T-Ball Training Tips for Game Day

So you’ve survived the first practices, parent meetings, fundraisers, and uniform distribution, and now it’s game day. Many of the questions we receive from new coaches on our T-Ball University website concern how to manage their team in a variety of game day situations. So in this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common game day questions, including stretches, warm-ups, pep talks, game coaching tips, and post-game activities.

What is the first thing to do when the children arrive for play? When players arrive on the field, it is important to ensure that their bodies are in the proper condition to play ball. We usually start our kids off with some simple warm-up exercises, like arm rotations and then a slow jog around the T-ball field. Once your muscles have warmed up, we will move on to five minutes of simple arm and leg stretches.

We then warm up the players by tossing them to the coaches and parents before the game in the outfield on the side of our bench (you will need to check your league rules as many leagues require any adult stepping onto the field to be “certificate” attending a training class). Typically, the home team bench is on the first base side and the visiting team bench is on the third base side. Ground balls from coaches and parents are then taken in the box on the field side of our benches. If time is available, we try to practice on and off the field with the players in their first-inning positions. This generally consists of players fielding ground balls in the infield and throwing them to first base. As the players become proficient with this, I have the players field ground into the infield and throw them to second and first base for a double play. It may be a long time before they actually double play, but that’s no reason not to get used to trying. Next, we throw smooth line units into the garden with the gardeners lining up the line units in one or two jumps. I have them pitch to the appropriate cutting man (shortstop or second base) and then to the appropriate player covering second base (second base or shortstop).

Then we’ll have the players walk into the bench for a pregame pep talk. Usually we ask the team if they listened to their parents this week and then we ask them if they listened to their teachers this week. If they say yes, which is what they do most of the time, we ask parents if their children heard them this week. This usually generates a look of horror in the players. We tell the team that they can play because they listened to their teachers and parents last week. We try to emphasize that every player must be a good student athlete.

The bench coach has a line-up card and it is his or her responsibility to have each child sit on the bench in the order in which they bat. Batting helmets are worn on the head of early children, depending on the number of helmets available. Players returning from the field sit on the bench behind the players who have not yet batted. It is very important that the bench coach ensures that only one hitter is in the circle on the deck performing his practice swings. You will find that you are constantly telling children to “put down the bat”, this is normal and will prevent two or more players from hurting each other. You should check your league’s rules for deck swings, as some leagues prohibit all practice deck swings for safety.

Before each inning on the field, have the players gather around you at the teeing ground diamond to receive their position assignments. We try to have as many coaches on the field as possible to help the players find their positions.

We suggest that you inform each player where the next play is headed by mentioning the base and the name of the player the ball is heading to (eg, Mikey, you’re going to Kira at first base on a grounder, etc.). It sounds like a lot of instructions, but you and your players will get used to it after a while. This replay on each play will eventually be retained by each player, so as time goes on you may not have to remind each player what to do with the ball if it is hit.

You should also have each player call out the number of outs in each inning (eg say it, one, etc.). Have each player raise one of their arms with their fingers pointing appropriately with the number of outs in each inning. Before taking a batter swing, make sure each player is ready in the ready position to field the ball. An infielder should have his knees slightly bent showing his “crocodile” position. An outfielder should have the knees slightly bent with the glove and the throwing hand resting comfortably on the knees.

If you feel like your players are getting bored and losing focus, or there is a pause in the action, yell at the whole team, “Who wants the ball?” Each player raises their hand responding “I!” It is important that each child wants to tee-ball and is eager to play the game. It is important to work with them so that they are not afraid to do a play.

For the less skilled players, we suggest they get the ground out to first base. For the more accomplished players, you can try to get the lead runner out. If a pitcher fields a strong groundout, we try to get him to pitch to the main base, either at first, second, or third base. We typically have the shortstop take the throw at second base for a possible double play at first base as his momentum goes to first base. If a pitcher fields a soft-hit ground ball and has to come off the mound to field the teeing ball, I have the pitcher throw the ball only to first base.

We also direct the fielder covering a base to touch the runner on receiving the ball, even if the runner is not forced on the play. It is important that you do not take any knowledge of the game on the part of the player for granted. We always assume they don’t know anything about the game. We remind children to touch the runner with the ball firmly held in the glove. It is common to see players attempting to touch the runner without the starting ball in the glove.

After the entry into the field is over, we yell at them “Come in, we’re burning the daylight. Don’t be the last one on the bench!” We believe that no one on the team should walk during practices and games. All team members must make an effort at all times.

Here is a safety tip that can reduce some bruising. During the game, we like to warn the other coach and coaches when we have a good hitter at the plate. We ask the coach to move his pitcher back on pitching as much as possible to prevent any potential injury. We have seen some well accomplished players hit a parent or coach with a return line down the middle through the throwing circle. We have also seen some cases where the pitcher took a line or a ground ball to the face. A few steps back can make a big difference.

Once the game is over, we stand at first or third base, whichever is closest to our bench, and ask each player to line up behind us. We ask them to extend their right hand and arm and the opposing team does the same across the diamond. I tell the players to go and shake hands with the other players and coaches who have participated in the game. We then ask each player to sit on the bench or pick up their equipment and sit on the side of the field, if another game is about to begin. We give players a combination of criticism and talk. Criticism is never really negative but constructive. It is never noisy. We commend each player for the positives they gained during the game and reiterate what we should work on as a team for the next game. Parents scheduled to bring in the snacks and distribute the drinks. As they partake of their treat, the coaches decide who should receive the game ball. We give the game ball at the tee-ball level to the player who pays the most attention. We try to distribute the game balls for each game evenly among the players, that a game ball is given to each and every player before the end of the season.

For a successful game day! We hope these game day tips have been helpful to you. For more information on how to train t-ball, you can visit our t-ball trainers forum and view sample video exercises on our T-Ball University website (www.tballu.com).