for my 4-year-old’s neighborhood team. I was talked into this because apparently none of the other parents are saps like me. I never played baseball and have never seen a t-ball game. I don’t know the “proper” way to hold a bat and last night, my husband had to explain what a short stop was. I’m supportive of whatever my kids do, but to be honest, I cannot stand team sports. I was a skinny non-athlete growing up who was always picked last for teams, and for good reason. Nothing – and I mean nothing – was more damaging to my self-esteem than participating in team sports. When I turned 18, I vowed never to do it again.
Now I know, it’s just 4-year-olds and that most of what we’re teaching them is how to pay attention, how to follow directions, and how to have fun. And I know I’m over-reacting. But I can’t help feeling that, once again thrust into the arena of a team sport, failure is imminent.
Don’t worry about it! I’ve coached my son in football, t-ball, baseball, basketball and now lacrosse, which I knew nothing about in January and now love the sport and feel like I’m helping the guys quite a bit. the kids don’t care how much you know, you’ll pick it up! Be supportive of all the kids, show them how to improve and most importantly, give them a treat after games!
Amy, the most important thing I’m getting from your post is–draw a line in the sand. that means, draw a line between the past and the future and don’t ever go past the line. stay in today, don’t look back.
once you see those kids having fun, it will be worth it. plus, you can have a big impact on them by how you deal with them. have fun. they’re 4. it will be crazy and at the end of it you’ll be glad you did it.
LOL. My buddy and I coach the high school team (29-7 this year). We also coach his daughter’s t-ball team. It’s crazy. Anything and everything can happen. We take the videocamera every practice. It’s awesome.
It doesn’t take sports long to be “all about winning”, just like it doesn’t take school long to be about “who’s smart and who isn’t” … but in t-ball it’s still about, running the bases in the right direction, trying your best, making sure your glove is on the correct hand, and #1 priority … make sure mom sees every move you make, “Mom, did you see me bat?”, “Mom, I almost caught it!”. My personal favortie is when a kid hits the ball, and forgets to run b/c he’s looking for mom in the stands.
The most important thing a t-ball coach can do is “give fives” as often as possible. You’re gonna do great. The only failure in coaching t-ball is to treat it as competition. It’s about kids trying something they were likely not sure if they could do.
Be sure to update this thread with the “you won’t believe what this kid did at practice today …” posts. We can swap funny stories.
“If you can teach 4-year olds how to pay attention and how to follow instructions, please call me at your earliest convenience.”—I agree with Vitus…if you can do this, let me know ASAP!!
Seriously though, I think the other parents should be grateful that someone like you is coaching kids, rather than other parents who are the “win at all cost” types. With your background and experience, you’ll make sure that the kids won’t feel the way you did. I think it’s great.
exactly. win at all cost parents are no doubt, plain nuts. next year she’ll be coaching twice the amount of kids, based on her “mad skills” as a t-ball coach :).
Thanks guys; I knew you’d come through for me. I think I’m now in the right frame of mind.
As for the paying attention, I just got the roster and there are two girls on my team (and 5 boys). At least I know 2 of the short people will likely listen to what I say:)
1 little 5 year old girl was my “best” player when I coached my son’s t-ball team. She played pitcher, which means her posistion was where the mound should be, but only field the ball, which is quite important in a sport where the average hit is about 10 yards. She could really catch and throw and looked really cute with her pony tail poking out of her cap.
Things you will see before the end of the season:1. player gets a hit, but returns to the dougout 2. player gets a hit and runs to 3rd base, 3. multiple players trying to be on the same base 4. ball hit to a player that is on the ground playing with dirt/grass/etc.
Players are most interested in the following, in this order: 1. the snack after the game 2. the uniform 3. being with their friends 4. the thrill of catching, throwing, etc. 5.winning (a far distance 5th place in my opinion).
I am responding because I have just coached my last Little League game and am a bit sad about it. We skipped T-ball and started with my older son at age 7 in Pitching Machine six years ago. I am going to pass on one piece of advice only. Your goal should be to make the kids want to play baseball again next year. The rest of your strategy should be geared toward that goal. If you keep that in mind everything else will fall in place. And thanks for volunteering. There are not enough of us out there.
