Conebaseball

Conebaseball

Striking ball with Bats

To teach students batting skills.

• Grades 1/2: Favorite hand on top, side to target, stretch armsto the plate. This will guage how far student should stand from the plate.
• Grades 3-5: Level swing; hit the ball where others aren't, fielders work together to get the batter out.

• One cone, batting tee, (plastic oversized) bat, and whiffle ball for each pair or trio of students. You may want to have different size balls for students to hit as well. (start off easy make it harder)
• Organized area of play: Large outside grassy area. If space is a concern, set up tees in the middle of an area so one tee bats to one side of the field (for ex., R side), next tee to the opposite (left) side, so all aren't batting to the same outfield area.

Have grades 1-2 in pairs and grade 3 in trios. Introduce one or two of the above mentioned cues for batting with students. A cone is set up approximately 15-25 feet away from the batting tee; the fielder stands in the field behind this cone. The batter scores runs by running continuously between the cone and the tee after he/she hits the ball. One run is scored each time the batter touches the cone or tee.

The batter is out when the fielder retrieves the ball and runs back to the cone that is 15-25' away from the batting tee, touches it with the ball, and yells out. The batter switches to become the fielder after twice at bat. As students bat, observe if they are using the techniques introduced to them in your preliminary lesson, help as needed.

For grades 1 & 2, you may need to bring them in to discuss what happens when the runner and the fielder get to the cone at the same time. This is a fast moving game--use breaks in game to discuss reinforcement strategies, and give positive feedback along on in the game.

Let 3-5 grade students play and see if they can incorporate any teamwork strategies. Teamwork skills may include running the ball to someone who may be faster, or throwing the ball to the cone with someone there to tag them out, or the cone. Let them begin playing and then bring them together to discuss this at cool down or a break in the game. Pinpoint groups of students who you see using good strategies. Reinforce teamwork in any capacity, positively!

• Don't let kids swing a bat near other people in the area. You may want to have a rope around the hitting area to designate--OFF LIMITS till your batting.
• Have fun.