds, do an elimination, last girl out wins. It helps if fielders alternating making plays and "intentional" errors dropped pop flies, bad throws to simulate actual 8U play.
