Keeping my sons attention

Question
Mr. Bundy, I currently have my three year old playing tee-ball and coach pitch.  Physically he is doing well for his age but seems to lose focus during practices. During game time he's fine but like I said his practice focus is quite short and sometimes inexistant. What drills or even baseball related games do you suggest to keep him and others his age focused in a bit more?

Answer
Rick, thank you for your question.

Not much you can do with kids that age except watch them interact and enjoy this time with them.

I would guess the only time they are somewhat focused is when it is their turn to bat, and that may only last a short time.

In the field chasing a butterfly, playing in the dirt or grass, throwing a found rock; all will trump thinking about defensive baseball.  Just not their thing as yet.

If you can let them swing the bat and run around, you are creating fun for them and with fun comes a lasting interest in the game.

I work baseball camps for the Az Diamondbacks Academies, the starting age in these camps is 6, goes up to 14.  Occasionally we get some 5 year olds.  As a rule, 8 years and above are the ones with some amount of focus, all basically due to their age.

If you break things down into very short segments, 5-10 minutes, they can concentrate on receiving a ball tossed to them; but it will need to be from an adult as their peers will not be accurate enough to keep them focused.  Underhand, soft, keep them from having the bad experience of getting hit with the ball.  Over time, you can get them to use the "rule of thumb"; Ball above my waist, thumbs in / ball below my waist, pinkies in.  

This rule provides them with an essential skill that keeps them from getting hit in the face with a thrown or hit ball.  Young kids naturally attempt to catch a ball above their waist, with their pinkies together, the glove pocket up, creating a ramp for the ball to hit them in the face.

This skill takes longer than one would think to become a habit; but well worth the effort and time.

On my website, there is a page on rookie receiving, you may get some things to try there.  Also a fun game,hit and get.

Very simple to do, active and competitive.  Kids love it.

Good luck as you go forward.  Take your time, they have a lot of baseball ahead of them.  The focus will come with age, as they start to get there, lots you can add at that point.  

Keep it fun!

Yours in baseball,

Rick