Why I Love to Coach Tee Ball

Why I Love to Coach Tee Ball
By guest author: Alex Dumas


Coaching tee ball runs in my family. My dad coached me and my brothers and our friends. My uncle coached in their place. My other uncle coached at their town's local pre-school. My grandfather coached my dad and uncles how to play tee ball. And to top it all, my mom has always been supportive with what I do. She has never failed to encourage me and my friends to boost our morale up. I played for four years and though I may be that young, the memories are still as fresh as dewdrops on a spring morning. I grew up in the world of baseball but I never focused on making a career out of baseball. There were a lot of things that I learned while playing baseball and most of it helped develop my personality.

28 years had passed and I have my own family now. My wife and I are blessed with an energetic boy. We live in the suburbs just outside the city. Our neighborhood is mostly composed of young parents and I've seen several toddlers and kids around. My son is turning four this year and I wanted to introduce him to youth sports, so I took out my tee ball equipment and set it up at our backyard one Saturday morning. Billy, our seven-year old neighbor, saw me teaching my son to swing his bat and asked if he could join. I agreed and he called his five-year old brother too. This became a weekly thing with one or two kids joining every week. After two months, I had about 16 kids knocking at my door every Saturday morning for tee ball. We had to move to the park because my backyard was not enough.

Teaching kids to play tee ball is a moral booster for me because I always know that I was able to contribute to a child's development. I was a coach and a second parent to them. Other parents joined and we were like one big happy family. Our relationships extended beyond tee ball and the support for one another is awesome. We contributed to form our own team. We practiced and dealt with the joys and pains of a growing child. We have yet to win a championship but that has not been our main goal. All the parents and I have agreed that our main priority was to ensure that our kids have the best times of their childhood while playing tee ball. That for me, is a goal far more better than a tee ball championship trophy.

For more tips and information about coaching tee ball, check out http://www.weplay.com.

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Teaching Litlte League Baseball Players To Be Smart!

Teaching Litlte League Baseball Players To Be Smart!
By guest author: Stephen K Reynolds


Coaching little league baseball players is a blast! I think it is an awesome thing to volunteer your time for.

In order to get the most out of your team it is imperative you let them figure out certain situations. I see coaches making this mistake all the time. Oh sure they have good intentions, they want to see the team get that force out at second. I'm a big believer in letting the kids figure out for themselves what to do. Here is what happens say in a minor A game 9-10 year olds. The hitter grounds a ball to second baseman, the runner is running due to the force and the 2nd baseman throws to 1st gets the out but could have tagged the runner and then threw to 1st. Parents and the coach are screaming to tag the runner, lets say that he does tag the runner and throws on to 1st. Sounds great.

Problem is from tee-ball all the way up Little League Baseball players are being told what to do during the game. They continue to look to the coaches for help when the play is going on. This is a slow process of teaching the kids what to do. You need to look long term so your players will be smarter because they solved the problems themselves. Talk to the players after the inning is over about what happened. Remember you are a teacher. Teach the game properly!

Little League Baseball Coaches need to do their work in practice so the kids can enjoy themselves during the game. If it didn't work out then it is back to the drawing board in practice. Coaches motto should be have the practices organized and fruitful, this is the coaches time and then when it is time to play the game sit back and call the shots and let the players play the game and have fun doing it.

Stephen K Reynolds is publisher of the LSR Unlimted "Free" newsletter which focuses on helping newcomers & seasoned pros learn the secrets to marketing in the ever changing world of the internet! He is also a little league baseball coach in Montana. For more information on this e-mail lsrwealth@gmail.com

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406-542-1723

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T-Ball Lessons

T-Ball Lessons
By guest author: John Mehrmann


Watching children at play offers valuable lessons for adults.

