Want to teach some 2nd/3rd grade boys how to play baseball?

Question

I'm a group leader at the after school day care program at a local school. There director of the program has put me in charge of sports. I want to teach these kids how to play baseball, because they know absolutely nothing about it. Any drills, techniques, or anything that will help? Maybe a weblink with info?

Answer 1

try this www.alandalbaseball.com[ sorry i haven't figured out how to do links yet] Al & Al are two coaches who for the past 30 years have been conducting coaching and umpire clinics for Little League Inc.
I have attended their weekend clinics and found them to be excellent instructors.
I spent 6 years coaching kids in that age group . I learned several things in that time
Girls are easier to coach than boys
There is huge difference in terms of physical & mental ability between a 7 year old an 8year old and a 9 year old kid. So be aware of the age of the child when you assign tasks.
Kids get bored easily. The old way of having 1 bat ,1 ball and 12 kids trying to field it doesn't work anymore. You are better off getting some adults to help and dividing your kids into groups of 3 or 4 ,doing a drill for 5-8 minutes and rotating that group onto another drill. The kids are always active and nobody gets bored.
Have your kids use the lightest bats and the smallest gloves they can find.
As another person suggested use a wiffle ball;
it doesn't hurt, it doesn't roll far if misssed and it must be caught with two hands.
Above all remember baseball is the hardest sport there is to play.
And as long as you remember how hard it was for you in the beginning you'll be fine.

Answer 2

May Start them with a Wiffle Ball and maybe Stick Ball. Been many years here, but, I think it Stick Ball where you place the ball on a stick high enough for them to hit. This helps them concentrate on hitting the Ball and using the bat. Then in time you can toss a softball slow. Catching start with slow stuff, rolling the ball and they scoop it, remember to teach them to keep their body behind the glove, then if they miss with the glove their legs stop the ball from rolling past them. Then work into a few balls underhanded in the air. All I know, a lot to teach but it easy. Maybe someone offer you more.

Answer 3

Hey i have been playing baseball my whole life. My father started with simple drills like the mechanics of fielding a ground ball. Try using a tee ball as a great way to start to learn eye hand coordination. Dont forget to make it fun for them because these kids are still young and I am sure get distracted easy. So make it fun so they dont so fustrated with learning the game