Week One:
Welcome to week one! To begin preseason this week we had practice on Tuesday and we will also practice on Saturday. Before practice we set up all our stations we had planned. Our stations were hitting off the tee, bucket toss, running bases, coach pitch hitting, and jug toss. For each station we set a ten minute timer. We met all the kids on Tuesday and had a quick meeting with the parents. To begin practice we started with stretching and having the kids tell us their names and their favorite color. Through out this practice we learned some of the kids strengths and weaknesses which gives us a good idea of what position they should play this season. We ended practice by coming together and running the bases as a team and a little meeting about saturdays practice. All of our stations went really well and the kids did great! I learned that the bucket toss and jug toss got kind of boring for the kids after five minutes or so. Next time we do those stations we'll cut the time down. Overall our practice went great and we now know what stations the kids really enjoy and the ones they didn't like so much.
Week Two:
Welcome to week two! Unfortunately our practice got canceled last Saturday due to rain, but this week we are practicing Thursday and Saturday. We will be at the Cornatzer Elementary field and the Smith Grove field. The stations we have planned for this week are hitting off the tee, coach pitch hitting, correctly catching ground balls, and target hitting. On Thursday we started practice off by stretching and then we divided the kids into groups so they could go to their station. My station was target hitting. We practiced on the Cornatzer baseball field. I didn't get any pictures of this practice because this field doesn't have lights, so it was pretty dark. The kids seemed to really enjoy hitting off the tee, running to bases, and throwing. Lots of the kids have started to improve already and are showing their strengths and weaknesses. As their strengths and weaknesses show we can start thinking about where to place them on the field.
Week Three:
Welcome to week three! Our lineup for Saturday was partner throwing, catching ground balls, hitting off the tee, and practicing positions on the field. This week we wanted the kids to get a feel for what it is like to be on the field during a game so that is what we spent most of our time on. We started by stretching. We did jumping jacks, arm stretches, and leg stretches. After we stretched we partnered up the kids and they began to throw back and forth. They did pretty good and by the end of that station we could tell they had gotten a lot more comfortable with throwing back and forth to each other. Then we had them get into three lines and we rolled ground balls to them. After that we had a few of the kids line up to hit and put the rest of them at positions on the field. We switched out who was on the field and who was hitting so that everyone got a turn. They all did really well! One thing we need to work on with them is being focused and paying attention. When they are on the field they get bored and start playing or just sitting down. Overall a really good practice!
Week Four:
Welcome to week four! Practices this week are on Tuesday and Saturday. Our practice on Tuesday got canceled. Due to rain the night before all of the fields were too wet to practice on. Our practice also got canceled for Saturday because of rain but we were still able to go pick up our team shirts.
Week Five:
Hey guys, welcome to week five! we have practice Wednesday and Saturday this week. We're hoping we will be able to practice this Wednesday even though there is a chance of rain. For our stations on Wednesday we plan on hitting off the tee, partner throwing, and a practice game. Our first game is coming up on the twenty-eighth, so we really want to make sure the kids understand what they are doing on the field especially since there have been so many canceled practices.
Week Six:
Welcome to week six! We had our first game yesterday and it went really well! The kids all did great batting and in the outfield. We were concerned for this game just because so many practices have been canceled and we didn't know if the kids would be ready. They did great and we can't wait for the game on Thursday! One thing we need to work on and talk about next practice is staying focused while in the outfield. A lot of the kids get bored when standing in the out field because not a lot goes on. I'm trying to think of ways to keep them focused in the outfield so that's definitely something I will be researching this week.
Week Seven:
Welcome to week seven! We just got back from spring break and had the week off from tee ball as well, so we're very excited to be back this week! While on our spring break we made name signs to go above everyone's bat bag so that if they are looking for their stuff or if were not sure who's stuff is who's we can find it easily. We have practice on ... this week but no games until next Tuesday the 18th.
Week Eight:
Welcome to week eight! We've had two games this week and they went great! Before the game we warmed up by stretching, fielding ground balls, and partner throwing. When the game started we were up to bat first and almost everyone hit the ball and ran straight to first base! I found that when the kids are in the field drawing a line or a circle for them to stay in or behind has been keeping them in the area of the position they are playing . The name signs have also been a huge help when trying to help the kids get their stuff and so they know who's stuff is whose. Next practice we plan to work on hitting, running to the correct bases, and when to run because those are areas that could use improvement.
Week Ten:
Welcome to week ten! We only two weeks of genius hour left and two more tee ball game until the season is over! We had a game on Saturday and Tuesday. We started off both games with stretching, fielding ground balls, and partner throwing. All of the kids love to hit but still struggle with staying focused in the field, which is expected. Drawing circles in the dirt and keeping one hand behind their backs has helped.
Week Eleven:
Welcome to week eleven! Only one more tee ball game left! We had a little bit more extra time before the game than normal today because the field got double booked. So we took the extra time to warm up. We started off with some stretching, then went to partner throwing, and then fielded ground balls. Once the game started we were up to bat first. Almost everyone hit the ball without the tee in the first inning! Then it was our turn to be in the field. The kids have done much better about staying focused while the other team is batting. Maybe getting to games a little bit earlier should be something we continue to do because I think that had an affect on their performance today. Overall a great game and sad to see the season is coming to an end soon!
Week Twelve:
Welcome to week twelve of genius hour! It is also our last game this week! This game was a little different than the others 1. it was raining 2. the other team only had four players come. We debated canceling the game but we decided to play since our whole team was already there. We warmed up and then got ready to go in the outfield. To make up for missing players the other team ran through their batting lineup twice. The kids did a great job staying focused in this game as well. I'm very proud of all their progress and amazed at how much they have improved in such little time. We ended the game with cookies and we plan to give out trophies next weekend. We had such a great season and I'm glad I have my website to look back on it.