Baseball Warm-up Exercise for Kids : "Base Tag"
Posted 8:43 AM
A lot of times teams "warm up" by throwing and running while a coach tells them where to throw and when to run.
This warm-up accomplishes that, but it's fun because it’s in a “game” structure, and a lot of the kids I've worked with are motivated by that. Plus, once they know the rules, they will play without supervision for quite a while - I’ve found you have to stop them or they will tire out.
Setup:
- 2 "fielders" with gloves and a ball stand a baseline-width apart
- A 3rd kid is the “runner”, standing on base with the fielder who has the ball
Rules:
- The runner starts running at any time, and the fielder with the ball tries to throw them out
- The person with the ball can’t throw until after the runner starts running
- Start by assuming the play is a force... any good throw is an out
- For kids where this is easy…. it’s not a force…you’ve got to tag them in a rundown
Options … add
points for kids who no longer seem motivated by the game (some kids love points, others don’t) ... for example:
- Runner gets two points if he gets to the other base
- Fielders get one point if they throw him out
- Fielders lose two points if they overthrow!
Purpose:
The point is to develop and value
consistency in young fielders… where unnecessary risks aren’t taken, and accuracy/speed are stressed. Points, rules, etc. change as skills and the coaches needs change.
[View/Post Comments]
[Digg]
[Del.icio.us]
[Stumble]