T-ball is a great way to introduce young children to the fundamentals of baseball and softball. For many kids, T-ball is their first experience playing an organized team sport. As such, it’s important that coaches focus on teaching the basic skills of the game in a fun, engaging and inclusive environment.
One of the key fielding positions in T-ball is third base. While an adult third baseman must have quick reaction time and a strong throwing arm, the skills needed at this position in T-ball are more focused on the basics – being ready, fielding grounders and making accurate throws to first base. With some dedicated coaching, young T-ball players can learn proper technique at the hot corner.
The most effective way to teach strong third base skills in T-ball is through repetitive drills, fun games, encouragement and modeling correct form.
Mastering the Ready Position
The ready position is the basic athletic stance that fielders use to prepare for fielding a ball. When teaching young players how to assume a proper ready position at third base, keep the following tips in mind:
- Feet shoulder-width apart
- Knees bent slightly
- Weight balanced on the balls of both feet
- Body squared to home plate
- Glove out front and low to the ground
- Throwing hand ready above the glove
Use visual demonstrations and physical guidance to help players get into a good ready stance. Verbal cues like “bend your knees” and “put your glove down” can also be helpful. Be patient and offer praise when players achieve the right form.
To reinforce the ready position, have players freeze in place once they’ve assumed the stance. Call out different fielding scenarios and have them react by moving their bodies into fielding position without taking a step. Making a game of it keeps players engaged.
Perfecting Grounder Fielding
The most common balls fielded by the third baseman in T-ball are grounders. It’s essential to teach proper grounder fielding technique:
- Knees bent, butt down
- Head still, eyes on the ball
- Glove out in front
- Receive the ball out in front
- Field the ball with two hands
- Bring ball into body for control
Start by having players get into ready position and field rolled or bounced balls without a glove. Cue them to move their hands smoothly to receive the ball and pull it into their chest. This teaches correct form without the complication of a glove.
Next, have players field grounders using a glove. Emphasize scooping up the ball with two hands rather than trying to catch it in the palm. Slowly increase the pace and distance of the balls. Offer frequent positive reinforcement when players use proper form.
Fun fielding drills include lining up multiple players to field several balls in succession. This sharpens fielding reactions. Turning it into a contest adds friendly competition.
Making Accurate Throws
While T-ball does not involve forced outs, it’s still important for third basemen to work on making accurate throws to first base. Stress these key throwing mechanics:
- Point shoulder at target
- Step towards target with opposite foot
- Keep eyes on target throughout motion
- Release ball out in front
- Follow through
Have players make throws from their knee to isolate the upper body throwing motion. Then move to gently tossed balls they must field and immediately throw to first base. Emphasize stepping and throwing overhand.
To build confidence, start by having players make short throws and gradually increase the distance. Offer descriptive praise for proper form and accuracy. Target games also help reinforce good throwing habits.
Infield Communication
Even beginning T-ball players can start learning the basics of infield communication:
- Call who will field the ball (“I’ve got it!”)
- Call outs at first base (“Out!”)
- Echo other fielders’ calls
- Give encouragement (“Good catch!”)
Role playing allows players to practice communication. Have one player field a ball and call that they will take it. The other players should echo the call. Then the fielder can make an imaginary throw to first and call out.
During games, remind players to call balls they intend to field and echo their teammates’ calls. This establishes the foundations of working as a coordinated infield trio.
Knowing What Comes Next
In T-ball, runners stay on base until the ball is hit. So third basemen don’t need to hold or tag runners. However, it’s useful to introduce base running basics:
- After fielding a ball, make a throw to first base
- Return throws from first base to the coach who hit balls
- Understand that hitting the ball allows runners to advance
- Know that getting the ball to first base stops the runners’ advance
Have players throw to first base even without forced outs. This helps them learn the natural sequence of fielding a ball and making a throw to stop runners from advancing.
Backing Up Other Fielders
Part of being a cohesive infield unit is learning how to back up other fielders on throws:
- First baseman backs up pickoff throws to the pitcher
- Third baseman backs up throws from catcher to second
- Shortstop backs up throws from outfielders
- Second baseman backs up first baseman on throws to pitcher
Illustrate proper backup positioning through modeling. Stress that fielders should be ready to make a play if a ball gets past the target. Call out different game scenarios and have players move to where they should back up on each imagined throw.
