T-ball is often a child’s first introduction to baseball and softball. As a coach, teaching basic outfield skills to young players aged 4-6 years old is an important part of developing their understanding of the game. With patience and repetition, you can teach essential outfield skills like catching fly balls, fielding grounders, and making accurate throws.
The key to successfully teaching outfield skills in t-ball is breaking down each skill into simple, manageable steps that build on each other over the course of a season.
Choosing the Right Outfielders
When selecting which players should start in the outfield, consider their throwing ability, speed, and focus. Since the ball doesn’t get hit to the outfield too often in t-ball, you want to put players out there who will be alert and pay attention throughout the game.
Focus on Throwing Ability First
A t-ball outfielder’s most important job is making throws back to the infield. Choose players who can make relatively accurate throws from a short distance. Do not worry as much about catching ability at this young age.
Speed Helps Cover Ground
Look for quicker players who can cover more ground in the outfield. Their speed will help them run down more fly balls and grounders.
Keep Their Focus Engaged
The outfield can get boring for little kids. Select players who tend to pay attention throughout games and practices. Reinforce their focus with frequent encouragement.
Teaching Fly Ball Catching
Catching fly balls is one of the most exciting outfield plays. Here are some tips for teaching fly ball catching:
Start With Tennis Balls
Begin working on fly balls indoors or on a smaller field. Use tennis balls and begin with simple catching. Gradually move up to baseballs/softballs.
Show Proper Body Positioning
Demonstrate how to get the glove up and body positioned under the ball. They should have their arms out and palms up, watching the ball into the glove.
Follow the Ball All the Way
Stress watching the ball from the time it leaves the bat until it reaches the glove. Tracking the ball is key to making the catch.
Catch Above the Waist
Encourage fielders to get their gloves up high to catch the ball above their waist. This helps avoid the ball tipping off the glove.
Provide Lots of Repetition
Fly balls take a lot of practice. Hit fly balls repeatedly to each outfielder over the course of several practices to drill proper catching technique.
Teaching Ground Ball Fielding
While most balls go to the outfield in the air at this level, you’ll also want to work on catching grounders. Here’s how:
Bend Knees and Get Low
They must learn to bend at the knees to get their body low to the ground to field grounders.
Glove Out Front
Teach them to put their gloved hand out in front with the palm facing the ground to field grounders.
Receive the Ball with Soft Hands
The ball should be caught or trapped softly in the glove. No hard slapping at the ball.
Bring the Ball Into the Body
After fielding, bring the ball into their core so they have more control before throwing.
Use Both Hands If Needed
Younger kids can trap difficult grounders with both hands to gain control before throwing.
Drills for Practicing Fly Balls and Grounders
Dedicate time each practice to doing outfield drills. Here are some fun drills to build skills:
Simple Toss and Catch
Coach tosses fly balls and grounders to each outfielder from a close distance. Have them work on catching technique.
Relay Lines
Line up outfielders and hit fly balls or grounders to the first kid, who catches it and tosses to the next. Do this down the line.
Bucket Toss
Place a bucket in the outfield. Hit balls and have kids catch them and throw to the bucket. See who can get the most balls in.
Catching Competition
Divide into teams. Hit fly balls and grounders, alternating teams. Count how many clean catches each team makes.
Positional Rotation
Hit to different positions and have outfielders rotate through left, center and right field to field balls.
Teaching Throwing Mechanics
A t-ball outfielder’s main job is to quickly return the ball to the infield. Teach these throwing basics:
Proper Grip
Show proper finger placement on ball across the seams for maximum control and accuracy.
Get Body Behind Throw
They should step toward target, bring ball back, and get their body momentum moving forward to generate power.
Follow Through
Emphasize following through toward the target after ball release. This improves accuracy.
Make Strong, Accurate Tosses
At first, focus on making strong, on-target throws that travel in a straight line from glove to hand.
Stretch Out Distance
As skills improve, have kids try longer throws from deeper in the outfield to challenge their strength and accuracy.
Throwing Drills and Games
Incorporate these activities to hone throwing technique:
Relay Races
Split team into relay lines. Have kids pass balls down line, stressing proper throwing form.
Target Practice
Set up cones or buckets at various distances. Kids earn points for hitting targets.
Long Toss
Partners start close together and gradually back up, making longer throws to each other.
Throw Challenge
Mark incremental distances on outfield wall or fence. See who can throw farthest with accuracy.
Bucket Toss
Combine throwing practice with fly ball drills. Hit balls, have kids catch and throw into buckets in the outfield.
Instilling an Outfielder’s Mindset
In addition to skills, help kids develop an outfielder’s proper mental approach:
Teach Game Situations
Explain game situations and where to make throws on forced outs, tagging up, etc.
Encourage Constant Readiness
Remind them to stay focused and alert in the outfield, even when the ball is not nearby.
Reinforce Hustling for Balls
Praise sprinting hard after balls, not jogging. Hustle shows good effort.
Stress Backing Up Infielders
Outfielders should help infielders by backing them up on overthrows and loose balls.
Practice Calling for Balls
Work on communicating verbally on pop flies to avoid collisions.
Make It Fun!
Above all, make learning outfield skills fun for little t-ballers. Keep drills and games moving fast. Use competitions and challenges to keep kids engaged. Make sure every player gets individual praise for effort and improvement over the season. Instilling enjoyment and pride at this early age will go a long way toward developing happy, confident ballplayers with solid fundamental skills.
