shortstop versus second base at the lower age groups

The sad truth is that at the more competitive levels there is nowhere to hide a weak player. The ball will find the weak player and the misplay will often cost a close game.

The coach must find out who has:
1. The physical ability/characteristics to play a given position. A slow footed kid is not going to be successful at SS or CF. A midget (excuse me, the PC meter is flashing, a vertically challenged youth) is not going to be successful at 1B.
2. The type courage needed to play a particular position. The F2 must not be afraid of someone crashing into him. The F3 must not be afraid of the one hop throw coming in. F5 must be willing to stand in front of the quickest shots. F4 & F6 must be willing to move up & field even the hardest grounders. F8 must have the courage not to get nervous when that long fly ball takes seemingly 10 minutes to come down, with the entire world watching to see if he is going to foolishly misjudge or drop the ball. Etc.
3. The mental makeup to make the decisions required at a given position. F4 & F6, probably followed by F5, must be able to analyze the entire play (path of hit, how hard hit, how good of jump the runners got, how good of a jump the batter got, etc.) incredibly fast. F2 must read the entire field, knowing everyone's arms & the runners' speeds (among other things).
4. The type aggressiveness to play a certain position. This one is probably redundant as being part of items 2 & 3 above.
5. The ability to judge the type hits that come to a particular position.
6. The instincts to play a particular position. Again, this is probably redundant, as being parts of items 3 & 5.

All these items must be properly matched between the player & position to provide success in the game.

I have a player who has all the attributes to play F4 except one. He shys away from the screaming grounder when playing second.
He has made an outstanding F9, however. He judges the ball very well. He has great quickness (gets a good jump) and range. He always knows where to go with the ball. Quick release. He has thrown out more than a few runners at 1B from his right field position. But he just won't make a MIF'er - and not for lack of effort. It just doesn't match up. I have worked with him to accept his role (most kids remember the "stigma" of RF from LL). He now takes great pride in being first string F9 on a good select team.

I took a kid who had "always" played F6 & turned him into an outstanding OF'er. Made a believer out of him & his parents. He doesn't want to play anywhere else now. At F6, he was okay for rec league, but would have been about sixth string on this team.

These type decisions can't be made quickly, however. One must work with the boy at various positions over time. Try to correct the weaknesses. Try to develop the skills, judgement, etc. Observe how the player acts/reacts during game situations.

And one must also watch for changes from season to season. Whether mental, physical, etc. I have seen boys who no longer had the courage to play a certain position when the hits started coming so much harder as the age level increased. I have seen others who, after much work & encouragement, finally took control & gained the courage to play certain positions.

It isn't easy, but that is why we coaches get paid the big bucks.

The rewards are significant, however. Done properly, the team will play better as a whole. Players will perform better as individuals in their positions. Thus they can attain greater satisfaction & have more fun.