Charging Softly Hit Balls
Third basemen need to be ready to charge in quickly to field softly hit balls. Teach players to:
- React quickly when a ball is hit softly near the infield
- Call out “I’ve got it!” as they charge
- Use proper two-hand fielding technique
- Make a throw to first or run to tag first themselves
Have a coach lightly hit balls just inside the base path and cue players to charge and field them. Keep it simple – no runner required. Work on instilling reaction and mechanics. Increase speed and hit balls further left or right to improve range.
Fielding Bunts
Fielding bunts will not likely be a major factor in most T-ball games. However, it is good to introduce the bunt fielding basics:
- Watch for batter to square up and hold bat level
- Charge quickly towards the plate as the ball is bunted
- Field the ball out in front with two hands
- Make throw to first or tag first base
Use whiffle balls when practicing bunt fielding. Focus on form – quick reaction, charging, fielding and throwing. Don’t expect full speed execution but reinforce the overall movements. Keep players engaged by mixing in some fun novelty bunts like having them field while on their knees.
Managing Overthrows
A third baseman’s overthrows can quickly turn into extra bases for runners. While perfect throws take time to develop, teach players what to do when throws go astray:
- Hustle to retrieve overthrown balls
- Make return throws to intended targets
- Back up other fielders’ overthrows when needed
Have players throw balls just past the first baseman to simulate overthrows. Cue the first baseman to hustle after the ball while the third baseman runs to cover the bag. Build the habit of turning mistakes into outs.
Position Flexibility
In T-ball, coaches should rotate all players through different positions over the course of the season. However, third basemen should also get experience playing other infield spots like 1B, SS and 2B. This builds overall awareness and versatility.
When practicing, have players switch between the four infield positions during various drills. Coach them up on the proper ready stance and movement for each position. Cross-training improves overall fielding skills.
Keeping early inning games low scoring also allows you to move players to new spots mid-game. Don’t be afraid to experiment – T-ball is the time for young athletes to learn.
Making It Fun
Above all, keep practices and games fun while teaching third base play. Incorporate silly characters, superhero poses and other games into fielding drills. Use descriptive praise and high fives to keep energy and spirits high.
Third base is a great spot to help build confidence, as most T-ballers will experience more success there compared to catcher or pitcher. Focus on the fundamentals, stay positive and emphasize teamwork. Learning the joy of baseball is the real home run.
Perfecting the Box Drill
The box drill is a great way to sharpen a young third baseman’s fielding skills. This simple practice setup requires four cones or bases arranged into a large square or “box” shape:
- Place two cones about 10 feet apart for first base line
- Put two more cones 10 feet apart facing first base line (third base line)
- Create large box shape with roughly 15 feet between cones
You can adjust dimensions as needed based on players’ abilities. Place the third baseman within the box to start. Coach hits balls anywhere inside the box. The player fields balls and throws to first base.
This controlled drill reinforces key skills:
- Fielding balls to the player’s left, right and directly at them
- Moving laterally in ready position to both sides
- Throwing accurately to first base target from different angles
For variety, roll some grounders and hit some fly balls within the box. Vary speed and placement – both forehand and backhand. Keep offering tips and encouragement.
To progress the drill, widen the distance between cones to expand the box size. This challenges range. You can also add a runner between boxes to force throws to first.
Making box drills fun for young players keeps them engaged. Time them for added excitement. Give silly instructions like throw left-handed or field from their knees. Be creative! Proper technique improves quickly within the box.
Building Confidence on Pop Flies
Young infielders are often intimidated by having to catch pop flies. The high arcing balls seem scary. However, with care not to overwhelm them, you can build third basemen’s confidence on popping up through incremental practice:
Start with very light pop ups using foam balls, beach balls or balloons. Have players practice positioning themselves while maintaining sight of the ball. They should call out “I’ve got it!” loud and early.
Next, graduate to tennis balls – still focusing on basics. Players track the ball off the bat, get feet moving quickly and call out. Hands out and ready in proper position. Slowly increase ball height.
