T-Ball

[Muumuu Homer]

Has anybody here ever coached a t-ball team before? I got drafted into coaching my daughter's team this spring, and I must confess that I'm not sure what's the best way to go about doing this. I've coached Little League baseball before, but the kids have always been older and the league has always been competitive. But in this league no one gets out, runs aren't scored, everyone gets on base, etc. Anybody have experience with this before? How do you run practices, etc. since it doesn't seem like most of the things you'd want to teach a kid will ever come into play.

[udjw828]

Well...sounds like you don't need to worry about the aspects of the game (innings, runs, outs)...instead, focus on the fundamentals of the game...throwing, catching hitting, running the correct way around the bases, positions on the field, etc.

Good luck!

[Muumuu Homer]

Originally Posted by udjw828

Well...sounds like you don't need to worry about the aspects of the game (innings, runs, outs)...instead, focus on the fundamentals of the game...throwing, catching hitting, running the correct way around the bases, positions on the field, etc.

But the fundamentals are tied in to the aspects. I'm not getting how you teach a kid to run bases properly when the rule is everyone advances one base each time the ball is hit, and no one ever gets out.

[td25er]

Dear Lord, nobody gets out!!??!!?? Ridiculous.

[udjw828]

Originally Posted by Muumuu Homer

But the fundamentals are tied in to the aspects. I'm not getting how you teach a kid to run bases properly when the rule is everyone advances one base each time the ball is hit, and no one ever gets out.

Wow...that is tough...maybe it's even more just a focus on hitting, catching, throwing...

[erosewater]

Teach them how to steal bases, take out a catcher, and come in spikes high.

[kbshep]

T-ball teams have practices now? What's the point really? Just let them show up and play. Start teaching kids the fundamentals once they reach pee-wee or coach pitch level.

[yankeetripper]

Teach them -

How to put the glove on
How to hold the baseball when throwing (proper cross seam grip - we call it the "magic-C or horseshoe")
Proper way to throw - good mechanics
Proper way to hold bat
How to hold glove when catching
Proper swing
Which way to run the bases
How to throw the ball to first

Beyond that anything else is gravy. I've done t-ball about 4 times now and will be doing our littlest again next year.

Also tee ball sometimes has different ages 3-4 is less accomplished than 5-6.

Either way, you'll find it is most similar to herding cats. Good luck. It can be a lot of fun at this age.

[tommie frazier]

when they are fielding (pretty much lined up across the infield, bc rarely does it reach the of on the fly), I always walked around making sure they were watching the ball. always watching the ball. asking them "what are you watching?" keeps them from playing in the dirt.

for practice, you need to teach them to run the bases, running through first, stopping on 2nd and 3rd. you need to have a helper take some kids to the of to practice hitting while others practice IF and throwing to first.

get them to throw and work on form.

[Mick Fan]

What's the point of even trying to field if nobody gets out?