| The baseball season for children in towns | | | | some that are very soft and easy to squeeze |
| throughout the country is starting to get into full | | | | and to manage. |
| swing now that Spring has arrived. It can be a | | | | 7. Begin with a tennis ball and continue to use the |
| wonderful time of the year for the kids and for | | | | underhand toss until your child gets comfortable |
| the parents. However, many kids struggle at | | | | catching the ball in the glove. Don't introduce a |
| baseball because they are terrified of being hit by | | | | baseball until your child appears confident and |
| the ball when they are in the field or when they | | | | ready. You can use a tee ball as intermediate step |
| are batting. | | | | in the learning process. These balls are not as hard |
| I get a lot of calls at this time of the year from | | | | as baseballs. |
| parents who want their kids to become less | | | | 8. You need to demonstrate the various ways of |
| scared, more comfortable and more confident | | | | turning the glove to accommodate the various |
| when they step on the baseball field. | | | | spots your child will need to catch the ball in. |
| Here are a few tips to help your son or daughter | | | | Stand along side your child as show the four or |
| if they are demonstrating a significant fear of | | | | five various positions. |
| being hit by the ball: | | | | 9. If your child throws right handed, begin by |
| 1. It is normal to have some fear of a moving | | | | tossing the ball to his or her left side. This is |
| object moving toward your body. Explain this to | | | | generally the easiest way to begin. Once they can |
| your child, but also tell them that they can learn | | | | catch a dozen balls in a row on this side, you can |
| how to protect themselves and how to manage | | | | start tossing to the center of their bodies. Then, |
| the situation. Also, tell the kids that once they | | | | you can start tossing a few soft pop ups where |
| develop their baseball skills, they will overcome | | | | they can be taught to catch the ball above their |
| much of their discomfort. | | | | heads. The ball thrown to the right side of a right |
| 2. Some children are afraid of being hit when they | | | | handed child is a tough catch, since they need to |
| have a catch. If you can, begin playing catch with | | | | turn the glove as it crosses their body. This is not |
| your child at an early age. If your child is under | | | | a natural act for most kids. (Obviously, you need |
| two or three, you can start by just rolling a ball | | | | to reverse these guidelines if your child is left |
| back and forth to your son or daughter. | | | | handed.) Interestingly, my son is ambidextrous, so |
| 3. As your child grows older, you can start to use | | | | it took a little time to sort out which hand we |
| a sponge ball and begin tossing the ball softly | | | | wanted to use to throw the ball. The first glove I |
| toward your child from a close distance. Use an | | | | bought him was for a lefty. Then at age four, we |
| underhand toss and arch the ball so it gently | | | | shifted to aright handed mitt. |
| moves towards your kid. Demonstrate how to | | | | 10. When you teach your kid to field ground balls, |
| catch the ball for your son or child and give them | | | | tell them to open their glove, keep their head |
| lots of praise as they learn how to receive the | | | | down watching the ball and field the ball in the |
| ball. Introduce the idea of greeting the ball with | | | | center of their bodies. Begin with soft grounders |
| soft hands. I encouraged my kids to say "hello | | | | and gradually increase the speed and vary the |
| ball," as the would catch the ball to add some | | | | kinds of bounces your child experiences. |
| additional humor and playfulness to the learning | | | | 11. In order to improve your kids throwing skills. |
| process. | | | | Teach them the proper grip. Many coaches teach |
| 4. Use what coaches call the "sandwich technique." | | | | a two finger grip where the second and third |
| Insert a little instruction in between two phrases | | | | fingers are on the laces and the thumb is at the |
| which praise and encourage them. ("Great job. | | | | bottom of the ball. My daughter named it the |
| Now just watch the ball into your hands a little | | | | bunny rabbit grip. |
| more carefully. Now you are a star.") | | | | Have the child point his elbow toward their target |
| 5. As your child improves and gains some | | | | and encourage him to place the ball behind their |
| confidence in his or her catching ability, you can | | | | ear and step and throw. Begin with a short |
| begin to introduce a tennis ball. Then you can | | | | distance of perhaps four feet and gradually |
| move to a soft ball. Introducing your kids to a | | | | extend the distance. The step and throw gives |
| harder and harder ball in stages will help them to | | | | the idea of weight transfer which is important in |
| develop their confidence as they develop their | | | | many sports. |
| skills. Periodically, toss a ball which will gently hit | | | | Keep the encouragement and the compliments |
| your child on their arm or leg. This will help your | | | | coming. Begin with short teaching sessions of |
| son or daughter to feel less scared of the flying | | | | perhaps ten minutes and increase them, if your |
| object. | | | | child is enjoying the throwing and catching. He or |
| 6. At age four to six you, you can introduce a | | | | she will tell you if they are interested in baseball. |
| glove to the process. Make sure you get a glove | | | | When my son began playing baseball, he didn't like |
| which is the right size and shape for your child. | | | | it very much. Now he can't play enough baseball. |
| Gloves come in a variety of sizes and there are | | | | |