Little League. Ranking infield positions by skill level

[RxMan]

My son is on a little league team with 7 and 8 year olds. This is my second year as an assistant coach and wanted to get some feedback. If you had to rank the infield position by skill level what would it be?

This is machine pitch, so a catcher is required.

I know that 'usually' the best players are at pitcher and first. Would catcher be next?

I'm really wanting to focus on the bottom 2 spots of the six players in the infield and also for rotating people in.

My list:

1. First Base
2. Pitcher
3. Catcher
4. 2nd base
5. Short Stop
6. Third base.

Another way to look at this: There a 5 very good players and then 3 players where infield play will be a challenge. Which spot in the infield would you pick for this player and why?

I put 3rd last because most kids this age can't make a solid throw across the diamond for an out. So, he would be required to stop the ball and have awareness of base runners.

[TG Coach]

When I coached 7/8's they rotated every two innings all season long. If every kid made every game they would have finished the season playing each position equally. No one got hurt from not being able to catch a ball. They were forced to learn how. I didn't let them hide in the outfield.

Some overzealous parents were concerned the team wouldn't win. My response was "Who cares at 7/8's?" My teams lost twice in two years. More importantly every player stayed in the game and went to the next level. All my players improved because they weren't being tossed aside in the field or lineup as insignificant. I also started the lineup with the ondeck batter from the previous game.

[RxMan]

I think I mentioned that a rotation will occur. We have 2 kids who have never played at any level. I'm assuming you didn't throw a similar kid onto 1st base for his first game experience. This would most likely cause him to quit the game. Where would you start them?

[TG Coach]

I think I mentioned that a rotation will occur. We have 2 kids who have never played at any level. I'm assuming you didn't throw a similar kid onto 1st base for his first game experience. This would most likely cause him to quit the game. Where would you start them?

Our rotation was LF, 3B, CF, SS, RF, 2B, P, C, 1B. The couple of kids lacking ability started at the front of the rotation so they had a couple of games getting a comfort level before catching or playing first. These less talented players didn't always catch the ball. But they got the glove on the ball.

My son was the only kid to get hurt. He was the most talented kid on the team. He took a bad hop between the eyes. A less talented kid probably wouldn't have got to the ball and got hit.

[TonyK]

Our LL had no stealing at the machine pitch level so we used our catcher position as a way for players to learn how to catch a ball. If a player could not catch any ball at all behind the plate we would replace him after an inning.

TG might agree with me about the importance of the SS position at this level. Ground balls are hit very hard to shortstop. I know because when I coached I stood behind our SS in short LF because it was our rule. It's a safety factor to me in not putting a player at SS (and maybe 3B) at 7/8's because they could get injured by a hard hit ball.

We were required to have every player play 2 innings in the infield every game. I chose to place my weakest fielders at C and 2B. If they showed improvement and had the desire to move then I would put them at 3B, P, 1B, and SS. My youngest players played a lot of 2B one year and then a lot of SS the next year when they became the older players.

I saw a few P's in our league who were hurt by line drives or hard ground balls. They should not have been put in that position as they had no way to protect themselves. One P never paid attention to batters and didn't see the ball that one batter hit until it bounced off his chest. I thought it was the coach's mistake to put him out there without insuring his safety or reminding him every pitch to pay attention and be alert.

[RxMan]

Thanks for the replies. That helps a bunch. I appreciate the honest information and will put it to use.

[BFG]

My list (I'm a 1st baseman):
Pitcher
Catcher
1st Base
Shortstop
3rd Base
2nd Base

[Boston Boxer]

1. Pitcher
2. SS
3. C
4. CF
5. 2b
6. 1b
7. 3b
8. LF
9. RF

[LAball]

This would be player pitch with stealing LL.
1) Pitcher
2) Catcher
3) SS
4) 1st
5) 3rd
6) 2nd
7) LF
8) CF
9) RF
10) Left out

[phillyphanatic05]

SS
pitcher
catcher
3rd
1st
2nd

[stejay]

I have recently, since yesterday, have been coach of my local little league team. I met up with the kids yesterday, and the player that seems to be the most skilled is the SS, based on first impressions. Here is a list of skilled positions, relating to my team:

1.SS
2.Pitcher
3.1B
4.2B
5.Catcher
6.OF
7.3B