Many years ago I had the privilege of being a coach for my son's t-ball team. For those who may be unfamiliar with the term t-ball, it refers to a form of baseball for beginners. The main principles of baseball apply. There is a first base, second base, third base, and home plate. There is an infield and an outfield with all of the same positions. There is a pitcher's mound that is occupied by a player, but the pitcher does not pitch. The baseball is placed on a short pole that is referred to as a "tee". The tee is very similar to an enlarged golf tee, with the notable exception that it rests on a rubber mat as opposed to being pushed into the ground. The baseball is placed on the tee and the young batter gets three swings to hit the ball and, if successful, attempts to run to first base before being tagged out.

The game of t-ball provides an excellent opportunity to teach children the fundamentals of baseball and to participate in a team environment. Watching a successful baseball team is like watching the harmony emerging from a well rehearsed symphony orchestra. The players are aware of respective roles, placement, responsibilities, and the importance of well choreographed coordination with other players. Individual players may be exceptionally talented, but success can only be achieved if that talent is properly integrated with the abilities of the other players. A perfect throw can only be achieved if there is someone to catch. It is as simple as that. For youthful beginners, achieving such harmonious rhapsody of coordination requires a little patience.

An early challenge for first year t-ball players is to learn the rules of the game and position on the field. There is very little or no scientific method to assigning positions in the first year. There are no scouting reports. There are no tryouts. There are no t-baseball cards with statistics and profiles.

Watching the children take their positions on the field, I could not help but imagine how personalities and character are well defined at such an early age. The actions, decisions, and responses of the youth on the baseball field could easily be compared with characteristics displayed by adults. I wondered how much of the personalities of my colleagues had been displayed at such an early age, and how similar mannerisms in the office would be similarly evident if those individuals donned baseball caps and took their corresponding places on the field.

The pitcher stared intently at the batter. Leaning forward at the waist, one hand tucked firmly behind his back as if hiding a knuckleball, the boy clenched his teeth and glowered at the batter. Evidently the pitcher had watched some baseball games and accurately mimicked the facial expressions of a professional. Lacking chewing tobacco or a large wad of gum, the pitcher pushed his bottom lip forward with his tongue. His protruding left cheek and lower added to the intensity of his concentration. He had come prepared to play ball.

The boy on first base stood upright. His arms dangled loosely at his sides. His gloved hand bounced up and down alternately in front and behind him. His other hand adjusted his cap, scratched a runaway itch, and adjusted his cap once more. Each time that the batter prepared a swing, the boy on first base would immediately jump into action. As the bat swung forward, the boy at first base squatted at the knees as if to prepare for something. He was prepared for anything, even though he had no idea what to expect. Ready to protect his base, or chase the ball, or chase the batter. You could tell from the look in his eyes that he was ready to respond, even if he did not yet know what to expect or what was expected of him. Read more.

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Who Invented the T-Ball Game?

Who Invented the T-Ball Game?
By guest author: Chris Moheno


For those who are somewhat unsure as to what the term T-Ball denotes. It is not baseball as a rule. However, it is a unique type of sport. It is directly taken from baseball and is an introduction to youngsters as a fun means to go about learning baseball skills.

The baseball coaching of T-Ball involves teaching young boys and girls baseball as part of the regular teaching regimen overall. Kids have a great deal of fun learning T-ball while picking up all the general things that are associated with the game of baseball. It is also a very effective way for children who are too young to play in actual baseball to be able to learn baseball skills for a lifetime and to face many of the very same challenges that baseball poses.

The generic name is T-Ball but the trademark name is officially registered as Tee Ball. This is just one of the many interesting facts that give this fascinating sport broad appeal. Nevertheless, amid the many curiosities that do surround T-Ball, one that does stand out is exactly who was the person or persons that invented the T-Ball game? Who is the actual father to this game?

