How to Organize a Neighborhood Baseball Game

Remember when you couldn't pass a neighborhood baseball diamond without seeing kids having a blast playing the game? Sadly, those days are gone. But they can return. Get your kids and others in your area to shut down their video games and move their growing behinds and tummies outside to participate in our national pastime.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Three baseballs
• Three baseball bats
• Empty field or baseball diamond
• At least 10 kids
• One baseball glove for each player
• Four bases (anything flat and easily visible will do)
• Plenty of enthusiasm

1. Scout the area for an empty field or baseball diamond. They won't be hard to find. The only baseball being played by kids these days is organized through their local little leagues.

2. Place every bit of baseball equipment you own in the trunk of your car. Organize to the last detail. This will assure that the lazier kids can't back out.

3. Tell your children that you're organizing a neighborhood baseball game. Don't take "no" for an answer. Turn off their video games and get rolling.

4. Visit every home in the neighborhood in which a friend of your children lives. Talk to the parents. Let them know you are organizing a neighborhood baseball game and invite their kid to play. Assure them that you will supervise the activity. The parents will be eager to teach their child the benefits of actually PLAYING OUTSIDE. Tell them you will have your cell phone with you and give them your number.

5. Once enough kids have been gathered, set up the bases, choose sides, get out of the way and let them have fun. Answer any questions they might have and offer to serve as pitcher for both sides, but don't get more involved than that.

6. Allow the kids to play as long as they'd like, within reason. Take any phone calls from concerned parents. Make certain all the kids return home in time for dinner, but on the way home set up a time and date for the next game.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage the kids to give little thought to the score of the game. Foster an environment in which they can joke around and simply enjoy the activity. There will be enough opportunity in their young lives to learn the fundamentals and strive to win.
• Don't allow for hurt feelings. Emotional damage can be done if a child is criticized by his peers for not playing baseball as well as the others. Encouragement and positivity are the keys.