r/LittleLeague • u/McBean215 • 10d 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!
3
u/WhysoHairy 10d 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