learning to catch with a glove

Question
My son is 6 years of age.  He can catch balls with both hands consistently, and has been for awhile.  How do I transition him over to his baseball glove?  Any ideas.  Thanks.  

Answer
Matt,

Thanks for the question.  You have the perfect situation here.  It is always best to teach a kid to catch without the glove first.  This will develop hand-eye coordination and also gets them to not be afraid of the ball. We do it still sometimes with out 13 year old players.

Get him a glove that is not too big and that he can open and close easily. Then do the same type of playing with him as you do without the glove.  Use a soft ball, not a hard baseball, as he is going to catch some in the chest and face until he gets used to the glove.  Make sure he is catching the ball in front of his body and not out to the side.  With the soft ball, he will take some off the chest and it won't hurt.  This will also get him to know that he is not afraid of the ball.  Later, when ready, you can move to the real baseball and he won't be afraid of it because it will be instinct to him.  

Just play catch.  Throw easy and underhand at first and get him to track the ball with his eyes all the way to the glove.  You can also start throwing him ground balls. Teach him the right way to field a grounder, out in front and within the legs.  

Have fun!!  Baseball is the greatest game and you may just have a future Major leaguer on your hands, and if not, then you have something to do with your son that will mean the world to him, and you.

Play Ball!!

Coach Boss