- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
- The throwing line
- A wall or fence target (a hoop or a chalk box)
- The home spot
- First base (a cone or flat shoe)
A home spot, a cone for first base 8 m away; a stop line a few steps beyond it.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Stand at the home spot as if you have just hit, and drop the bat to the side.
- Sprint straight at first base.
- Touch the base with your foot without slowing down, and keep running to the stop line.
- Slow down only after the stop line, then walk back.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Jog round all the bases, calling each base's name.
- Hit or tap the ball off the tee.
- Drop the bat and run hard at once.
- Run through first base, touching it with the foot.
- Slow down only after the stop line.
How much: 5 runs, 3 rounds
Run past the bag
Beat the throw
The rules
The batter hits and runs at once while a fielder fetches the ball and throws to a player at first; the runner is safe if they arrive first.
- The batter hits off the tee, drops the bat and runs
- The fielder fetches the ball and throws to the first-base player
- The first-base player catches with one foot touching the base
- If the runner touches first before the catch, they are safe; if not, they are out
Fair play: A grown-up fielder rolls the ball to first instead of throwing it.
- Points
- The batter scores 1 point for each time safe at first. The fielder and first-base player each score 1 point for each out.
- Fouls
- the batter is out if they throw the bat, miss the base, or stop on the base or dive; a fielder who throws the ball at the runner gives the runner a point
- Win
- The most points after everyone has batted 6 times.
- 2
- 3
- 5
5 runs in a row through the base without slowing.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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