How to Coach Kid's Baseball

Playing a sport as a child is meant for fun and learning. A youth baseball coach not only has the challenge of teaching kids the rules of the sport, but also how to play the sport, appropriate behavior both while playing and when away from the game and sportsmanship. Coaching a children's baseball team is slightly challenging because children are prone to distractions, but it is worth the effort.

Things You'll Need

  • Baseball equipment
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Instructions

    • 1

      Show the children a positive attitude. Positive attitudes are necessary when dealing with a baseball team. According to the On Coaching Kids: Baseball website, baseball is a game where the kids can fail two out of three times and still win the game. The coach needs to keep in mind that if the kids have trouble or mess up in the game, the children can still make a comeback. A positive attitude goes a long way in keeping the kids happy and enjoying the game.

    • 2

      Explain the rules of the game. While older kids might already understand and know the rules well, young kids that are just starting need to know the basic rules. For example, tell the kids which direction to run, when a foul occurs, the differences between a strike and a ball, and all the terminology and rules. Answer questions that the children ask.

    • 3

      Teach baseball skills in slow motion, then show how to speed up. This is especially important to new players to the game or young children. Start with the basics of holding a bat, swinging and following through. Show the movements in slow motion, then have the kids repeat the motion. Gradually increase the speed until they are able to move the bat quickly. Show throwing skills next. In baseball, batting is only one of several necessary skills. Catching and throwing are also important, so teach various ways to throw the ball for different situations and how to catch.

    • 4

      Once the basic skills are understood and the kids know how to perform the tasks, start drills. Drills include practicing throws and batting, such as going to batting cages and hitting the ball or having the coach pitch to players, as well as basic running drills like relays and running the bases. Baseball is a game where players sprint short distances, so short distance running drills are good for building up speed.

    • 5

      Encourage the team. Always give encouragement, even when the players have a bad practice or bad game. After a win, teach sportsmanship by not allowing gloating. Coaching baseball is about the kids, so coaches need to make it fun and teach lessons at the same time.