re: T-Ball Suggestions

You really need to do your best to teach them not to fight over the ball. Easier said than done, but in 3-4 wee ball we actually had them throwing to 1st by the end of the season. Rotate the positions around but make sure they aren't all bunched up. Also make sure you have plenty of parents helping - you sometimes have to just tell them and not ask, but it will be better for the kids.

As far as practice, base running, taking gloves off and rolling the ball, and some batting - getting them to keep their hands together, head down, and where to line up.

I've coached youth sports (baseball, football, soccer) for a LONG time.

Here's how I would handle it:

Whatever you do, don't have the kids sitting around waiting on their turn. You have to think differently with this age group. Everyone moving, 100% of the time is your goal.

I would break the 12 person team into groups of four, stick them in the four corners of your practice field and enlist assistant coaches and parents to manage groups.

Group 1: How to catch and throw

Group 2: Running the bases

Group 3: How to catch a ground ball

Group 4: Hitting off the tee

Rotate every 10 to 15 minutes. Last 10 minutes of practice, put them all together in positions and throw grounders to them. Let them practice knowing their position and returning to it.

Then, this is the important part... have the parents make sure they practice at home what they worked on at practice.

Your team goals should be this, for the whole season:

The kids can find a position and return to it.
The kids can run the bases when the ball is hit.
The kids know what it's like to be on a team.
The kids have fun.

That's all they will remember anyhow. Just relax and enjoy the ride. This is the most forgiving age there is, and you should laugh about 20x more than frown with a tee ball team.

Yep, that's the one.