re: Best advice on little league baseball - teaching your kids

At that age it is still a lot about just getting reps throwing catching,etc. If he likes it offer to just throw it around with him- don't try to instruct, just have fun. Throw flies,bouncers grounders,etc If you live in a suitable area encourage him and his friend to play pickup without adult interference.

If you coach,put enough thought and organization into it so you don't have 10 kids standing around while 1 or 2 kids at a time get touches with the ball/bat.

One of the best drills I ever did as a kid was hitting sift toss with a broom stick and wiffle ball. Its extremely frustrating at first but a baseball looks like a bowling ball once you get the hang of it.

Tell your pitcher to throw his fastest heat towards hands of lead off batter first pitch. That will have him sending shook vibrations to the dugout that his team will contract.

Then, plunk the cleanup to let them know for sure you own the inside of the plate and might be slightly crazy. You should win 90% of these games with a competent pitcher.

Oh, and hard slides (spikes up!) on slides to 2nd base

I coached youth baseball for 16 years.

Here's my advice:

The most important thing you can do for a 9 year old kid who is interested in playing baseball is foster his love for the game. Loving the game is the #1 trait that players who reach high school and college ball possess.

If the kid would rather be playing baseball than practically doing anything else... then you know you have a kid that has a shot at making it.

To do this, focus on enjoying the game in the present. Don't be one of those types that is always thinking and pushing the "next level." This, right now, may be the only baseball your kid ever plays. Make it the best baseball experience you can.

Teach good mechanics. Read books, watch videos, get the advice of others, like you're doing right now.

Lastly, with regard to travel ball, it has its time and place. I'm not going to get into bashing or praising it. I will just say to beware those who say it's the "ONLY" way to get on a high school team. It's not. My teams never played in a single travel ball tournament. Of my 13 kids on my U14 roster, 7 of them went on to play high school ball. This is because they loved baseball, wanted to play it, and played it longer than most. That's it. No magic practice routine, no thousands of dollars spent on hotel rooms, just competitive kids with good parents, and coaches who care about them both. That simple.

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- teach to switch hit

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no to this. Hitting is hard enough from one side, trying to make a kid switch hit is stupid. The rest I agree with except catcher, that shite is terrible for knees

Thats a great post. If your kids the type that goes through fundamental drills, in and out, and all the other stuff, and still begs for more, then let him have it.

I caught from 6th grade to my junior year of college. There is still nothing i'd rather do to this day than throw on some gear and block balls in the dirt or practice snap throws to the bases. I lived for that stuff.

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Potential is he is raw but good mechanics. Turned 9 in Nov...is throwing mid to upper 50's. 

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This means nothing until around mid high school. A little younger for some. Knew a lot of guys growing up who were incredible little league players. They pitched and had their own pitching coaches, knew kids who could switch hit, always made allstars, etc. And never stepped on a high school diamond. Whereas I was a chubby, okay ball player, but nothing that turned a head. Made the high school team but didn't play until my Junior year. But made 1st team all region by the time I graduated. Puberty is a he'll of a thing and pretty much nullifies all the shite before it. Most people are still growing well into college. So make sure your kid isn't doing the small stuff wrong, and let them play.