I had a dad call me last week. His 10-year-old son has been playing third base for two years, and he wanted to know if we could "develop him as a third baseman" for our team. When I suggested his son might benefit from playing multiple positions, dad got nervous.
"But he's really good at third base. Won't moving him around hurt his development?"
This is where a lot of travel baseball goes wrong.
The "Early Specialization" Trap
Here's what happens when you lock a 10-year-old into one position: You create an athlete with a very narrow skill set. That third baseman who never plays outfield? He struggles with tracking fly balls. The first baseman who never plays shortstop? His range and arm strength don't develop.
And here's the kicker – the positions that matter most in youth baseball aren't the positions that matter in high school.
Why We Train Everyone "Like Shortstops"
At Gorilla, every player gets shortstop training. Why? Because shortstop requires:
Quick feet and lateral movement
Strong, accurate arm from multiple angles
Ability to field ground balls on the run
Mental toughness and decision-making under pressure
Guess what? Every position on the field benefits from those skills.
What Actually Matters at 10U (Hint: It's Not Positions)
Instead of worrying about whether your kid is a "third baseman," focus on these fundamentals:
Throwing mechanics – Clean arm action that translates to any position
Athletic movement – Footwork, balance, coordination
Baseball IQ – Understanding situations and making good decisions
Competitive confidence – Learning to perform under pressure
The High School Reality Check
Here's something most youth coaches won't tell you: The kid dominating at third base in 10U travel ball might not even make his high school JV team if that's all he can do.
But the kid who played six different positions in youth ball? He's the one coaches love because he's versatile, understands the game, and can help the team in multiple ways.
Age-Appropriate Position Development
Ages 8-10: Play everywhere. Seriously. The goal is athletic development and understanding the game.
Ages 11-12: Start identifying 2-3 positions where they show natural ability, but keep rotating.
Ages 13-14: Begin focusing on 1-2 primary positions while maintaining versatility.
High School and beyond: Specialize based on physical development and team needs.
What This Looks Like in Practice
In our program, a typical 10U player might:
Practice infield skills 3x per week (all positions)
Get outfield work 2x per week
Catch bullpen sessions to understand the position
Play different positions in games throughout the season
The Exception to the Rule
There's one position where early development makes sense: catching. The physical and mental demands are unique enough that dedicated training helps. But even our catchers play other positions regularly.
Questions to Ask Your Current Program
Does every player get infield work regardless of "position"?
How often do players rotate positions in games?
What's the coaching philosophy on position development?
If the answer is "we play kids where they're best," that's not development. That's just trying to win 10U games.
Your kid's athletic future is worth more than a 10U championship trophy.
Give me a call if you want to talk about real position development. We're always happy to explain our approach.