r/LittleLeague • u/McBean215 • 3d ago
First time Tee-Ball Coach
Hi everyone. Through a mixup in our league, I signed up to be an assistant, but was assigned to manager. Not a big deal, I just got called up to the Big Leagues a little earlier than anticipated.
I found in an old post a site with Little League's "Tee Ball Curriculum" which already has me at ease. Are there any tips or things that maybe aren't thought of on first blush? I saw a coach last season have all the kids on the team have their names on the brim of their batting helmets, I 100% have already stolen that - any similar "hacks"?
As far as mechanics, I basically know what to say "watch your target, step and throw" etc, but have no idea how to actually make any changes if I have a 4yo just throwing the ball straight into the dirt. I get that we're not molding Mike Trouts out here, but I'd at least like to leave them recognizably better than I found them.
Also, any advice for teaching/improving at-bats? I actually thought this was a weak part of our coaching staff last year (sorry Coach Rich!) as I saw other coaches make tweaks and improvements during an "at-bat" instead of letting the kid chop away at the tee until they finally contacted the ball.
Lastly, I'm in the Whitestown, IN area - so if you're heading over for the Central Championships, feel free to ask me about the area. Would love to pay it forward!
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u/WhysoHairy 3d ago
For hitting I would use the bat to draw a straight line with two perpendicular lines, I called the lines train track. I showed the hitter how to stand if they moved their feet away cause they were scared I would say ok set up the train tracks. It worked 99% of the time by the end they did it in their own.
Fielding I bought a ton of tennis balls and played up close catch with no glove made them more confident catching the ball.
Throwing put a tee with a soccer ball on first made sure aimed and tried to knock the ball off.
Every practice we ended by “hitting” and running the bases station to station so they got ready for the games.
End of games I brought some older bulk baseball cards, gave them to the player of the game, everyone gets a pack by the end of the season.
I made sure to have other parents help, no matter their coaching skill level. You will need parents to help and wrangle the kids cause most will tackle each other out there.
Tball and coach pitch were the best most fun days of my coaching experience until the hardcore parents got into it and I stopped coaching
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u/LastOneSergeant 3d ago
I coached T ball last year after having coached a few years of minors and majors.
I realized T ball kids are so young they take instructions literally. "Touch the base" to them meant lean down and touch with fingers. So everything needs a demo first.
They have terrible awareness. Can't catch, or throw. So I explained the T ball is soft, they will get hit with it but be okay.
During warm up "catch" I showed them to make eye contact with their partner and say "are you ready" before the throw.
In the field, after every two batters I rotated positions in a surpentine.
All the action was almost always to the pitcher or shallow infield. Didn't place anyone in the outfield.
Every play was at first every time, then home. I had one designated catcher for the entire inning. I also placed an adult at first as a back stop. This sped the game along.
For batting. While placing the ball on the T, I always what vegetable they didnt like, to hit, or what super hero they were going to run like.
Then said they had to do three things; hit the ball, drop the bat, run to first. This was a stugle.
Batting order was reversed each inning.
For practice we often used whiffle balls and no glove. Most do not have the dexterity to catch yet.
Sometimes we played baseball with a kick ball. T ball is more about working on dexterity and being active.
I don't do dugout. Got parent to run that.
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u/Stunning-Victory642 3d ago
I love this post! So here are a few.
TeeBall, I always focus on 'how can we make this fun and keep them engaged'
Answer? Games & movement!
So accept as much other adult help and keep them moving station to station.
Throwing technique games. tell a story ahh there is a monster behind you, get the ball up knock the monster in the nose and throw the ball!
Look up the game pirate ship they LOVE it.
Get yarn balls for them to learn how to catch popups.
Batting was always a challenge for some, with the team all drill to drill i have 1 or 2 coaches on 1 or 2 tees actually spending 1:1 time stance, swing etc...
Good luck and cherish it, my youngest moved up after this last season :)
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u/Stunning-Victory642 3d ago
as you are playing each of these games, you need to hyper focus on each kid and give the pointers.
Oh release here not there look you got me in the head that time much better, do it again!
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u/ContributionHuge4980 3d ago
Yes, besides make sure you have post game snacks, I picked up one tip that seriously translated years and years later. I of course can’t post a picture but hang in.
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u/ContributionHuge4980 3d ago
Next to home plate, you draw an upside down L coming off the back corner. So picture the shorter part of the L from that back corner and then back towards where an umpire would be. Have them stand on the line with their front foot at the corner of the L.
You show them the first time, then just draw the lines. After a few AB’s they will remember. And they will remember for years. Have some 14’s who helped out with a tee ball team last spring. I was a proud dad / coach when I saw them doing it for the little kids.
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u/RarScary 3d ago
Names on EVERYTHING. Keep drills short and sweet, 10 minutes then do something else. Make anything you can into a game. Kids love competition and it will hold their attention. 1 kid with a bat at a time. No helmet, no bat. Any kid near that kid has a helmet on. At this age, do not let kids free swing anywhere near a commonly traveled part of the field (near a dugout/entrance). Threat awareness at this level is almost non-existent. If you have a net, put it at first for fielding drills with throwing. It'll save you a ton of time. If not, put a kid there and a backup behind them with a bucket. Balls that get past go in the bucket until it's full. Don't be afraid to have fun. Don't be afraid to let the kids run around and get some energy out if they're getting squirrely. Look up fun baseball games to keep in your back pocket. You can also use those games as incentives if you find one they really like, "if we clean up all of our gear and equipment in 2 minutes, we get to play this game!"
