Softball Tactical Rubric — U16

Reading the defense and game state to choose and execute the right hitting approach — push, slap, sacrifice, or drive — pitch to pitch.

3

Squares to bunt or starts a slap approach on the sign but freezes or bails when the pitch isn't a strike, has no plan for what to do if the bunt attempt fails, and swings away in obvious bunt/slap counts without a called adjustment.

5

Executes the called bunt or slap against a normal infield alignment, takes a two-strike approach (shortens up, protects) without a reminder, and can get a runner over with a productive out when asked.

7

Adjusts bunt placement or slap direction based on where the infield is played (drawn in vs. back), recognizes a busted-bunt situation and covers by pulling back to hit, and reads the corners' angle to place a drag bunt or slap into the vacated hole without being told.

9

Freelances a fake-bunt-slap or read-and-react at-bat that exploits a specific infielder's tendency she scouted pre-game, sells a bunt look to draw the corners in then drives the ball past them, and adjusts her approach mid-at-bat off the catcher's setup she picked up.

Reading pitchers, catchers, batted balls, and outs to make independent go/stay/advance decisions on the bases.

3

Needs the base coach to physically wave or point on nearly every extra-base decision, gets picked off or caught in no-man's-land by not reading the pitcher's move, and doesn't know whether to tag on a fly ball without being told out loud.

5

Takes the extra base on a two-out hit without a coach's wave, tags correctly on a fly ball to the outfield, and reads a passed ball or overthrow quickly enough to advance one base on her own.

7

Reads a pitcher's move well enough to get an early jump or delayed steal read, judges an outfielder's arm and positioning before deciding to test an extra base, and adjusts lead length and secondary lead based on the count and out situation without a reminder.

9

Draws a throw or rundown that lets a trailing runner advance, times a delayed steal off a specific pitcher's habit she picked up mid-game, and reads a hit-and-run break correctly even when the ball is hit hard right at a fielder.

Setting and adjusting fielding position before each pitch based on the batter, count, score, and outs, and communicating that positioning to teammates.

3

Plays the same depth and angle regardless of the batter or count, needs a coach or teammate to physically move her into position before most pitches, and misses obvious bunt-defense or cutoff-alignment shifts in close, late situations.

5

Shifts depth and angle for a known pull hitter or slapper without being told, gets into bunt-defense position on her own with a runner on and less than two outs, and knows which base she's backing up before the pitch is thrown.

7

Adjusts positioning inning to inning based on what a hitter has done that game, calls out the situation (outs, force play, bunt likely) to teammates before the pitch, and repositions for a double-play depth or no-doubles alignment appropriately for score and inning.

9

Directs a full defensive shift and cutoff alignment for a specific hitter based on pre-game scouting, calls a coverage adjustment that a coach hadn't signaled and it's correct, and repositions teammates around her for a bunt-and-run read she picked up from the batter's stance.

Tracking and applying the live game state — outs, count, baserunners, score, and situation — to know the correct play before the ball is put in play.

3

Can't state the out count or number of runners on base when asked directly during a live at-bat, throws to the wrong base on a routine play because she hasn't tracked the force, and is surprised by a suicide squeeze or steal she should have anticipated from the situation.

5

Knows the outs, count, and runners without being asked, throws to the correct base on a standard force-play or tag situation, and recognizes an obvious bunt or steal situation (early innings, runner on first, less than two outs) before it happens.

7

Calculates the right play before the ball is hit in a multi-runner situation (e.g., runners on first and second, one out), recognizes score-and-inning context to know when to concede a run versus go for the out, and communicates the play to teammates before the pitch.

9

Correctly reads a fake bunt/slap or first-and-third special before it unfolds and positions herself for it, makes the game-situation call (e.g., take the sure out at first vs. go for the lead runner) under pressure that a coach agrees with after the fact, and coaches a younger or newer teammate through the situation between pitches.