The great equalizer of baseball is puberty. He's still young, just let him have fun. If he isn't a good(ish) athlete the window that he will play sports is going to be short anyway, so just enjoy him playing something while it lasts.

Anonymous wrote:DS is in second grade. He really likes the idea of baseball and little league. However, he is not a good player, especially when it comes to hitting. How do I help him out? Do I need to encourage him to try something else? He is very averse to soccer for whatever reason, although he seems better at soccer than baseball.

He is not super athletic so that may just be part of it.

Throw in the backyard, hit off a tee, soft toss. Enjoy the time you have with him because it goes by way too fast.

I know this area is competitive and there are some very competitive local little leagues, but overall I think it's completely normal for kids to start baseball around age 8 and not be very good at first. I agree with others that at this age, the most important part is learning and having fun.

Our little league (in Fairfax County) is not as competitive and my son had no issues as an 8 year old beginner. He picked up baseball quickly with no experience. And to be honest, even if your son isn't super athletic, I see plenty of kids older than 8 who are not great players but still playing at ages 10 and 11. You don't have to be a super star to enjoy playing and we've seen no issues with teammates giving the weaker players a hard time (I'm sure this could happen but I haven't seen it in multiple years of little league with different coaches/teammates).

Depending where you live, there might be non-little league rec options too. For my youngest who is only 5 and not athletic at all, we tried t-ball with i9. That was perfect for him--minimal commitment, but still an opportunity to be on a team and learn the very basics.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids don’t seem good at 2nd grade especially baseball most kids play tee ball or coach pitch at that age

Man, I wish I lived somewhere where this was true. In our little league, second graders (baseball age 8) are vying for the first level of kid pitch and it’s competitive. The all star selection process is a whole thing (which started at age 7 with first graders). And a lot of the kids are already in private lessons and developing some serious skills. It’s a real hummer for the more average kids who just want to play baseball with their friends and not take it so seriously.

In my area, little league age 7 and 8 is machine pitch, and its definitely competitive. 8s can be selected for the county Tournament of Champions, as well as All Stars which plays in the little league district tournament and potentially qualify to the state tournament. And then there's Challenge baseball, which is in addition to little league, which starts at league age 7.

I know some kids did private lessons during the winter. Others have dads who played baseball and work with them all the time. T-ball starts at age 4 and there are lots of families that start their kid the moment they are eligible. Kids who join baseball for the first time in second grade (or even first grade) are at a huge disadvantage, even in our rec little league program. For a kid who has never so much as hit off a tee before, suddenly they're facing a machine that throws 40mph. The naturally gifted athletes figure it out. The rest spend the most of season swinging and missing, sometimes being terrified of every at bat (and there's one kid on DC's team this year who I don't think has ever made contact, not even a foul ball). There's not enough practice time and not enough coaches to spend time one-on-one with the kids who are brand new--and its volunteer dad coaches, some are great, some are good, and some have zero idea what they're doing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most kids don’t seem good at 2nd grade especially baseball most kids play tee ball or coach pitch at that age

Man, I wish I lived somewhere where this was true. In our little league, second graders (baseball age 8) are vying for the first level of kid pitch and it’s competitive. The all star selection process is a whole thing (which started at age 7 with first graders). And a lot of the kids are already in private lessons and developing some serious skills. It’s a real hummer for the more average kids who just want to play baseball with their friends and not take it so seriously.

Edit- that should say “real bummer” ha

Anonymous wrote:Most kids don’t seem good at 2nd grade especially baseball most kids play tee ball or coach pitch at that age

Man, I wish I lived somewhere where this was true. In our little league, second graders (baseball age 8) are vying for the first level of kid pitch and it’s competitive. The all star selection process is a whole thing (which started at age 7 with first graders). And a lot of the kids are already in private lessons and developing some serious skills. It’s a real hummer for the more average kids who just want to play baseball with their friends and not take it so seriously.

My son wasn't great in second grade either- none of them is, really.

He loves baseball and wanted to always do something, so we just did silly games like wiffle ball or a bunting game inside where he'd try to bunt a soft ball with a wiffle bat and run around the "bases" while our dog "called" balls and strikes. Later he graduated to practicing picks in our basement. I spent a lot of time doing stuff like that, which I didn't always enjoy, tbh.

Now he's in HS and plays both travel and for the competitive school team. Is he the world's best ball player? No, but he still loves it and it keeps him busy and active.

Most kids don’t seem good at 2nd grade especially baseball most kids play tee ball or coach pitch at that age

Anonymous wrote:DS is in second grade. He really likes the idea of baseball and little league. However, he is not a good player, especially when it comes to hitting. How do I help him out? Do I need to encourage him to try something else? He is very averse to soccer for whatever reason, although he seems better at soccer than baseball.

He is not super athletic so that may just be part of it.

He's in second grade. Make the game fun. Start there.

Baseball is boring

This is what I hate about this area-- a 2nd grader not being good at something is considered a problem. MOST 2nd graders aren't good baseball players. And it doesn't matter at all -- in 2nd grade you care that they are out in the sun having fun with their friends. If they're good at the sport that's a bonus.

Anonymous wrote:My son, at that age, was embarrassingly terrible. Like horrible. Couldn't run between bases, definitely couldn't catch a ball, let alone hit one. But he wanted to play. So I let him even though I felt terrible for whatever team he got put on. And then, one day - maybe in 5th grade - something clicked. I don't know what. He is now in 8th grade and a star pitcher. Just keep at it.

As the parent of another terrible athlete, this gives me so much hope. I don’t care if he’s ever good. I just don’t want him so bad that his peers reject him. So far, everyone’s been really nice, but my kid hasn’t hit middle school yet.

The easiest route is to look for a chain batting cage place in your area, and sign him up for a lesson or two (often you can even book online). They can work on a few swing basics with him (and you should watch and note what they are telling him to do)- and they will also be able to tell you what he can work on at home if he wants. Then buy a cheap tee and collapsible net and let him practice in the yard. Maybe take him to a local park or field and pitch to him if you have time (or bring the tee to the local baseball field and let him hit while you shag, if you don’t want to pitch to him)

Most kids do not hit well at age 8. I think my DS went an entire season without even putting a ball in play somewhere around that age (whatever his first year of kid pitch was).

For fielding, just play catch with him every day for 10min or so. IF he wants. Add in some low thrown pop ups, grounders etc as well.

That age unless you're on an unusually tough team, it's just about development and having fun and no one cares about focus.