The game's origins date back to the 1940s and the 1950s. However, numerous people claim that they were the inventors of it. Who are the people and or places that claim to be the beginning of T-Ball? One of the first of these in mention is no other than Albion, Michigan, that states that the sport was in creation there exclusively in 1956. However, there is also another town that lays claim to this as well and that town is no other than Starkville, Mississippi. Starkville, Mississippi says that their town is where Tee Ball was born in 1961. In addition, Claude Lewis, who was the director of Warner Robins, put together a t-ball league of his own back in 1958. Claude Lewis was with the Georgia Recreation Department and he was the designed the rulebooks for this new game.

So who did actually invent the T-Ball game? As it was stated here, many take credit, apparently, for this specific honor, but to say who exactly is the inventor is something that must first be examined up close. A person cannot even begin to attempt to make an assumption as to who it was specifically from the evidence here. Therefore all one can do is present the main contenders and draw a personal conclusion from there.

However, before that can be explored further, a little more about Tee Ball needs to be talked about as a sport upfront. It is very interesting, offers young children so much from a baseball perspective, and gives them something that they will always have with them. One of the differences between t-ball and baseball is obvious and that is that there is usually not the presence of a pitcher. A pitcher is required only for defense purposes. However, part of baseball coaching for some t-ball clubs, adult coaches do employ baseball pitching to some of its boy and girl players by pitching them balls so they can try to get a hit before using the tee. This approach helps those who need it the most to develop better batting ability.

Even though the T-Ball coaching is different from the sport of baseball in a number of ways, the overall objective of t-ball and baseball are pretty much the same in that both train players to be the best that they can be. Baseball pitching in t-ball involves the usage of a tee that is set on top of the home plate to suit the height of the specific batter. Some of the rules that govern t-ball also vary from that of baseball and the playing field is smaller too.

Now back to who invented the t-ball game? The trademark for Tee Ball was originally in registration with the United States government in the early 1970s by a man by the name of Dr. Dayton Hobbs. Dr. Hobbs openly credited the United States Navy for being responsible for the introduction of t-ball overseas. Dr. Hobbs was a man who had been coaching baseball for kids since the 1950s. It is said that he was the one who created t-ball baseball and promoted the game. This promotion brought interest in the game that only grew and grew over time. Was Dr. Hobbs the sole creator of t-ball? One can only guess.

The t-ball game's connection with Albion, Michigan, is also said to have been created by Coach Jerry Sacharski who came up with the game in the summer of 1956 for youngsters between the ages of six and eight to play. T-Ball was called by the locals in Albion as Pee Wee Baseball and was employed by the coach to teach boys the basics of regular baseball such as batting, pitching, and the like. Did Coach Sacharski invent t-ball? Again, only one can guess.

The claim for t-ball credit is also claimed by the town of Starkville, Mississippi. Another man by the name of John Zareas, 75, also attests to being the father of tee ball. He also had a book published in 1965, which is all about tee ball rules for youngsters in 1965. Are any of these also valid claims? It is still anyone's guess.

Thank God that they did create such a great form of baseball that is not really baseball. Because kids love it and that is what counts the most.

Besides this fact, it is not just a sport per se; it is also lasting preparation methods from a baseball coaching and a baseball hitting perspective for youngsters as well.

Chris Moheno has a long time passion for sports in general and for baseball coaching more specifically.

His goal is to spread the word about effective non-fluff baseball training techniques for both more experienced and young baseball players, to help them perform better during the game.

Discover more about baseball training on baseballtrainingsecrets.com

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The Categories they have are: BatAction Hitting Machines, Hurricane Hitting Machines, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Jugs Equipment, Game and Practice Baseballs, Protective Practice Screens and Nets, Portable Pitching Mounds, Baseball DVDs & Books, Clearance Items on Sales, NEDCO Bataction Replacement Parts, Baseball Training Equipment, Youth Baseball Training Equipment, Training Bats, Pitching & Throwing Trainers, Defensive Trainers, SKLZ Hurricane Replacement Parts and Much Much More! Visit Baseball2U.com today!

