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I played backyard baseball as a kid, but that's about it. I know the basic rules and positions. I dont however, have much of any idea what the role of the individual players is.

My sons are absolutely in love with it though. My oldest did a year of tball and is in his second year of coach pitch. My middle one is in his first year of tball. They aren't the greatest at any aspect(except my oldest who can hit anything I pitch at him), but I've got it drilled into them to pay attention and move fast, which is better than most of the kids staring at the ground or picking their noses.

I've been asked to be an assistant coach, but I'm not 100% on my knowledge. Specifically, between 1st and 2nd. Where do the players stand, what should they be doing during a play, etc. Things like if a player going to first gets forced out, is getting the ball to second also a forced out or can the runner go back to first, and where should the basemen be standing so they can still catch without being in the way of the runners?

A few other questions too.

My kids want batting gloves. I don't really think it's worth it because they don't have any calouses to protect. Is it worth getting them some?

Same with catchers and pitchers mitts. My oldest loves to play catcher, but rarely catches the pitches. This is mostly because the coaches pitch like shit and the balls are dropping on home plate. He'll be in little league next year, and I think he'll do better as a pitcher because he can throw straight and fast. Does either glove make a difference at their level?

I played backyard baseball as a kid, but that's about it. I know the basic rules and positions. I dont however, have much of any idea what the role of the individual players is. My sons are absolutely in love with it though. My oldest did a year of tball and is in his second year of coach pitch. My middle one is in his first year of tball. They aren't the greatest at any aspect(except my oldest who can hit anything I pitch at him), but I've got it drilled into them to pay attention and move fast, which is better than most of the kids staring at the ground or picking their noses. I've been asked to be an assistant coach, but I'm not 100% on my knowledge. Specifically, between 1st and 2nd. Where do the players stand, what should they be doing during a play, etc. Things like if a player going to first gets forced out, is getting the ball to second also a forced out or can the runner go back to first, and where should the basemen be standing so they can still catch without being in the way of the runners? A few other questions too. My kids want batting gloves. I don't really think it's worth it because they don't have any calouses to protect. Is it worth getting them some? Same with catchers and pitchers mitts. My oldest loves to play catcher, but rarely catches the pitches. This is mostly because the coaches pitch like shit and the balls are dropping on home plate. He'll be in little league next year, and I think he'll do better as a pitcher because he can throw straight and fast. Does either glove make a difference at their level?

10 comments

[–] [Deleted] 4 points (+4|-0)

Like /u/doggone said youtube is going to be a wealth of information.

Where the players stand is going to be static at that level. IMO you want to be teaching muscle memory more than strategy. You're not going to be playing shifts or moving the infield in or out based on situations. One thing I believe needs to be taught more is having players back up base positions. That's something you could look at.

if a player going to first gets forced out, is getting the ball to second also a forced out or can the runner go back to first

The person going to second is no longer required to take that base because there is no one behind him. He probably isn't going back to first though, because the ball is already there (all though at that level of play who knows). This conversation seems to support my understanding, but it probably wouldn't hurt to ask an ump of your league to make sure everyone is on the same page.

He wants batting gloves because they look 'cool'. No real need.

I don't think a catching glove is really worth it, but if you can find one used, it might be worth picking up.

[–] DKeere [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

Yeah, it's pretty static especially with the entire team fielded at this level.

I've been working with him on covering down positions, and he's picked it up pretty quickly. Since they are still in the habit of everyone chasing after the ball, the bases sometimes end up empty. He made a pretty awesome play the other day, when second went after an infield pop fly and he covered down on second to make a double play.

[–] [Deleted] 0 points (+0|-0)

That's awesome. It's really rewarding watching them make plays like that.

[–] dallasmuseum 1 points (+1|-0)

He wants batting gloves because they look 'cool'. No real need.

Welcome to raising boys.

[–] doggone 2 points (+2|-0) Edited

I'm not a player or a coach...

Youtube - how to play second base

You must get the lead runner to keep the force out in play, so second base then first base. If you force out the runner at first, the lead runner is no longer in a force out situation and can go to second or first.

I don't think the type of glove matters at that age but there may be rules in the league.

[–] DKeere [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

Yeah, youtube has been a good source. I found a couple of videos of drills for various positions and have been working on him with them. Really helps having a couple of kids, lol.

[–] [Deleted] 1 points (+1|-0)

i was an assistant baseball coach with 0 knowledge of the game. it was fine, just deferred all questions to the head coach and made the kids do some of my old football conditioning.

as for accessories like batting gloves. they'll make your kid feel a little closer to the big leagues but also distract them from what is happening. it's up to you how you want to play it, in baseball all the kids had gloves and stuff and it wasn't much of an issue. in football, anybody caught distracted by the game by tightening their gloves or something wouldn't be wearing accessories again. just explain to them that the little extra grip and additional pre-batting habit will do them and the team far less good than focus.

as for a catchers mitt (& other equipment), we had them provided for us by the league since its kinda an expensive specialty item for something that'll probably last only 2 or 3 years. definitely would just talk to the coach next year. but yeah, the glove is pretty much useless at young ages, it wasn't until 7th grade that we finally had a pitcher who could last like 3 innings and consistently deliver a ball in the strike zone at a not under-hand speed. but equipment raises the kids' morale, so, again, up to you how you want to play it.

[–] DKeere [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

I figured that with the batting gloves. I told him he'd have to wait on those. I'll probably get him a catcher's mitt, because I've got two others that it will get passed down to. I might get the whole set of catchers gear, so I can have them catch when one of the others is batting rather than chasing after balls.

[–] heywoodnj 0 points (+0|-0)

Got a Minor league team close by? Sit next to the old boozy guy....We know things and its a cheap night out.

That's how my Gran taught me and I carried on with my boys. I envy you at this time in their lives you can't get it back.

If you get your head around the infield fly rule please report back.....I've been a fan for 50 years and it still confounds me :]

[–] DKeere [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

There isn't, but we've spent time watching highschool games so that he has a better understanding. My oldest is pretty excited about it. He's not enjoying the 'every kid gets to bat' and no double plays or base stealing rules. I don't mind the rules at this age, because not having them turned me off to baseball as a kid. The year I played as a kid, I got to bat once and thought it was the most boring game I'd ever played.

Infield fly... Yeah, that just gave me a headache.