Well tonight was my first practice for my daughter's (4-5 year olds) Tball team. It was great, I was just wondering if anyone out there has any good ideas for drills or some fun ways to teach kids the rules of the game. Thanks.
Teach all the kids how to hit the ball off the tee, to the 3rd base side. Find two kids who can field and throw to play 3rd and the pitcher spot. Find a kid who can catch to play 1st. You'll win them all a cool trophy. Just buy the other kids lots of ice cream.
Most kids like to be yelled at, anytime they miss or do something stupid, go crazy and start yelling at them. Pointing and screaming, also during the first game try to get ejected to make a point that you are for real!
As far as training goes have them do sprints for 30 mins or more, it will make them run faster and it's not alot for you to do
“Never argue with a idiot, because first they will bring you down to their level. Then beat you with experience.”
Have them play catch. Re-enforce using the second hand to close the ball in the glove. That'll get them started on catching the ball. Hitting comes next year.
Congrats on the new job.
We just moved up to coach pitch.
The glass is neither half full nor half empty... It is simply a glass
I think the most important thing to do is disregard all of your knowledge of baseball and not try to go beyond anything basic. For games at least, I would suggest that everyone on the team get a chance at every position in a sort of rotation fashion. The point is not to win in tee-ball, as scores were not even kept when I played and I don't know if it is now. The point is to instill some interest in the sport and allow the players to experience some sort of success that could ignite a love for the game.
2. Teach them all to hit toward first base. Any mediocre guy can pull the ball, but to go the other way does more for their development as hitters. It also makes the games shorter, and every tee-ball game needs to be shorter.
3. I don't think stealing is allowed in tee-ball, so the 30 mins of sprinting CadensDad advocated for is absolutely nessecary.
4. Work on the fundamentals whenever possible. Slides to break up the double play should be done at every base, regardless of the situation. It will prepare the infielders to perform under pressure, and prepare the sliders for when they abandon baseball for soccer in high school.
I help coach my kid's coach-pitch team. We haven't had a lot of practices because of weather yet, but getting them out onto the field is always fun, if you can keep their attention. Use the 'gator', 'power', etc. They'll think the drills are fun as long as you can keep them moving. Multiple positions are a must too.
My buddy at work is coaching his son's t-ball team (4 year olds). He just learned from the head of the league that Saturday is the league's "Opening Ceremonies" and should last about 3 hours. He was grumbling about trying to keep a group of 4 year olds under control when they have to stand in a field for 3 hours with nothing to do.
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by BGbootha » Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:42 pm 
