Jude Donato guides the Lockton Companies in Connecticut as president, providing client-centered consulting solutions in the private equity and corporate risk management spheres. Having played minor league baseball with the Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers organizations in the late 1990s, Jude Donato is also active in his community as a T-ball coach.
T-ball is the first introduction that many children have to the game of baseball as it combines many of the basic strategies of the latter with a softball that is hit from a stationary tee. One of the key drills that helps young players enjoy the game is running the bases. This can include group exercises in which they learn how to sprint out a ground ball by taking turns running down the base path from home plate at full speed, and then jogging back as they pass first base.
At the same time, partner toss drills get teammates accustomed to actively catching and throwing the ball. It is important to gradually instill the proper mechanics of an overhead throw starting with positioning players ten feet apart, then moving them back further as they progress in accuracy and fielding abilities.
When it comes to batting practice, a helpful technique to ensure that players who initially struggle with connecting with the softball are having fun is to start with a dodge ball or mini soccer ball instead. Coaches can use these to reinforce drills about importance of positioning hands and feet, and of moving the bat through the hitting zone at a level plane. As players progress to proficiency, they can be guided in transferring these principles to connecting with soft-tossed balls.
T-ball is the first introduction that many children have to the game of baseball as it combines many of the basic strategies of the latter with a softball that is hit from a stationary tee. One of the key drills that helps young players enjoy the game is running the bases. This can include group exercises in which they learn how to sprint out a ground ball by taking turns running down the base path from home plate at full speed, and then jogging back as they pass first base.
At the same time, partner toss drills get teammates accustomed to actively catching and throwing the ball. It is important to gradually instill the proper mechanics of an overhead throw starting with positioning players ten feet apart, then moving them back further as they progress in accuracy and fielding abilities.
When it comes to batting practice, a helpful technique to ensure that players who initially struggle with connecting with the softball are having fun is to start with a dodge ball or mini soccer ball instead. Coaches can use these to reinforce drills about importance of positioning hands and feet, and of moving the bat through the hitting zone at a level plane. As players progress to proficiency, they can be guided in transferring these principles to connecting with soft-tossed balls.
