Right field at 10U can feel like the loneliest spot in town. Then one ball comes out there and the whole game is on her glove. These drills get her ready for that moment.
The best softball outfield drills for 10U kids teach a first step back on balls overhead, catching with two hands high, calling the ball, stopping ground balls under control and throwing to the cutoff. Start with soft tosses, not hit balls, about 15 minutes a practice.
Train it: Complete Defender (Level 2 Fielding) → Free: Free Fielding Skill Guide →What does a 10U outfielder need to learn first?
Four jobs cover most of it. She doesn't need to rob a home run.
- Be ready before every pitch, glove off her hip and feet moving.
- Get a good first step on balls in the air.
- Stop the ground ball so it doesn't get past her.
- Get the ball back to the infield fast.
Softball fields are smaller than baseball fields, so plays happen quickly. An outfielder who holds the ball while she thinks gives a runner another base.
Coach BK says it best: "It's a great day to be you!!" For a 10-year-old in the outfield, that means showing up ready on every pitch, even if nothing has come her way in three innings.
Five softball outfield drills for 10U kids
- Hands High Toss: start 15 feet apart and toss soft, high balls. She gets to the spot and catches with two hands above her head so her eyes can follow the ball into the glove. Ten catches. Add height as she gets clean.
- Drop Step and Go: she starts in her ready position. On "Go!" she drops one foot back, turns her body and crosses over to run. Toss the ball overhead, high enough that she can get under it. Walk through it first, then five to each side.
- Call It: two lines, at least 20 feet apart. Toss a fly ball between them. One player yells "I got it!" three times and the other backs her up. If both call it, the one who keeps calling takes it. Ten tosses.
- Stop and Scoop: roll a ground ball at her from 40 feet. She runs to it, comes almost to a stop, gets wide and low, and fields it out in front. Young outfielders love to run right through these. Eight reps.
- Hit the Cutoff: one player stands 40 to 60 feet away with her hands up. The outfielder fields a roll and throws to those hands at chest height, on the fly or on one hop. Count good throws, eight to a turn.
Keep lines short, and let every player rotate through the outfield. Good outfielders are made by reps, not by being stuck out there.
Who calls it, and who backs up who?
Most missed pop-ups between the infield and outfield are a talking problem. Teach two rules. An outfielder coming in has the better view, so her call beats an infielder's. And the center fielder has priority over the other outfielders.
| Where the ball goes | Her outfield job |
|---|---|
| Ground ball to the left side of the infield | Right fielder runs to back up first base |
| Ball to right field | Center fielder backs her up, left fielder moves toward third |
| Ball to left field | Center fielder backs her up, right fielder moves toward first |
| Throw coming to second | Center fielder backs up second base |
| Throw coming to third | Left fielder backs up third base |
Walk through this slowly once a week. Stand a player at each spot, call out the ball, and let them run it. It's the cure for the bored outfielder because now she has a job on every pitch.
How do I run a 15-minute outfield station?
- Minutes 0–4: Hands High Toss.
- Minutes 4–8: Drop Step and Go.
- Minutes 8–11: Call It.
- Minutes 11–15: Stop and Scoop into Hit the Cutoff.
Save hit balls for after the tosses look good. Don't hit them too high or too hard until she's confident catching them the right way.
Our free Fielding Skill Guide has more 10U cues to try. When she's ready for a full plan, Complete Defender is part of the $25/month 46/60 Academy membership: 16 parent-guided sessions over four weeks for ages 7–12, baseball and softball. Lesson 1 is free.
How do I keep outfield practice safe?
- Use soft training balls until she catches high tosses cleanly. A ball off the face ends a kid's love of the outfield fast.
- Teach her to use her glove to block the sun, and practice it on a sunny day.
- Check the field for holes, sprinklers and anything near the fence.
- Keep everyone out of the throwing lanes, and warm up the arm with short, easy throws.
- Stop if her arm or anything else hurts.
One thing to remember
An outfielder has a job on every pitch: catch it, or back somebody up.
What to do this week
Play Hands High Toss in the yard for 10 minutes with a soft ball, on two different days. Then walk her through one backup: if the ball is hit to the shortstop and she's in right, where does she run?
Parent questions
Why does my 10-year-old misjudge fly balls?
It's normal, and it's usually a first-step problem or taking her eyes off the ball. Short, high tosses with a soft ball help her learn where it's coming down. Add distance slowly.
My 10-year-old feels left out in the outfield. What do I say?
Help her see it as a real job. Outfielders field balls, make throws and back up every play. Ask her coach what she can work on, and encourage her to get reps at more than one position.
How far should a 10U outfielder be able to throw?
There's no set number, and field sizes vary, so check your league's rules. What matters is a strong, on-target throw to the cutoff. If it's not reaching, move the cutoff closer and stay short and accurate.
SEE COMPLETE DEFENDER (LEVEL 2 FIELDING) →
Sources: Youth coaching outfield drills: fly balls, ground balls, drop step, communication (PDF)