re: Coaching T-Ball for the first time. Suggestions?

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I am a 6 year tball veteran. Here is what needs to happen. 

Best player at P, best catcher at first. 

You need a third baseman that can stop them ball. 

Teach the following in this order: 

Base running 
Fielding ground balls 
Throwing 

Then specifically; 

P to first outs. 
Third base forces at third 
First throws to third to stop runners 
Second and short throws to 1 
Second and short getting outs at second 

Outfielders need to be able to throw in front of a runner, hopefully second, but if not teach them to throw all outfield balls to third. 

The only positions that matter are pitcher, first and third. The rest should be rotated all thru the game 


Do not aim your players to hit it somewhere. 

Move them around in the box to pull it or go up the middle.

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Pretty much everything this guy said... I don't mind if you position your weaker hitters to hit it down 3rd baseline (unless there is a force at third.)

Our league is 4-6 year olds but after learning the ins and outs of teaching this age group last year our entire infield is capable of cleanly fielding a groundball and throwing the runner out at first.

Pitcher needs to be quick enough get force outs at home but athletic enough to cleanly throw balls to first. I tell them to throw from glove down... Most kids this age can field a one hopper more consistently than a hard one chest level, but this is all based on how good your first basemen is.

Our shortstop is aware enough that we work cut relay drills where he meets the outfielders halfway they all learn to throw to him and he throws to third, great way to train them how to get the ball in quickly. We have two 3 year olds on our team both of them have even gotten to the point of hitting cutoff by now.


It's all repetition and encouragement in this age... You're gonna have to carry the energy at practice. Lot of yelling great job! anytime someone makes a play.

Just have a lot of fun and teach them it is fun to try hard. The fun part about teaching this young is they show rapid improvement.

You’ll spend more time eyeing the talent in the stands than on the field

The first day you run those little bastards until every last one of them pukes.

Whoever shows up for the next practice gets to stay on the team. The rest of them learn they're pussies that take the easy way out.

You can never start building character young enough.

Have fun
lots of hot grounders with double hops every other one.
Hot throws at their heads, They need to learn to catch is to protect.
Teach them screw ball, curve ball, and other pitches to tweak the arm.
Make sure to yell really loud when they screw up

1.recruiting: the lifeblood of any tee ball program. You must comb the parks looking for the 5 or 6 year old with that bat speed.

2.player development: batting practice at 0500 and full team practice every evening from 1830 to 2045 would be a minimum to establish a dominant franchise.

3. Discipline: corporal punishment may be out at schools, but don’t be a soft loser. If they make a mistake, blast their butt with a paddle. Run them until they puke after each practice.

T-Ball is lots of fun for the parents, probably the last time sports will be enjoyable for them.

I considered myself a successful coach if all my players finally learned which way to run to first base.

Planes, ant hills, parents waving to their kid and kid waving back resulted in keystone kops type plays.

Enjoy this and make sure all understand this is not competitive sports.

Make them run stadiums.

It will be EXACTLY like this . . . Have patience.

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Coaching T-Ball for the first time. Suggestions?
Butterflies and airplanes.

If either one of these are present, you can save your breath.

They aren't listening.

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Our County had the forethought to build the boys rec park next to the small municipal airport. I’m sure that you can imagine how that works out on a Saturday afternoon.