The tee is where batting starts. Kids this age need to build the habit of seeing the ball, setting their feet, and following through. This drill is about repetition and a single technical point: contact in front of the plate.
Equipment needed: One T-ball tee, 15 plastic or safety-core baseballs, a bucket, one bat appropriate for the age.
Setup: Place the tee at home plate in your yard or field. Space yourself 20 feet away with the bucket of balls. A fence or net behind the tee catches balls and keeps the drill contained.
How to run it:
- Place the first ball on the tee at the child’s belt height.
- Have them address the plate from the opposite side of where you’re standing (so they’re not swinging toward you).
- Remind them: “Step and swing.” That’s it. Not “keep your elbow up” or “watch the ball through contact.” One cue per round.
- After the swing, they retrieve the ball and place it back on the tee for the next rep. That’s their job.
- Do 15 reps. Most will make contact on reps 5-8 onward.
What to look for: Solid contact and a full follow-through. Kids this age who start making contact will want to keep going. Let them. The ball coming off the bat is their best teacher.
Variation: For younger kids (5-6) who struggle with hand-eye, lower the te