How to Teach Baseball Fundamentals

Explain how to properly throw a baseball. Proper form includes spreading your legs with your weight on your rear foot, then simultaneously stepping forward and throwing.

Explain the fundamentals of catching. Have your player assume the proper stance with his feet spread a little more than shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent and glove facing out. Make sure he knows that when the ball hits the glove that he should let the glove give a bit to prevent the ball from bouncing out.

Begin by practicing throwing and catching with players standing a short distance apart and tossing the ball to each other.

Once the person you are teaching is comfortable throwing and catching at this short distance, take a few steps back and continue to throw back and forth.

Vary your throws by tossing some grounders and pop-ups.

Explain the fundamentals of a proper batting stance. Tell your player to keep her feet a little more than shoulder-width apart, with her front foot lined up with the top of home plate and most of her weight on her rear foot. Have her bend her knees slightly while holding the bat with both hands and her elbows facing down. Make sure her batting stance is a comfortable one for her.

Have your player take a few practice swings to get used to his stance and comfortable with the weight of the bat.

Set up the batting tee in front of her with the ball on top.

Standing behind him, guide his arms with the bat slowly to them the proper trajectory of his swing and where to connect with the ball.

Step back and let her swing at the ball.

Remove the tee from home plate once your player has her swing down.

Standing at a safe distance in front of your player, lightly toss the baseball over home plate to practice hitting without the tee.