“Your goal should be to make the kids want to play baseball again next year.”
Yes! Totally agree. My girlfriend helps coach a 2nd and 3rd grade girls softball team. I went to the first half of the season games and loved it so much that I’m a de facto coach now.
AmyCO, please do all you can to not detract from them having fun. While I can’t be certain, I highly doubt you’ll be the coaching screaming bloody murder from the dugout. It can be hard, but try and manage expectations of parents, they tend to be the biggest $hit$ of them all. Don’t let any jerk parents (if there are any) horn in on the fun and ruin it. Don’t let anyone forget this is little kids t-ball, and supposed to be fun. Don’t worry if the kids keep score, do worry if the parents do. Don’t worry about the kids doing the right things physically (like throwing the ball perfectly to a base), but do try and teach the basics of the game.
If you are having fun, they probably are. The best moment of “my” season was getting the skinniest 8 year old girl ever to actually swing and hit a pitch. It took the entire season
No Worries! Coaching is easy. Just follow these simple little rules:
Martytram’s t-ball boot camp rules…
The fear of punishment is a far better motivator than positive reinforcement. Make sure any mistakes are dealt with swiflty and harshly. Never shy away from making an example out of the weaker and less talented players in your midst.
Settle for nothing less than perfection. Make sure they know they are losers if they do not measure up. 2nd place is the first loser.
Spend all of your time doing drills. Scrimmages are for losers. You need to perfect the skills before you move on to the good stuff.
Make sure you take the time to humiliate individuals in front of their peers.
There should be no celebrating after a win. Act as if you’ve been there before. Punishment should immediately follow any loss. Windsprints and pushups are ideal. Make sure the parents can watch.
Corporal punishment cannot be overused. Hit 'em, and they’ll remember why and never do it again. What is it they say about the burned hand learns best?
Sow distrust amongst the team. Let them know they could get cut at any time. It keeps them on their toes.
Never be afraid to use the tact: “Why can’t you be as good as (insert star player’s name here)”
Deprive them of water and other aids during practices. This will toughen them up and give them an advantage against mentally weaker opponents.
If the team fails to win a chanpionship, don’t bother holding and end of season get together. It’s a waste of time. Why give positive reinforcement to losers like them?
That’s all there is to building a championship t-ball team. I guarantee a league championship or a lynching by season’s end. Hell. It’s 50/50. Them ain’t bad odds!
Okay, here’s a funny story from the first practice. I’ve got two little girls on my team who, it turns out, are best friends and live next door to each other. While one is standing on third base, the other is batting. When I ask the batter where she’s going to run after she hits, she says she’s going to run to Kyra’s base because Kyra is her best friend.
Overall, first practice was fun. Lots of 4-year-old angst about what was for snack and when we were going to eat it. Couple of emergency potty runs. One kid who was highly skepitcal that a mom could be the coach – he kept asking “Who’s the coach?” I finally broke down and said something to the effect of “Honey, I’m the coach. I know I’m a chick, but I’m the coach.” I said it in my nice “mom voice” and with a smile on my face.
I actually took my kids to see that movie a few weeks ago. I thought parts were just hilarious, especially those bits about the coffee. Will Ferrell always cracks me up; I especially like it when he appears on Letterman.
One kid who was highly skepitcal that a mom could be the coach – he kept asking “Who’s the coach?” I finally broke down and said something to the effect of “Honey, I’m the coach. I know I’m a chick, but I’m the coach.” I said it in my nice “mom voice” and with a smile on my face.
Should have made him run wind sprints.
We played HS Baseball in a public part in a not-so-nice part of San Francisco. On the far corner of the park there was a big green fence, and that area was sometimes the gathering point for some of the shadier members of the neighborhood. If someone did something warranting punishment, they got a lap to and from the “Green Monster”, and out of fear for personaly safetly, that lap was always sprinted.
