Tee ball bat drop and run drill

At a glance

Sport

Baseball and Softball

Skill

Baserunning

Ages

6U

Players

The whole team, one at a time, with a coach at home and one at first

Time

About 10 minutes

Level

Beginner

Equipment

Batting tee, Tee balls or soft balls, Bat, Batting helmets, Hula hoop, First base

Indoors

Needs a field

Two things go wrong when a five-year-old hits the ball: the bat flies, and the runner heads for the pitcher or third base. This station fixes both at once. A hula hoop on the ground next to the plate gives the bat a home, and a coach waiting at first base gives the runner somewhere obvious to go.

It works as one stop in a tee ball station rotation. Start with dry swings so the players think only about the bat and the run, then add a ball on the tee once they have the routine down.

Setup

• Set the tee on home plate and lay a hula hoop on the ground just outside the batter's box on the first base side.
• Put one coach at home plate and one at first base, standing in foul territory past the bag.
• Line the players up in helmets well behind the plate, away from the swinging bat.

How to run it

1. The first player steps up and takes a swing. Early on it is a dry swing; later they hit a ball off the tee.
2. The player puts the bat down inside the hula hoop, not behind them and not thrown.
3. The player runs straight down the first base line, pumping the arms.
4. The player steps on first base and gives the coach there a high five.
5. The player stands on the base ready to run to second, or jogs back to the end of the line, and the next player steps up.

Coaching points

• Praise the bat drop every time. The hula hoop turns safety into a little target game.
• Point down the line before each player swings, so they know which way to run.
• Touch the base with a foot. No jumping over it or stopping short of it.
• Run the whole way. The coach at first can back up a step or two past the base to pull players through.

Common mistakes

• Flinging the bat toward the catcher or the line of players. Stop the line and have the player put it in the hoop before running.
• Running toward third or out to the pitcher's spot. The coach at first should wave and call the player's name.
• Slowing down well before the base to look back at the ball.
• Letting the next player swing while the line is too close. Keep waiting players several big steps behind the plate.

Printable drill card

Take this drill to the field: the setup, steps, coaching points and equipment on one card, with the video's address to find it again. Free, no account needed.

Smaller: half page or quarter page (PDF).

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Frequently Asked Questions

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