Payton’s second year of t-ball came to an end tonight. I think she had more fun this year, mostly because her team was a bunch of her friends. There were times where it was difficult to get them all to focus, but for the most part they were good. The coolest thing was seeing how well they progressed this year. I believe every kid had a hit from a coach pitching to them.
At the beginning of the season Payton was hitting off the tee and it was much like last year. But then one day she said she wanted to work on hitting in the yard. We practiced for a bit and she was seeming to get the motion down. The next game she had her best hits. It was not long until I started pitching to her during games and she got a few hits. Sometimes she does this weird chop thing, but other times she does take a nice level swing.
I do have a few funny Payton stories. The one coach told her to get a big hit and run real fast. She turned and said “I’m going to run like a cheetah.” After she hit the ball and ran the bases, she said to him “did you see me, I was running like a cheetah.” So that became the joke every time she got up to hit.
She also got up to bat tonight and the other coach asks if she is ready and she says “oh yeah” then she gets into her hitting stance and looks at me and waggles her eyebrows up and down. I threw the ball and she hit it hard up the middle. I have no clue where the confidence/silliness came from, but I liked it.
Not sure if I will coach t-ball next year (Logan will be playing) or if I will attempt to coach the next level up for Payton. One thing I do know is that coaching t-ball is at the minimum a four person job. You need coaches at first and third base to guide the kids on where to go. You need a coach in the dugout telling the kids who is up next and keeping them from being crazy. Then you need a coach setting the ball on the tee and adjusting their hitting. We had five this year, so when I pitched to the kids, I would have a coach behind the plate helping them with their swing.
Also, I wish I worked with them more on throwing the ball with the kids. If I do coach again, I would like to find some drill that would work to get them to step and throw the ball overhand. Other than that, I like to think me and the rest of the coaches did a great job preparing the kids for the next level. Go us!
