PHILOSOPHY: To teach the players the fundamentals
of baseball in a positive and safe environment; but foremost,
to allow the children to have fun and enjoy the game of baseball.
New aspects to consider:
First time batting a live ball
First time striking out, they'll be upset
but they have to learn how to deal with it
Probably first time extra bases will be
taken
Playing with a harder ball, Reduced Injury
Factor 10 (RIF-10), instead of an Incredaball
First time a catcher will face a live ball
Pitcher and fielders will have to be aware
of the machine when fielding
The ball can sting your hands if you don't
hold the bat properly
Mental Goals (A league)
Know what to do with the ball once fielded.
(No help from the machine coach!)
Names of positions and the role of each
What is an out and how are they made --
force out, catch ball in the air, tagged out and strike out
How to get on base (Hit - Error -
Fielder's choice)
Basic rules of play including the ball can
be hit down the line in foul come back in fair, back to foul,
back fair and it matters where the ball is touched not the path
it takes
Know how, when and where to back-up a play
Physical Goals (A league)
Base running
Know to run through first base
Be aware of other runners
Ability to see, hear and react to base coaches
Hitting
Proper stance
Proper grip (it can sting if held wrong)
Balance during swing
Eagerness to hit
Make consistent contact
Pull inside pitch and opposite field with
outside pitch
Fielding
Know what base to cover when the ball it
hit
Ability to play catch from at least 40'
Ability to field easy ground balls, hopefully
they are past dropping to their knees and smothering the ball,
if not make it a goal
Consistently use proper glove position to
catch ball above waist (fingers up)
Often turn glove to backhand on balls hit
to throwing arm side
React to balls hit right and left of position
Throwing
Consistently turn glove side to target
Make accurate throws from at least 50'
Understand the power position
Catching
Ability to react to short hit balls and
know what to do with the ball when they get it
Ability to receive the ball without turning
head and body to the side
Ability to throw the ball back to the pitcher
Ability to block a low ball and prevent
passed balls
Rookie
Level
Mental Aspects (Rookie)
Understand how the game is played -- basics
Names of positions and the role of each.
What is an out and how are they made: force
out, catch ball in the air, and tag outs
What is a run and how are they scored.
Understand balls hit on the baselines before
the base are foul if touched in foul and fair if touched in
fair. The ball can roll foul then fair then foul then fair.
It matters when it is touched, not the path of the ball.
How to get on base Hit - Error - Fielder's
choice
Basic rules of play.
Physical Aspects (Rookie)
Base running
Know to run through first base.
Be aware of other runners.
Ability to see and hear base coaches
Hitting
Proper stance
Proper grip
Balance during swing
Eagerness to hit
Make consistent contact
Fielding
Ability to play catch from at least 30'
Ability to field easy ground balls.
Consistently use proper glove position to
catch ball above waist (fingers up).
Often turn glove to backhand on balls hit
to throwing arm side.
React to balls hit right and left of position.
Throwing
Consistently turn glove side to target
Make accurate throws from at least 40 feet.
Catchers
Ability to react to balls hit softly in front of home plate.
Ability to receive the ball from the fielder to make a play at the plate.
Tee
Ball
Highlights
Teeball managers/coaches/parents, here are answers
to a few questions that have been asked in previous years.
Are there outs in this league? Meaning
if someone is tagged or thrown out at a base, do they sit down?
Kind of, but the outs are not recorded since all players bat
every inning. It is a good idea for the coaches to keep track
of outs made in the field instead of runs scored. This will
give the players incentive to get outs, make a game of it to
get more outs than the last game instead of keeping track of
runs and winning the game.
Can the batter/runner take more than one
base per hit?
Yes, but the play is dead once the ball is thrown toward the
pitcher. Technically, you can have them run on an overthrow
but try to limit it since there will be quite a few of those
on every play. You really want to teach them how to run station
to station and you want the fielders to throw the ball instead
of holding it for fear of a base runner taking an extra base.
If they actually crack one past the outfielder, you can send
them (which will add much confusion), but if it is just a passed
ball at a base or something hold them up. You'll find going
one base is best if you try and send them farther you'll wind
up with 2 players on a base.
Three innings or until an hour and a half,
whichever comes first or last? 3 innings max.
Note on this subject: Managers please have a lineup preset
and written before the game. Better yet, before you get to
the field. Each player will play each inning and the batting
order will help in the transition of innings. Also keep in
mind who the catcher will be (keep them near the top of the
batting order) so they can be in full gear when the last batter
is through. You will want help in the dugout to keep the next
batter ready and have the catcher dressed and ready to go.
If it takes 5 minutes to switch between innings that is 30 minutes
of lost time!
Who can coach or help with the kids?
Only adults that have submitted the LL
volunteer application. It is a good idea for all parents
to fill this out, anyone interacting with the players inside the
fences including dugouts, must have filled this out per LL regulations.
It is mandatory to have one adult in the dugout so you'll need
4 coaches minimum. One to help batting, 2 base coaches and one
in the dugout.
What if the ball dribbles off the tee?
If they hit the tee and not the ball it
is a dead ball. If they hit the ball and the ball rolls fair,
it is a fair ball.
If the ball rolls foul and comes back and
is touched in fair territory it is a fair ball. Even though
they are only 5 and 6 they need to be taught the rules properly
and the fielders need to learn how to react in the field.
This is just a suggestion from experience:
As far as the batting order, it is easier for everyone to keep
the players batting behind the same person all year but rotate
the leadoff batter each inning to the last batter. Then the second
batter would now be the leadoff and so on. This allows for all
players to have a chance at leadoff and last batter this season.
If you don't do it every inning and do it by game, only 8 players
get to be last batter and you can guess the outcome of that.
Keep in mind all players bat every inning.
Mental Aspects (Tee Ball)
Ability to sit on bench during team at-bat,
pay attention to the game, and know when it is their turn to
hit.
Ability to pay attention in the field and
consistently see ball off the bat.
Know each base.
Know each position by name.
Physical Aspects (Tee Ball)
Hitting
Maintain a consistent stance in relationship
to home plate.
Ability to make consistent contact.
Be able to hold on to the bat with both
hands throughout the swing.
Ability to keep balance during swing.
Note: Coaches make sure that the Tee is placed
toward the front of the plate and no higher than the thigh. Most
tees are designed with the stem in the middle of the plate, which
is not the correct contact point. Do Not Allow the tee to
be set too high. If placed too high it will promote flawed swings.
Base running
Know to run all the way to the base and
through first and home.
Learn not to run into outs.
React to fly balls even though few will be
caught.
Fielding
Ability to play catch at a short distance.
Ability to catch easy ground ball (roller).
Able to react to the ball above the waist
with the glove fingers up, not the palm up. Players will not
develop catching skills before this occurs.
Stay in a fielding position (similar to
sitting on the edge of a chair), when fielding ground balls,
not falling on their knees to smother the ball.
Begin to react to balls on throwing arm
side by turning glove to backhand.
Throwing
Know the "power position" and use that position
to throw the ball.
Begin to turn to the glove side to the target
before throwing.
