How to Teach Kids the Fundamentals of Baseball
Dreaming that your son stands on the pitching mound and strikes out the batter at the bottom of the ninth inning with bases loaded fills a parent's heart with pride. This vision starts earlier for some parents, but it happens to all parents when they buy their child's first bat, glove and baseball. Teaching your son or daughter the fundamentals of baseball presents an opportunity for bonding and fun. The basic skills can be simplified into steps that any patient parent can teach his eager child. Teaching the fundamentals of baseball boils down to technique and practice, but the key to learning remains in the enjoyment level your child experiences.
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Instructions
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Perform these techniques first before asking your child to do so. Most children are visual learners when it comes to sports. Building confidence with the first skill becomes important if you want your child to persevere, so start with the easiest skill and work your way up.
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Throwing the baseball might be the most basic skill to acquire first; however getting the ball to the target consistently requires additional practice. Demonstrate how to hold the ball. Make sure the ball is not sitting flat on the palm but is being held by the fingers.
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Check for proper stance. Make sure the child's feet are spread apart and that the child always steps with his lead foot (opposite of his throwing arm) when throwing the ball. The toes of the lead foot should be pointing toward the target. After winding up his arm, he should release the ball when it reaches his ear. If held too long, the throw may be too short, not following a fluid motion.
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Keep your eye on the ball. When catching the ball, emphasize this rule with your child. Demonstrate the proper stance, by squaring up to the ball and catching it with two hands in order to secure the ball in the glove. As a guideline for when to turn the glove palm up or palm down, show the child that when the ball is hit above the waist, his fingers should point up. When the ball is hit below the waist, his fingers should be pointing down.
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Choose the right bat. Batting might be the most difficult skill to master. Make sure the bat is not too heavy or to light. This can affect the swing motion and can be difficult to correct if not properly learned.
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Grip the bat. When holding the bat, make sure the knuckles align. Right-handed kids should place their right hand on top, and left-handed kids will place their left hand on top.
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Make contact. At home plate, feet should be shoulder-width apart with most of the weight being placed the balls of the child's feet. Using a Tee-stand is the easiest way for children to hit the ball. Demonstrate that the child must take a step toward the pitcher and shift his weight from the back leg to the front leg, twisting his torso in order to get power behind his full swing. During the swing, remind him that both arms straighten out when making contact.
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Sliding into a base proves to be the dirtiest of all the skills. When running the bases, it's necessary to learn this skill properly; otherwise, players can hurt their ankles. Demonstrate on mats or grass first before attempting a slide on the baseball diamond. One leg is bent with the ankle underneath the knee, toes pointing upward. The other leg is extended, but with a small bend in the knee. Make sure when the child slides, most of the impact is on the buttocks and the child keeps his hands up, so as not to sprain or break the hand or fingers by the impact.
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