Saturday's 12U Softball practice. Already planned.

Full Dynamic Warm-Up with Mandatory Arm-Care Block

Same RAMP series as 10U run at higher intensity, with the rotator cuff (90/90 internal and external rotation, 2-3 second holds) and arm mixer blocks treated as non-negotiable rather than optional.

Fixes: Cumulative shoulder and scapular fatigue across tournament weekends.

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Step-Back Throwing Game into Long Toss

Mechanics under progressive distance stress. Partners start 10 feet apart, take turns throwing once, then step back 3 feet. Whoever drops a ball is out, until one pair remains.

Fixes: Mechanics that quietly break down at distance, and the total lack of engagement in ordinary warm-up catch.

Two Corners / Backhand Range Work

The full short-hop and angle vocabulary: in front, forehand, backhand, and backhand-no-backhand, finished with a short dart throw. Progress to 'Back to Front' - infielders stand in position FACING THE OUTFIELD, turn on contact, and either play the ball or cover their bag.

Fixes: Anticipating the play before contact. Back to Front exists specifically to 'prevent girls from anticipating the play coming their way' and force a read off the actual contact.

Three-Cone Outfield Communication Drill

Three cones in a triangle in the outfield, 60-80 ft apart, with players at each. A pop fly is hit or machine-fed roughly centered between them, and all three must read it, start toward it, AND COMMUNICATE. Priority rules to enforce: outfield has priority over infield; centerfield has priority over all outfielders; use a distinct outfield call so priority is instantly identifiable.

Fixes: The number one team-level failure at this age. As one experienced 12U coach puts it: 'If I have a pop-up behind the pitching circle equal between SS, 2B and P, who gets it? You'd be surprised how often that falls to the ground.'

Power Drive plus Slap Progression (Tee Slap into Timing Drill)

For the whole team, a power/extension drill. For the slappers, a two-drill progression: SLAP HITTING WITH A TEE to feel the body positioning, then a TIMING DRILL where the coach soft-tosses while CALLING the target location and shot type (soft slap / hard slap / drag bunt). Footwork: the batter starts with crossed feet, front foot back over the rear; as she is about to make contact 'the batter should begin to move forward and out of the batter's box.'

Fixes: For slappers: stepping on the plate, or leaving the box sideways instead of straight forward. Who to select: 'Fleet-footed, left handed hitters with good discipline will often become your best slap hitters.'

The Hitting Game

Standard infield and outfield with one batter and 6 side-toss pitches. The first 5 hits are DEAD (no running) and are scored: a clean infield play to first or a caught fly is 0 points; any ball reaching the grass or any fielding error is +1; any ball past the closest outfielder is +2. The SIXTH hit is LIVE - the batter runs. Final score equals points earned MULTIPLIED by the base she reaches. If she is put out during the live at-bat she goes BANKRUPT and loses everything.

Fixes: The bankrupt rule punishes the exact 12U baserunning error - over-running the play and getting thrown out trying for one base too many.