As I See It: Introduction to Baseball 101
Baseball is America’s national pastime. Over the years baseball has morphed into many different leagues with various ages. This is my version of a league that introduces children to baseball, teaching the fundamentals, but at the same time keeping if fun for the children and the parents as well.
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I have been involved in Minor League baseball (ages 5 to 9) for the past five years. Even though both of my boys have moved up to Little League I have stayed behind to coach the younger kids. Over the past several years, I have modified the way I coach to better prepare these youngsters to move up to Little League. In a perfect world, this is how I would develop a league to minimize the trauma of moving up to Little League.
The basic field configuration would remain the same with a few minor alterations. There would be a double first base, one for the runner, one for the fielder. There would be a regulation pitcher’s mound with an electrical outlet behind the mound for a pitching machine. There would be a chalked circle encompassing the mound ten feet in diameter. The pitcher would have to play within that circle. The infield would be dirt, in attempt to keep grounders rolling and hopping as true as possible. In the outfield the fence would be set between 140 to 150 feet. This would be a true Minor League ball park.
A pitching machine will be used for all players. Each player would get a total of seven pitches. A ball fouled off on the 7th pitch would give the batter another pitch. First year players would be eligible to have a coach pitch 5 additional pitches thrown to them if they are unable to hit the pitching machine. Trust me when I say this, with a well set pitching machine, all players will be hitting the ball by the 7th pitch. I have had 4 year olds hit off the pitching machine on a consistent basis.
You would play ten players in the field, with 4 players to be in the outfield grass. You can have up to three coaches on the field while on defense; a coach in the outfield, one in the infield, and one behind the plate to work with the catcher. Batting order would be your entire roster. Each player has a designated spot in the batting order. An inning would consist of either 3 outs or ten batters. No player is to be on the bench for 2 consecutive innings on defense. The rotation that I try to use is an inning in the infield, an inning in the outfield, and an inning on the bench. 8 year old players that will be moving up may receive additional playing time. The length of the game is to be six innings with no score being kept. In the last inning all players bat. This allows 2 complete defensive rotations.
The key in this league is to teach the fundamentals hitting, fielding, and base running. By doing so keeps the game simple so that while being an instructional league it continues to be a fun filled experience. The younger players keep it light and a pleasure to watch. When they make a great play and the smile spreads across their face my heart feels as if it were going to explode. This keeps me feeling young and gives me the greatest satisfaction. You can never have this much fun on a daily basis and I count myself privileged to be considered a coach to these young children.
