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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DS (age 10) was not initially interested in baseball so never played on a team but based on the hype he hears from his friends and soccer or basketball teammates, he now feels left out. But he now thinks he is "too old" to join a little league team because his friends have a few years head start and he won't know how to play or be good.[/quote]

10 definitely is not too old to start rec baseball!

I’d sign him up for fall ball at your local little league. Fall ball is developmental and non-competitive, and generally fewer kids play (some kids play other fall sports, and some baseball kids play travel/club in the fall). Fall is the perfect time to start as a beginner.

I’d email the league and ask what level they recommend for a beginner 10yo. Typically they might recommend playing one level down (in our league most 10s play AAA, but there are always at least a few who play AA with the 8-9s) This would not be considered that strange or unusual (some kids play down a level to play with friends, with a particular coach) and also little league age is not always the same as grade level so it isn’t weird for classmates to play different levels.

This summer, try to play catch every day (even if for a few minutes). After awhile, take him to a LL field and let him practice throwing the ball to 1st base etc. If you have time, hit (or even throw) him some grounders and low pop ups and let him try to catch them. Make sure he knows the basic rules (outs, balls/strikes, and where all 9 fielding positions are). Throw him some balls underhand and have him try to make contact. Once he’s doing that well, take him to the batting cages and let him hit (40s cage probably). If you can afford it and have extra time, would be even better to get him a few batting lessons. They aren’t all that expensive.

He definitely is not too old! Not at all. My son has a friend who started playing last year at 9 for the first time ever, and is on the 10yo all star team this summer already (decent team too, they win districts etc). Just a really athletic kid who caught on quickly. Not that unusual.

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