Kick Ball

Little League Tee Ball, Planting Positive Seeds

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 these problems as much as possible.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com

About the Author

Marty Schupak has coached youth baseball for 21 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 also creator of the Baseball PakPad Scoring Application available on Apple devices. He is President of the Youth Sports Club, a group dedicated to making sports practices and games more enjoyable for kids.

http://www.YouthSportsClub.com

JoBros plays KICKBALL!

Play & Freeze Ice Cream Makers – Blue $20.21 Play & Freeze Ice Cream Maker…

3B Scientific W64280R Red Play and Freeze Ice Cream Maker, Original Size, 1 Pint $28.80 Play and freeze ice cream maker original size, 1 pint. Here’s the scoop. With the unique play and freeze ice cream maker, you can make ice cream anywhere. You don’t need electricity, just add ice and rock salt in one end and ice cream mix in the other end – then have a ball as you shake it, pass it, roll it, or kick it. The ice cream mix can be as simple as cream, sugar and vanilla. It’s ideal for…

FOOTBALL sports TEAPOT jersey tea pot foot ball helmet $15.95 Football Teapot Score big with this great teapot! A fun, funky piece accented with a pennent on the lid. Perfect for serving tea or hot cocoa after the big game, or to decorate your gameroom or den. Painted ceramic. Hand wash. Measures 7″H X 9″W X 5″D…

The Meanest Of Times $10.46 After hitting it semi-big when “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” (from 2005′s The Warrior’s Code) was prominently featured in Martin Scorcese’s Oscar-winner The Departed, Dropkick Murphys return with another round of punch-drunk punk on The Meanest of Times (it’s unclear whether the title refers to the current state of world affairs or the scowling Catholic schoolyard hooligans depicted on the record’s …

The Kick Inside $3.96 Kicking things off with a whimper, not a bang, Kate Bush quietly released her 1978 debut, The Kick Inside and that disc still to this day affects an incredible number people, Tori Amos and Sarah McLachlan among them. There are so many elements that make this disc unique–Kate’s soaring soprano, her warm piano playing–but the one thing that perhaps sticks out most is how different her sounds were …

Hey Mr. Producer! The Musical World of Cameron Mackintosh $19.17 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Sudden Shadows Boy Soccer Flip Kick Wall Peel & Stick Mural $19.99 Your bid is for one package of the NEW Sudden Shadows product in the soccer player Flip Kick design. This tastefully LARGE sports mural is 40″ x 42″ and can be placed on any wall color or smooth texture in your room. Since it is semi-transparent, it allows any wall color or design to show through, creating the option for you to show pride and represent your OWN team and colors!!!! This mural is se…

Soccer Silhouettes – 48W x 47H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $77.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Soccer – 48W x 32H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $77.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Leslie Sansone: Walk Away the Pounds Ultimate Collection $8.32 Studio: Gaiam Americas Release Date: 07/28/2009 Run time: 159 minutes…