Easy Ways to Prepare Your Child for Little League Tee Ball

So, you just signed your child up for little league tee ball. There is nothing more exciting than your child's first team sport. As a parent, you will want to make sure that they are ready and have the right skills from day one. Here are some easy ways that you can prepare your child for tee ball.

Teach the Rules of the Game

One of the best things that you can do for your child is ensure that they understand the basic rules of the game. Plan a trip to a nearby home game of a major or minor league team. If you don't have a nearby stadium to visit for a game, plan an evening to watch a game on TV together. Make sure that they understand baseball terms such as balls, strikes, outs, and runs. You can probably find some easy-to-read books at your local library about baseball rules.

Run the Right Way

This seems like a common sense, but you might be surprised how often excited tee ball players begin running straight for 3^rd base as soon as they get a hit. I can't tell you how many times I saw this while working a little league scoreboard as a teenager. Take your child to the local baseball diamond and let them practice running the bases. If you don't live near a baseball diamond, set up makeshift bases in your backyard. This exercise will not only teach them a fundamental concept of baseball, but will help get them in shape and improve their sprinting speed.

Catch the Ball

Simply playing catch a few times a week can go a long way to prepare your child for tee ball. They will need to know how to catch fly balls, field grounders, and throw the ball accurately. If your child can master the skill of handling the ball, they will not only be one step ahead of their teammates, but will easily be able to transition into more advanced leagues when they are older. Try to put them into different situations and teach them how to handle each.

Hitting the ball

Hitting a ball off a tee is pretty simple. Take the time to teach your child about how to properly hold their bat, stand in the batter's box, follow through with the swing. This will help them avoid learning bad batting habits and having to break them