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Little League Tee Ball, Planting Positive Seeds

Little League Tee Ball, Planting Positive Seeds
By guest author: Marty Schupak

Tee Ball is the most popular youth baseball program in Little League, including other youth baseball leagues around the country, and has the most participants. As the 5- and 6-year-olds whom participate in Tee Ball get older, there is a drop off in youth baseball participation each year. Traditionally the largest drop off of players in most youth leagues occurs after players reach their twelfth birthday. Soccer is almost a year round sport and youth lacrosse is growing, which are both in direct competition with youth baseball. Baseball parents, coaches, and leagues are almost compelled to make the first baseball experience for young kids a positive one.

Youth baseball leagues can develop certain positive philosophies that will maximize the chances of retaining baseball players in their leagues. I'll touch on just few that I feel most appropriate. First of all, Tee Ball leagues should strive to make it as non-competitive as possible. Some overzealous parents who are very competitive will look upon their own child's first tee ball experience as the Major League World Series. Leagues must set a standard with this non-competition philosophy. Not keeping score is an option leagues try. But, from my experience with my own kids, as much as parents and coaches try, some of the kids themselves will be keeping score and reminding the coach and the other teammates every time a player crosses home plate. This will also lead to the kids keeping track of wins and losses. One option leagues might consider is to mix the teams up every 3rd or 4th game. This option affords tee ball teams to still have a team concept because they will practice with their team, and 75% of their games will be together. One thing they will have to overcome is two sets of different colored uniforms playing on the same side. Maybe one way to overcome this is to have players come to these games in white tee shirts and the leagues supply cheap colored vests. Maybe we call these games "All League Games", or another positive term that everyone can accept.

The other part of the game that needs to be addressed is that at the age of 5 & 6, the skill level will vary tremendously. Leagues need to treat the tee ball season as a progression type situation. In a 20 or 25 game season, maybe use a larger ball when hitting off the batting tee for the first five games. In practices, coaches should use a larger ball on a tee early in a season. One thing I did when coaching tee ball is to take a bathroom plunger, turn it upside down and place it into the batting tee. Now a coach can rest a beach ball or a kick ball on top of the tee for the kids to hit.

When teaching fielding, coaches need to make the task as achievable as possible. I used to start the season using a Velcro ball and Velcro paddle to catch a fly ball. The kids love this. On ground balls, teach the players to make contact with the ball with their glove, keep it in front of them, and not necessarily catch it.

On throwing, keep the distance short, spreading the players out very liberally and moving them back after every five throws.

These are just a few ideas that leagues should address, keeping in mind that we must start with baby steps and progress as the season goes on.
Parents must realize that they will have their fair share of competition as their kids move up in age. Tee Ball should be a positive experience in every sense of the word. Skills should be the theme of tee ball and less competition. In the world of youth sports, which includes playing time problems, parental sniping, and on the field arguing, youth baseball Tee Ball should be immune to this problems as much as possible.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com
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Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 18 years and is the video creator of "The 59 Minute Baseball Practice", "Backyard Baseball Drills", "Winning Baseball Strategies", "Hitting Drills & Techniques", “Pitching Drills & Techniques”, and author of the popular book, "Youth Baseball Drills". He is a principle with Videos For Coaches and is also President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

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Nick Dixon is the President and founder of Nedco Sports, a sports training company established in 1999. Dixon is also an active and full time high school baseball coach with over 25 years experience. Coach Dixon is better known as the inventor of the BatAction Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Derek Jeter Hurricane Hitting Machine, the SKLZ Target Trainer, the SKLZ Derek Jeter ZipnHit Pro, and the SKLZ Strikeback Trainer. Dixon is also a contributing writer for BaseballCoachingDigest, the Youth Baseball Digest, the Baseball Parent Guide, the Baseball 2Day Coaches Journal, and Blog4Coaches.

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Rupert hits an out of the park T ball home run!

Rupert hits an out of the park T ball home run!

Rupert, age 5 hits off the tee over the T-ball fence and over the majors fence! Check out the majors players retrieving the ball :) T-Ball 2007

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