Materials Needed:

• Baseball glove (optional, but helpful)
• Soft baseball or tennis ball
• Baseball bat (plastic or lightweight aluminum recommended)
• Batting tee
• Bases or markers (cones, frisbees, or even pieces of cardboard work!)
• Open space (backyard, park)
• Water bottle

Lesson Activities:

1. Warm-Up: Get Loose! (5 minutes)

Let's get our bodies ready to play! We need to warm up our muscles.

• Arm Circles: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, arms straight out to the sides. Make small circles forward (10 times), then backward (10 times). Make bigger circles forward (10 times), then backward (10 times).
• Leg Swings: Hold onto something stable if needed. Swing one leg forward and backward gently (10 times). Repeat with the other leg. Swing one leg side-to-side gently across your body (10 times). Repeat with the other leg.
• Torso Twists: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, hands on hips or arms crossed over chest. Gently twist your upper body side to side (10 times each side).
• Jogging in Place: Jog lightly for 30 seconds.

2. Skill Time: Throwing Power! (10 minutes)

Let's learn to throw like a pro!

1. Grip: Hold the ball with your fingertips (usually 2 or 3 fingers across the seams), not deep in your palm.
2. Stance: Stand sideways to your target, like you're going to shake hands with it. If you throw with your right hand, your left shoulder points at the target.
3. Motion: Bring the ball back near your ear, making an 'L' shape with your arm. Step towards your target with your front foot (left foot if right-handed). Snap your arm forward, releasing the ball. Follow through by letting your throwing arm come across your body.

Practice: Set up a target (like a bucket or a spot on a fence) about 10-15 feet away. Practice throwing the soft ball or tennis ball at the target. Focus on the steps, not just speed!

3. Skill Time: Catching Machine! (10 minutes)

Ready to snag those fly balls?

1. Ready Stance: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, glove (if using) open and ready. If not using a glove, keep hands open and relaxed in front of you.
2. Watch the Ball: Keep your eyes on the ball all the way into your glove or hands.
3. Two Hands: Use two hands whenever possible! For balls below the waist, point fingers down. For balls above the waist, point fingers up. Use your glove hand to catch and your bare hand to cover the ball and secure it.
4. Give with the Ball: As the ball enters your glove/hands, bring your arms slightly back towards your body to absorb the impact (like catching an egg).

Practice: Have a helper (or toss the ball gently up yourself and catch it) throw soft tosses from about 10 feet away. Practice catching ground balls (roll the ball) and fly balls (gentle underhand tosses).

4. Skill Time: Batter Up! (Hitting the Tee) (10 minutes)

Time to hit!

1. Stance: Stand sideways to the tee, feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Your non-dominant shoulder should point towards where you want to hit the ball.
2. Grip: Hold the bat with both hands, lining up your knuckles. Your dominant hand should be above your non-dominant hand. Keep a firm but not too tight grip. Hold the bat up and back, near your shoulder.
3. Swing: Keep your eyes on the ball on the tee! Step slightly towards the tee with your front foot as you swing the bat levelly. Swing through the ball, don't stop at impact.

Practice: Place the soft ball or tennis ball on the tee. Adjust the tee height so it's around waist level. Practice taking smooth, level swings, trying to hit the ball straight ahead.

5. Fun Game: Base Running Bonanza! (10 minutes)

Let's put it together!

1. Set up one base about 20-30 feet from the batting tee (home plate).
2. Hit the ball off the tee.
3. Drop the bat safely and run as fast as you can to touch the base.
4. Retrieve the ball (or have a helper field it).
5. Return to home plate and try again!

Variation: If you have a helper, they can try to field the ball and tag the base before you get there.

6. Cool-Down: Stretch It Out! (5 minutes)

Great job! Let's cool down our muscles.

• Arm Stretch: Bring one arm across your body and gently pull it closer with your other hand. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat with the other arm.
• Triceps Stretch: Reach one arm overhead, bend your elbow so your hand is behind your head. Use your other hand to gently push the elbow down. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat with the other arm.
• Hamstring Stretch: Sit on the ground with legs straight out. Reach towards your toes gently. Hold for 15-20 seconds.
• Quad Stretch: Stand tall, hold onto something if needed. Bend one knee and grab your ankle, gently pulling your heel towards your glutes. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.

Awesome work today, ballplayer! Remember to practice these skills safely.