Then use real balls, starting with you tossing easy, lopsided pops barely off the ground. Progress to hitting sky-high pop ups. Reinforce urgent, loud calling and hustling to get under balls.
Finally, add some “hot box” competition. See which infielder can chase down the most pop flies in a defined area. This adds fun and gets them reacting.
With time and care not to rush, young infielders gain the skills and confidence to handle pop flies – perhaps even make that first running catch! Praise all progress and celebrate victories.
Maintaining Proper Spacing
A common challenge with young T-ball infields is players bunching together. They tend to crowd whichever ball is hit. This can lead to confusion and collisions. It’s key to teach proper spacing:
- Generally stay within a few steps of your position
- Let fielders moving towards a ball have priority
- Maintain adequate distance from other infielders
Use cones to define player starting spots and chalk base lines as visual cues for spacing. Call out situations like “hard grounder to shortstop!” and have players adjust accordingly.
Practice calling outs for fielders to let others know who is taking charge on a ball. Stress that sometimes it’s best not to charge every ball near you. Echoing communication helps maintain proper spacing.
For fly balls, if multiple players are converging, the one calling first typically has priority. Others should peel off once a single fielder establishes verbal command by calling loudly, “I’ve got it!”
Repetition and keeping it fun are key. The shortstop and second baseman have a tango. Third and first baseman do the same dance. With time, fluid infield spacing will follow.
Using Ten Toes Drill
Here is an excellent drill to reinforce active footwork for young infielders:
- Start in athletic ready position
- Take hop forward with glove-side foot when coach points left
- Hop back with throwing-side foot when coach points right
- Repeat fluid hops side to side
Cue “ten toes” each time players hop to engage feet – five toes on front foot, five on back. Stress bending knees and sticking landings.
You can also bounce a ball left or right and have players react by hopping towards it in ready position. This sharpens fielding footwork.
Initially, perform the drill at half speed focusing on form. Gradually increase the pace over time to develop quick reactions. Provide regular feedback.
Ten toes engages muscles and gets infielders used to taking small lateral adjustment steps to either side as balls are put in play. This builds fundamentals for the short game.
Make it fun by speeding up, changing directions unexpectedly or adding silly rules like hands on hips. Infielders love showing their footwork flair once the drill clicks!
Conclusion
Successfully teaching third base skills to young T-ball players involves breaking down the key skills into simple, repetitive actions. Stress proper ready position, two-hand fielding, accurate throwing mechanics and infield communication through modeling, drills, games and praise. Introduce backing up other fielders, charging bunts, overthrow recovery and position flexibility. Keep practices active, fun and engaging. Patience and encouragement are vital – celebrate each small victory. With dedicated coaching, young T-ballers can gain competence and enthusiasm for playing third base. The lifelong love of baseball starts with just a few simple steps at the hot corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How young is too young for a child to start at third base?
There is no set age that is “too young” for a child to play third base in T-ball. Coaches should assess each child’s coordination, attentiveness and confidence. Most 4-6 year olds can handle the basics of the position with proper instruction. Go at their pace and keep it fun!
What if my third baseman is afraid of the ball?
It’s natural for some young players to be cautious of the ball at first. Give them time to adjust and start with lighter, softer balls. Applaud any attempt to field balls and don’t mandate catching hard hits right away. Building confidence is key. Consider starting them at first base if anxiety persists.
Should I teach throwing sidearm or overhand?
At the T-ball level, the emphasis should be on introducing proper throwing mechanics – point shoulder at target, step toward target, etc. While the overhand throw is preferred, either style is fine as long as it is executed correctly. Proper technique becomes more important as they progress.
What if my third baseman won’t pay attention in the field?
Keeping young kids focused is always a challenge! Use fun drills and games to reinforce skills while maintaining engagement. Call out the third baseman’s name often to direct their attention. Use descriptive praise to reward good focus. Move distractible players to right field if needed. Maintaining a lively, active practice tempo also helps focus.
How can I teach fielding without real balls to start?
You can introduce basic fielding mechanics using beach balls, balloons, rolled up socks or other fun soft objects before using real balls. Have players call out “I’ve got it!” when an object heads their way. Work on two-hand fielding form. Use your creativity to make it interactive.
