— Baseball is a Game of Movement —

Day 2 - Tee Ball

0:00 - 0:05

Run Around Bases

 

0:05 - 0:20

Throwing & Receiving Throws (each player has a couple extra balls, on the ground, on their glove-hand side, so they can pick up a new ball when they miss.  An extra adult stands 20’ beyond the kids; picks up balls that are not caught)

 

  1. Arm Action Drills

  2. ‘Glove’ Reminders (see Day 1)

  3. Receiving Throws  -  Torso Level, Thumb Down Technique

—> Remind Players: Reach Forward to Catch

—> Coach/Adult: Throw to Players (outside of the torso, per diagram on Day 1 page); throwing-arm side

 

0:20 - 0:25

Underhand Toss (Review and Repetition)

 

 

0:25 – 0:35

Ball or Base Drill

Teach:

1.       The Base is for the Runner

2.       ‘Fielder’ stands next to the base (use the word, ‘Fielder’; ‘Defense is not in a 6-year-old’s vocabulary)

          (Don’t use the phrase: ‘Cover the Base’ …what does that mean?  …lay on top of the base?  …push dirt on top of it?)

 

 

0:35 - 1:00

Batting Instruction (all players lined up in 1 or 2 rows.  Head coach leads; other adults are among the kids helping them follow instructions)

 

TEACH/DEMO: ‘Bat By the Barrel’

 

(The points below are partial actions.  We get these movements established first.  Day 3 we add these actions.  We build the swing piece by piece.)

 

  1. Stance

  2. Weight Shift Back (Hips ‘sink’ a couple inches)

  3. Elbow Drive (Hands don’t move.  They remain back near the shoulder/arm pit)

  4. Knee Drive (Head stays ‘In Place’; back knee moves to the point where it is below the head)

  5. Knee & Elbow (Hands don’t move. Head stays ‘In Place’)

 

(None of these actions will work perfectly; it’s the kids’ first time doing them)

 

 

Batting Practice

Group 1: Batting (in the outfield)

3-4 kids, depending on number of Tees available (see Overview), hitting off tees at the same time (we are using wiffle/squishy balls).  Spaced 10’-15’ apart, in a row, all hitting in the same direction.  Extra player(s) and adult(s) chase the balls and get them back into the Tees (keep players, chasing balls, a minimum of 30’ from the Tees). Each batter has a coach/adult setting balls on the Tee for them, so they can maximize the number of swings.  Instruction points from the adults:

 

  1. Feet Wider than Your Knees (Stance)

  2. Face the Ball

  3. Swing as Fast as You Can! …like a maniac! (YES!  We want them swinging full speed.  The swing is smoother and more accurate at full speed.  The muscles in the body work like rubber bands.  The faster the swing, the more the ‘rubber bands’ stretch.  The more a rubber band is stretched, the more accurate it shoots.)

 

—> The Tees will get blown up; that’s ok.  It’s Day 1 of Batting.

—> Quick Fix: Limit Head Movement --- ‘Face the Ball’ (Contact Point)

 

 

Group 2: Fielding (in the infield)

4-6/6-4  Plays

Teach players to Stomp^ on the base after they have possession of the ball

 

^ First, this is a fun way for the kids to tag the base.  Second, this is for safety.  During games, a field may have to run to a base to tag it; this can end up in a dangerous collision between the fielder and the runner.  To Stomp on a base, the fielder has to come to a stop.

 

Notes:

Use throw-down bases for Second Base.  Ideally 2 players per group, working at their own base.

 

De-emphasize throwing to First Base, except the Second Baseman and Pitcher.  Outs are made at all bases.  Later we teach the kids to throw to the nearest base; not necessarily first base.  There are a lot of base runners on base at the same time in Tee-Ball)

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