Where to start with 10 y/o trying baseball for first time

[Anonymous]

My DC is 10 and generally a very athletic kid. Never played baseball but several parents have commented to me that he should try it and are surprised to find he has no experience with how well he plays (granted this is just messing around in the backyard/fields). I know next to nothing about baseball so I'm not sure what to do with this but my DC is showing some actual interested in trying.

We are in the Auburn / Leesburg area. If I wanted to have DC try what would be the first step? Are there "tryouts"?
What sports does baseball even conflict with timing of the actual season?

Thanks for any info!

[Anonymous]

Ashburn has a very active little league organization.

Looks like next fall to tryout though.

[Anonymous]

Little league. Sign ups for fall will open soon.

Travel tryouts have essentially all wrapped up already, and no matter how good he is a 10 year old who has never played will be highly unlikely to make travel around here. It is competitive.

[Anonymous]

You should be aware that 10 year olds playing baseball is pretty much the most boring Saturday afternoon in existence. Too old to be cute. Too young to be good. Total snoozefest and it goes on and on and on. Bring a 1000 page book.

[Anonymous]

I’m in Leesburg. All little league chapters around here offer spring and fall ball. Spring tends to have a lot more kids, as many kids who play travel will do LL in spring to be eligible for All Stars. Fall tends to be more low key and would be a great time to start as a new player.

LL chapters are based on your address, but you are free to sign up in another chapter. You’re most likely in Central Loudoun or Dulles LL if you’re on the Leesburg/Ashburn border.

There are levels of play that each allow a range of ages, but I’d recommend the lowest level he’s eligible for so he fits in skills-wise. If he isn’t 11 at least September 1, that would be AAA. They always do evaluations so they can draft teams somewhat evenly, but they don’t cut anyone in LL!

[Anonymous]

I will also plug Play It Again Sports for used bats and gloves! You have to dig through a lot, but it saves you so much. Perfect if you aren’t sure baseball is a long term thing, plus kids grow so fast.

[Anonymous]

my soon to be 10 yr old just started playing baseball in the fall. We are in MD so can’t help you much on what league to join, my only advice is that you sign him up for rec in the fall, and if he loves it, try out for a select team for the spring. If he just moderately likes it (or just loves the rec team) stick with rec.

[Anonymous]

The first thing you need to do is get out there with your kid teach them how to catch a ball, throw correctly and get them some practice hitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The first thing you need to do is get out there with your kid teach them how to catch a ball, throw correctly and get them some practice hitting.

^This. 10 is late but not too late to be getting into baseball. If your son is a natural athlete, he'll do great, but he'll be REALLY discouraged if you don't help him get some skill practice beforehand. Some of these kids have been playing since the womb and already have pretty darn good fundamentals by age 10, but also know where the play is, know how to hit opposite field, can turn two on instinct, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first thing you need to do is get out there with your kid teach them how to catch a ball, throw correctly and get them some practice hitting.

^This. 10 is late but not too late to be getting into baseball. If your son is a natural athlete, he'll do great, but he'll be REALLY discouraged if you don't help him get some skill practice beforehand. Some of these kids have been playing since the womb and already have pretty darn good fundamentals by age 10, but also know where the play is, know how to hit opposite field, can turn two on instinct, etc.

Hi I'm the original poster and appreciate this advice but is there a resource like a YouTube channel or something that would show this or provide tips? I played zero baseball and never watched it growing up because I found it boring to be honest (I think it was the shear number of games in a season). What do you mean by "know where the play is" and "can turn two on instinct"
I can catch and throw a baseball myself but I have no advice to offer him on fundamentals of baseball.

[Anonymous]

DP- "know where the play is" means... if there's a runner on 1st and 2nd... and the hitter hits the ball to the short stop, where should the SS throw it? Where is the best out/play?

Start watching some Nats games with your DS. He'll pick it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The first thing you need to do is get out there with your kid teach them how to catch a ball, throw correctly and get them some practice hitting.

^This. 10 is late but not too late to be getting into baseball. If your son is a natural athlete, he'll do great, but he'll be REALLY discouraged if you don't help him get some skill practice beforehand. Some of these kids have been playing since the womb and already have pretty darn good fundamentals by age 10, but also know where the play is, know how to hit opposite field, can turn two on instinct, etc.

Hi I'm the original poster and appreciate this advice but is there a resource like a YouTube channel or something that would show this or provide tips? I played zero baseball and never watched it growing up because I found it boring to be honest (I think it was the shear number of games in a season). What do you mean by "know where the play is" and "can turn two on instinct"
I can catch and throw a baseball myself but I have no advice to offer him on fundamentals of baseball.

You are overthinking it, just sign him up for the local little league. Sure there are kids who are already on the college track by 10, but not so many that he won't fit in. (Generally the super intense coaches will already be building their teams of stars, so your kid will end up with the leftover group of newbies.)

Are there YouTube videos on how the play baseball? Does YouTube have a search feature?

Have him learn the basics of how to throw and catch this summer and get him the MLB video game. He'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

To echo PP, DS16 learned a lot from playing MLB The Show over the years! Granted, 10 is young for video games but just throwing that out there.

[Anonymous]

Do some clinics and small group at Pinkman’s so he learns how to swing a bat with the right mechanics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To echo PP, DS16 learned a lot from playing MLB The Show over the years! Granted, 10 is young for video games but just throwing that out there.

Best kid who ever played for me learned the rules from MLB the Show, in first grade. Just threw a no hitter for his high school team (didn't learn how to do that from me or the video game).