Structuring Lessons by Player Level
One size does not fit all in baseball. Here's how the curriculum shifts from a complete beginner to a serious travel player.
Our mission is to make a positive impact through the game of baseball, with meaningful mentorship for players of every age and skill level. The core stays the same at every level; the approach shifts with each player's age, skill, passion and goals. Some move fast, others take more time, and that's fine. The job is to keep challenging a player to work hard and improve, while keeping every lesson fun.
The path, pick a level
Complete beginner
Totally new to baseball, has never played a season on a team, and doesn't yet know the rules. Generally age 8 and under, though some players don't start until as late as 12 or even as an adult. Any age above 4 is a fine place to start.
- Typical age
- Experience
- Focus
What a first season of lessons covers
- RulesStart with “always try your best,” and answering a coach with “yes, coach” or “no, coach.”
- Gear and uniformWearing a hat, tucking in the shirt, wearing a belt, tying shoes.
- The numbersCount (balls and strikes), outs, innings, bases, runs, hits.
- The positionsThe name of each position and where it plays.
- FootworkAgility ladder drills, high knees, butt kickers, shuffles, carioca.
- Catching and throwingHow to catch safely, plus fun catching drills to practice.
- HittingThe batter's box, how to hold the bat, how to swing, and games that keep it fun.
- BaserunningRunning through the base, intro to sliding, intro to stealing, tagging up.
- The parentTeaching the parent drills and games for home, and bringing them into the lesson when the time is right.
Isaac Hess founded CageList after seven years of professional baseball and a coaching career of his own. These are the principles we share with every coach on the platform. They come from his academy, MADE Baseball, CageList's sister company. More of the story at isaachess.com.
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