Here are 5 solid tips for new t-ball coaches for baseball or softball.
These 5 tips apply to any beginner coach for either baseball or softball. I have coached both softball and baseball t-ball several times over, so I will share a few of my insights. T-ball is where most kids get their start. Most will have ZERO experience. This means that many of them will have no clue how to throw, swing a bat, or catch. Don’t worry, your job as a new t-ball coach is not to have them “major league ready ” by the end of the season. The main thing will be to get them introduced to the mechanics and concepts of the game, and above all, help them HAVE FUN!
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What are the 5 tips for new t-ball coaches for baseball or softball?
1. Lower your expectations.
This may sound facetious, but it’s not. If you are anything like me, I had grand illusions of transforming these t-ballers into Mike Trout like superstars. The reality is, that kid is 1 in a million. Every now and then you will come across a player that seems to be way ahead of the rest, but these are rare. Most kids at this age will show only marginal improvement in their skills. So as a new t-ball coach, don’t beat yourself up trying to create perfect swings or expecting to turn double plays. I am pretty sure the term “herding cats” was invented from t-ball games. The key is to relax, focus on the most basic fundamentals and game concepts, and let them have fun.
2. Get organized.
As a new t-ball coach, you are going to have a lot of information to juggle. Contact lists, practice schedules, and game schedules are just a few of the things you will have to deal with. Make sure to identify a “Team Parent” to help facilitate all of the extra-curricular things that come with a baseball or softball season. One of you will need to deal with uniforms, concession duties, post-game snacks, pictures, parades, etc. Let your “Team Parent” handle as much of this as possible so that you can focus most of your energy on running the team.
I always suggest having a parent meeting prior to the first practice. At this meeting you can let the other parents know a little about you and put out the load of information that you have for them. Make sure they understand your expectations of them as far as when to arrive for practices and games. I always prepare an outline of the topics I want to discuss so that I don’t forget anything.
Decide on how you want to communicate to the team. There are lots of apps out there for group messaging. A group text works alright to start off with, but I would transition to one of the messaging apps. Groupme or Gamechanger are both good options. I actually tend to use both because I like the messaging in group me but the scheduling and scorekeeping features of Gamechanger. I know most t-ball leagues don’t keep score, but you can enter all of your practices and your game schedule into the app and then parents can RSVP to each event.
3. Recruit lots of help.
This is probably my #1 tip to new t-ball coaches. This applies to the “Team Parent” as well as for practice. For the t-ball ages, you almost can’t have enough help. Ideally you will have at least 5 -6 other parents that can help at your practices. This allows you to break the kids up into small groups. Even if you are doing infield, you are going to need the help to keep them focused.
Don’t be afraid to ask parents to help if you need it. Most of them are going to be there anyway, they might as well pitch in. Many parents worry that they are not qualified or don’t want to interfere. When dealing with these parents, give them specific instructions on the skills you want them teaching. Worst case, you can have them police lines.
4. Keep it simple.
While you should have a plan for every practice, you won’t be teaching t-ball players cut-offs or bunt coverages. As mentioned earlier, t-ball players are going to be very raw. You will want to spend a majority of time working on simple fundamentals. Work on a basic stance, running to the correct base when the ball is hit, get in front of the ball, etc.
Defensive strategy is a preference on what you feel is most beneficial. Some coaches I have seen have them field the ball and look to tag their base for a force out every time regardless of where base runners are. I preferred to have them try to throw the ball to first most of the time and worked on getting forces at bases as the season progressed. The main thing is trying to keep them from dog piling on the ball which will happen often.
5. Keep it Positive.
If you are following pretty close to my other tips, this should be fairly simple. Always remember that as t-ball coach you are dealing with small children. They are there to have fun. Help them have fun while helping them learn the game. Encourage them when they make mistakes. Things can get frustrating during games when kids are playing in the dirt and digging holes in the outfield, but they are not purposely trying to make you lose. At this age they just don’t know any better and they get bored fast. Again, do your best to motivate them in a positive way.
In conclusion,
I hope you enjoyed my 5 tips for new t-ball coaches. Coaching T-ball can be one of the most fun and fulfilling experiences as long as you keep the right mind set and expectations. Thanks for reading and Good Luck!
If you would like to learn more about me, you can find it here. You can also send me questions or suggestions to CoachFreddy@coachthemkids.com.
