The Best Way to Teach T-Ball

T-ball is a form of baseball played by young children (ages 4 to 6). The game is designed to introduce children to the game of baseball by teaching them the fundamentals of the game without the added pressure (and risk of injury) of trying to hit a moving ball thrown at them. The ball is placed next to the batter on a tee that is adjusted to the player's height. The batter swings at the ball and, if he hits it, runs the bases. Non-batting players try to field the ball and throw it to the right base. Making the practices fun and informative is the best way to teach T-ball.

Instructions

    • 1

      Make playing T-ball a fun experience for the kids. Never raise your voice and praise them repeatedly. Try to correct any repeated mistakes gently. Keep the kids focused by making the drills enjoyable and having rewards, such as trips to the local ice cream store or fast-food establishment after practice.

    • 2

      Teach skills such as fielding, throwing and running the bases at a leisurely pace; children this age have a short attention span and will lose interest with information overload. Keep your expectations low, keep the drills entertaining for the children and be happy with any development that you see. Teach basic skills first, and gradually move on to more complicated aspects, such as relaying a throw to a cutoff player.

    • 3

      Keep practices short. Work on one or two drills at a time, keeping the drills varied to maintain the young players' interest. Work on hitting the ball and running the bases one practice, and fielding and throwing the ball the next.

    • 4

      Explain everything in simple terms. Plan on highlighting skills that you have already trained the kids on previously, as they may not remember them from one practice to the next.

    • 5

      Demonstrate all skills personally. Show them how to address the ball when fielding it. Run to the bases yourself to show them how it's done; children learn better by example than by description.

    • 6

      Involve the parents without getting them "involved." Explain your goals for training the team to the parents and have them reinforce your goals without adding their own input to the training, at least when you are involved. Treat the parents with respect, accept their input and keep the lines of communication with them fully open. Ask some parents if they would be interested in helping with the team.

    • 7

      Be a positive role model for the children. Promote good sportsmanship. Keep any of your outside conflicts away from the T-ball field. Come prepared to have fun with the kids and help them create positive feelings about T-ball, specifically, and sports in general.