No.85
Tee-Ball: An Introduction
Japanese name: ティーボール入門
You can scroll an enlarged diagram from side to side. Press again to return to its original size.
Diagram key
- A
- Home base
- B
- Keep the running route separate from the waiting area.
- C
- Return the ball to the adult at home base.
- D
- Put the bat down before running.
Materials
- A soft tee-ball ball
- A lightweight, safe bat
- A batting tee
- Four flat bases including home
How to play
- Split into batting and fielding teams. Arrange home, first, second and third base in a diamond. Separate the bat-swing area from waiting players; an adult checks safety.
- Hit the stationary ball from the tee, put the bat in its designated place, then run around the bases in order.
- Fielders retrieve the ball and return it to the adult at home. The runner advances until that adult replaces it on the tee and calls “Stop!”
- Score by the furthest base reached: first 1, second 2, third 3, home 4, with a maximum of 4 points for one circuit. Do not run a second circuit. Return to wait; never throw at runners. The next batter waits until the runner returns.
- After everyone bats once, swap roles. Give equal batting opportunities, compare total scores and tidy together.
Ways to adapt
Preschool children: one-to-one adult help and a short scoring run. Younger primary school children: an adult manages home and bases are closer. Older primary school children: widen base spacing to suit running ability.