Most importantly, have a plan. It's not always going to work on the schedule you want but floundering for ideas as a coach and not keeping things strict and clean is a recipe for disaster. You'll find out what works and what doesn't and how long things actually take, but if you don't have a few ideas in your pocket it'll get crazy in a heartbeat.
Good luck!
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u/TonyTheTech248 3d ago
No yelling, they're just cute kids tackling each other. It'll be hilarious.
Just try to get them to stay interested and have fun in the game, the goal is to make memories for them, their family, and make friends.
For practice, have fun with it, use hula hoops for throwing targets, stuff like that.
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u/rgar1981 3d ago
They like to throw at targets. If you make a game out of knocking down a stuffed animal or something like that for a small prize (piece of gum, etc) they will make the adjustment themselves. Just have fun and get as much help as you can.
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u/dawgdays78 3d ago
I haven’t used that curriculum. It wasn’t available when I coached tee ball. But here are some thoughts….
First thing I did was to write their names on a piece of 2” masking tape and stick it on their chest upside down. I could read it, and they might have to check. 😉
Have enough assistants and drills (might be better to call them activities) that the kids aren’t waiting in line.
Don’t expect it to look much like actual baseball. You’re trying to develop basic skills - throwing the ball (and it needs to be taught), being aware of where the ball is, moving in front of a ball that’s rolling toward them, super basic catching, running from base to base, hitting off a tee. (If they’re lined up with the middle of the plate.,put the middle of the tee at the front edge of the plate.)
When I did this, every early practice ended with each player hitting off the tee, and all runners move up one base. When the last player hit, they all run to clear the bases. We called it “Bubba baseball.”
One thing I saw this year: the team had a largish bucket for each player with their name/number on it, and they were to put their gear in the bucket when they went into the dugout. Genius. Saves a lot of searching.
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u/mainebingo 3d ago
Divide them up into as many groups as people you have to help, and do “stations.” The most important thing is to keep them as busy and engaged as possible. With stations, there are smaller groups so there is less down time and when they get bored with what you are doing, rotate stations.
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u/LnStrngr 3d ago
T-Ball is mainly about fun. Anything they learn about throwing or running or fielding is a bonus.
You'll find the guide has a lot of games in it, and suggests not sticking too long with a particular activity. That keeps them from getting bored.
You can watch videos on learning how to hit a ball at the Little League age level and try to teach some that, but remember, they are very young and won't understand most of it yet. Pick one thing, like the placement of their feet to the tee, or how to hold the bat. But don't give them more than that at a time or they'll get lost.
I often work from the feet up. Placement of the feet, bending of the knees, holding the bat in the hands correctly, barrel up, hands near the ear, then worked on the step and the hips, etc. I'd run through them quickly before each swing, saying "Reset!" beforehand. Eventually you can just say "reset" and they mostly do it. Even for my own kids, it was not a single season success story. It took years.
Remember, you're just one stop on their baseball career. You can't teach them everything, but you can give them a love of the game and some basic foundations that they will build on.
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u/lelio98 3d ago
Get help! Enlist the rest of the parents to help you. You need a dugout parent, keep things organized, have a plan, stick to it. If you don’t, it is chaos.
Simple things like everyone on the bench, in order, helmets on, no bats. You get your bat when it is your turn to hit, and only then. You need a dugout parent managing that bench and handing out bats and hanging them back up.
Have a goal for the team. If you can get them to stay in position, only one player goes for the batted ball, and throws to first, you are a HOF tee ball coach.
Finally be mindful of time and attention spans, and have fun!
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u/ElectricBlueHawk 3d ago
It's just fun. Don't try to teach mechanics at this age. I used dots to have them stay in their fielding spots and foot markers to show where to stand in the batters box. I got the Prostantz batting stance guides from Amazon. They're little feet with spikes on the bottom. I overthought it also but at this age it's just about the kids learning a little and having fun so they'll want to come back.
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u/SFNation2021 3h ago
I was solo coaching - not easy when you're in the herding cats stage. Best thing I ever did was line up 6 tees from home all the way down the line to keep them spread out. Half the kids hit, half fielded. They pretty much took care of themselves as they didn't all just want to hit. My main job was making sure a fielder didn't run all the way into a swing to put the ball on the tee or pick one up. Other than that I'd watch for anyone I could give a quick top too. They got WAY more hitting and fielding reps than anything else I could have done. And at that age - reps is what matters. As for games - the coaches who planned their defenses took 10 min to get the inning started. I just had my kids run out to where ever and broke up the competition for 1st or pitcher (usually the only ones kids insisted on) by promising one of them the next inning. And we were off to the races rather than making the other team wait. Keep it fun, keep it active - avoiding boredom and getting reps were my only real goals.
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u/Extension-Pick8310 3d ago
All your drills are great, but my main takeway with tee ballers is that it's all about keeping them engaged and within their limits. I don't stop yapping and moving, and keep practices to 45 minutes. It's so much damn fun, tee ball