Saturday, April 18, 2009

How should I run a home run derby for kids?

I’m running a home run derby for little league on opening day. How many outs should kids get, and how do you score points with a hit if the kids can’t hit home runs?


Each kid should get 10-12 outs. Since at that age it's difficult to hit a "home run" (i.e. over-the-fencer), it's a good idea to mark certain distances as different point zones, with the further distances being worth more points.

You can take some simple white packaging tape and outline areas in the field as follows:

Infield hit / ground ball = 0 points & 1 out

90ft-to-110ft = 5 points, 1 out

110ft-to-130ft = 10 points, 1 out

130ft-150ft = 15 points, 1 out

150ft-170ft = 20 points, 1 out

170ft-190ft = 25 points, 1 out

190ft=200+ft = HOME RUN = 30 points, 0 outs

This can be used to get to a "final two" showdown. Then, each gets ten outs in the final round. Most points wins.

When I was in little league my farthest shot (at 11 years old) was 210 ft, and that won the home run derby. 200ft is the average "home run" distance for a little league home run derby.

Have fun!

Dumb idea>LL kids should learn how to hit singles and doubles , rather than be encouraged to develop all of the bad hitting habits that HR hitters must have in order to succeed

5 outs. make an area with something so you have to hit past that area

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