Positioning Your T-Ball Outfielders
Proper positioning is an important fundamental for young outfielders. Here are some tips on where to position them:
The outfield is typically divided into left field, center field and right field. Explain these positions to players and make sure they know their assigned area. You may want to use cones to mark the divisions at first.
Left fielders should be positioned a few feet behind the imaginary line extending from third base. This helps cover balls hit down the left field line.
Center fielders should start each play standing directly behind second base. This central spot allows covering the most ground.
Right fielders should align themselves a few feet behind the imaginary line extending from first base, providing coverage down the right field line.
Avoid having all 3 fielders stand in a line. Stagger them slightly so center fielders are a couple steps farther back. This provides better positioning to catch fly balls.
Situate your outfielders far enough back that they can’t reach the infield dirt. For t-ball, about 25-30 feet beyond the bases is ideal. This prevents infielders and outfielders colliding.
It’s okay if positioning isn’t precise at first. With practice over several games, outfielders will better learn the optimal spots to stand for maximum coverage at this level.
Remind players to adjust based on each batter. If a lefty is hitting, the right fielder may cheat in slightly. If a righty is up, the left fielder can inch in a bit.
Above all, stress that outfielders should NOT move forward until the ball is hit. This prevents balls from scooting by them.
Communicating in the Outfield
Young outfielders must learn to effectively communicate with each other on the field. Here are some tips:
Teach the importance of letting teammates know who will catch the ball. Players should call out “I got it” or “I got it” loudly.
This verbal communication prevents collisions and confusion over who should field the ball.
Practice chatter like “I got it” often during drills. Praise players when they talk it out properly.
For fly balls where multiple players converge, teach the center fielder to take charge by yelling “I got it” to call off the corner outfielders.
Stress that outfielders should also communicate encouragement and praise to their teammates throughout games. Comments like “Good catch!” help motivate.
On deeper hits, outfielders may need to relay where the runner is going. Quick phrases like “Runner’s going to third!” keep everyone alert.
Work on clear, concise communication. Show that volume is key but they don’t need full sentences. A simple “Here!” when throwing the ball in is sufficient.
Remind kids not to chatter too much or yell negative comments. Keep communication focused on the game.
Verbal skills will improve over time. Keep reinforcing their efforts to speak up in the outfield through positive feedback.
Tracking Fly Balls
In order to catch fly balls, young outfielders must learn to properly track the flight of the ball. Here are some coaching tips:
As soon as the ball is hit, instruct kids to watch it off the bat and locate it in the air. Their eyes should follow the ball as it goes up.
Teach them to get their bodies turned in the direction of the ball’s flight as they are tracking it visually.
Have players try to get behind pop flies. Mentally judging the arc of the ball helps get their bodies in proper catching position.
On balls hit over their shoulders, show kids how to quickly flip their hips and run back while looking up to track the ball.
Use drills with tennis balls and fly balls of varying heights and trajectories. Call out where the ball is as they track it.
To build tracking skills, throw pop ups for players to catch in front of a backstop. Challenge them by bouncing balls off the backstop at different angles to track.
Stress that following the ball with their eyes all the way into the glove is vital, rather than losing it in flight.
Tracking improves with age and experience. Offer lots of encouragement as fly ball tracking skills develop.
Backing Up and Hitting Cutoff Players
While most of the action is in the infield at this level, outfielders still play an important role backing up:
Teach outfielders that if the catcher or infielder overthrows 1st or 3rd base, they should be there to retrieve the ball and throw it back in.
Instruct players that when a runner is advancing extra bases on a hit, they need to hustle over and backup the base being thrown to.
Explain that backing up fielders shows good teamwork. Passing balls can happen to anyone, so being in position helps.
When the infielder cuts off an outfielder’s throw home, show kids how the outfielders must yell “Cutoff!” and be ready in case the ball gets away.
During drills, roll grounders just past infielders for outfielders to run down and throw back in. This mimics game scenarios.
To practice hitting the cutoff, have outfielders make longer throws that a coach catches and redirects back to the infield.
Reinforce that backing up plays and throwing to cutoffs are advanced skills. Keep practicing as kids improve over the season.
Conclusion
Teaching basic outfield fundamentals to beginning t-ball players may seem daunting, but by breaking down key skills like fly balls, grounders, throwing and overall positioning into simple, repetitive drills, coaches can develop strong skills over the course of a season. Make drills fun competitions focused on effort and make sure to praise all improvements, no matter how small. Instilling proper mechanics and a mindset of constant readiness and hustle will give your t-ballers the tools to succeed when the ball comes their way in the outfield. With patience and persistence, you can mold your enthusiastic t-ball kids into solid all-around outfielders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most important outfield skills to teach in t-ball?
For t-ball, focus on the basics: catching fly balls and grounders with proper technique, making short, accurate throws, backing up infielders, and staying constantly alert. Running down balls and making long, strong throws will come later.
How much time should be spent on outfield drills?
Aim for at least 15-20 minutes each practice spent on fly ball, grounder and throwing drills. Repetition is key.
How many outfielders should I put on the field?
At the t-ball level, 3-5 outfielders is ideal. They should be spaced out fairly wide since balls don’t get hit very deep.
What if a kid struggles catching fly balls or fielding grounders?
Continue being positive and focus on effort. Simplify the drill, try using tennis balls first, and stand closer as needed to help build confidence.
How young is too young for a child to start playing outfield?
Around 4 years old is a good baseline age to begin introducing basic outfield instruction, although skill development varies.
