Week One - Philosophy

Make training fun by using stories and make believe to engage the 5 and 6 year olds in your team.  Have fun!

Warm-up Position Hunt

Purpose

This is good to start or end with.
Its about recognizing either the bases in T ball/Softball
certain fielding positions.

Simply set up the diamond and where the players stand (see the KiwiSox FUNDdamentals document - page 5).  Show them the positions and then all them out for the kids to race to.

Station 1 - Base running

Follow the leader (see tee-sox resource)

Have all the players follow the coach around the bases and call out the bases really loud as they run over them. Ensure they touch the bases with their feet. Do this with the group for three times around the bases.

Base Relay (see video)

Learning which direction to run around the bases.

Split the group up into two even teams with one team starting on 2nd Base and the other starting at home. Teams to run anti-clockwise around the bases – like normal base running. The front runner has a ball that they will give to the next runner in their line. First team with the ball back after everyone has run around the bases with it.

Station 2 - Catching

Can you catch this?  

The coach simply calls out a Can You? Ball per student Find a safe space and coach calls out an instruction. • Can you throw the ball up, clap once and catch the ball? • Can you throw the ball from one hand to the other? • Throw the ball up, clap under your leg, clap behind your back? In pairs then have the players lob the ball to each other with an instruction first. Have parents come in and lob the ball for any young players. • Can you clap before you catch the ball? • Can you spin around and then lob the ball to your partner?

Key Words or Phrases:

Ground Ball – Pinkies together Fly Ball – Thumbs together Monkeys Ready – Ready fielding position Crocodile Snap – Two hands on the ball

Week Two - Communication

Good communication is key to better understanding.  Talk to the kids at their level - on knees and at eye level.  Ask questions at the end asking what they learned.

Cones up cones down

Purpose

To work together and keeping eyes up

Station 1 - Throwing

Frogs in the pond

To familiarise players with the throwing technique

Set the hoop in the middle of your space. Players all have a bean bag each to throw (their frog) into the hoop (pond). Players only throw on instruction from the coach. Once all the players have thrown their frogs, the coach calls GO and all players go and get a bean bag and back to the line. Go through a couple of times – each time breaking down the throw

Key words:  nose, toes, throws

Hungry Crocodiles

To learn the Ready Position and use two hands when the ball comes into their glove or hand.

Have the group form a circle around one player who is the hungry crocodile. Players have turns rolling the ball to the crocodile who uses a big crocodile snap to use two hands over the ball. Swap players regularly.

Key words;  monkeys ready, crocodile snaps

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Week three - Engagement

Have enough equipment to keep everyone engaged.  Have fun!

Warm up - Position Hunt

Purpose

To help recognise the base layout, fielding positions and softball movements.

The coach simply calls out a position – i.e – “Where is third base?” or “Ground Ball” and the entire group run to that position or do the activity. Use the following: First Base, Second Base, Third Base, Home Plate, Catcher, Pitcher, Ground Ball, Fly Ball, Batter Ready, Monkeys Ready.

Lollipop game

Purpose

To familiarise players with the throwing technique

Set the tee with a ball on top about 5 meters out in front of the line of players. Players all have a ball each and on the coach’s instruction they all throw their ball to try and know the lollipop (ball) of the stick (tee). Safety: Ensure all players throw their ball and only on the coach’s instruction, once all balls are thrown, players can then run out and get their ball and come back to the line to try again.

Key phrases:  nose, toes, throws

Can you catch this

Purpose

To familiarise players with catching with 2 hands, watching the ball in the air and into their hands

The coach simply calls out a Can You?

Ball per player Find a safe space and coach calls out an instruction. • Can you throw the ball up, clap once and catch the ball? • Can you throw the ball from one hand to the other? • Throw the ball up, clap under your leg, clap behind your back? In pairs then have the players lob the ball to each other with an instruction first. Have parents come in and lob the ball for any young players. • Can you clap before you catch the ball? • Can you spin around and then lob the ball to your partner? Get the players to suggest some more actions to do.

Key phrases: 

Ground ball - pinkies togetehr

Fly ball - thumbs together

Monkeys ready - ready fielding position

Crocodile snap - two hands on the ball​​​​​​​