The West Central Area Schools Summer Rec ball Programs are geared to help develop each player at their level to help them grow as a player and as a teammate. Our ball programs will be played with the philosophy of equal effort and equal playing time. To play in a game, the ball player is expected to be at practices, have a good attitude, work hard and be accountable for his/her behavior.
Coached by area high school and college athletes under the guidance of school coaches, each ball player is sure to walk away each year with new skills and a great experience.
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Ball Programs Available
Preschool T-Ball
Girls and Boys 4 to 5 years old (June Only)
Players play two-days a week on Mondays & Wednesdays
9:00 - 10:00 am
Learning the basic rules—the right direction to run when the ball is hit; runners must touch the bases; how to record outs (catch the ball in the air, throw to first, or tag the runners); running past first base; scoring a run; three outs constitute an inning.
Warm-Up - In the sport of baseball, warm up and fundamentals are extremely important at every level. With arm health as the main focus, coaches at every level will focus on the proper warm-up techniques to keep your athlete ready for each practice. Athletes need to "warm up to throw" not "throw to warm up".
Throwing mechanics—turn the body so that the front shoulder points toward the target; keep the elbow above the shoulder; step toward the target with the non throwing foot and release the ball.
Tracking—follow the ball with the eyes into the glove, whether on the ground or in the air (use softer balls); use two hands to catch and field; try to catch the ball out in front of the body.
Hitting—how to hold and swing the bat; batting safety (when not to swing bats, wearing batting helmets); hitting off a tee; hitting softly tossed pitches.
Learning positional play—if the ball is hit to your buddy, let him or her field it.
T-Ball
Girls and Boys Grades K through 1st
Players play four-days a week Monday - Thursday
9:00 - 10:00 am
Learning the basic rules—force outs; tagging up; baserunning (when you don’t have to run; not running into or past teammates on the basepaths); balls and strikes.
Warm-Up - In the sport of baseball, warm up and fundamentals are extremely important at every level. With arm health as the main focus, coaches at every level will focus on the proper warm-up techniques to keep your athlete ready for each practice. Athletes need to "warm up to throw" not "throw to warm up".
Throwing mechanics—introduce the four-seam grip; point the front shoulder, step, and throw; introduce the concept of generating momentum toward the target and following the throw.
Catching and fielding—thrown and hit balls; fingers up versus fingers down; see the glove and the ball; use two hands; forehands and backhands; introduce the underhand flip; first-base fundamentals; crossover and drop steps.
Hitting—choosing the right bat; proper grip; hitting off a tee; hitting softly tossed pitches.; introduce drill work (tee, soft toss, short toss).
Learning positional play—learn the positions and the areas each player should cover; cover the nearest base when the ball is not hit to you; basics of cutoffs and relays.
Boys Toss Ball
Boys Grades 2nd through 3rd
Players play four-days a week Monday - Thursday from
9:00-10:45 am (Travel for games)
Learning the basic rules—force outs; tagging up; baserunning (when you don’t have to run; not running into or past teammates on the basepaths); balls and strikes.
Warm-Up - In the sport of baseball, warm up and fundamentals are extremely important at every level. With arm health as the main focus, coaches at every level will focus on the proper warm-up techniques to keep your athlete ready for each practice. Athletes need to "warm up to throw" not "throw to warm up".
Throwing mechanics—introduce the four-seam grip; point the front shoulder, step, and throw; introduce the concept of generating momentum toward the target and following the throw.
Catching and fielding—thrown and hit balls; fingers up versus fingers down; see the glove and the ball; use two hands; forehands and backhands; introduce the underhand flip; first-base fundamentals; crossover and drop steps.
Hitting—choosing the right bat; proper grip; hitting pitched balls; introduce drill work (tee, soft toss, short toss).
Learning positional play—learn the positions and the areas each player should cover; cover the nearest base when the ball is not hit to you; basics of cutoffs and relays.
Girls Toss Ball
Girls Grades 2nd through 4th
Players play four-days a week Monday - Thursday from
9:00-10:45 am (Travel for games)
Learning the basic rules—force outs; tagging up; baserunning (when you don’t have to run; not running into or past teammates on the basepaths); balls and strikes.
Warm-Up - In the sport of baseball, warm up and fundamentals are extremely important at every level. With arm health as the main focus, coaches at every level will focus on the proper warm-up techniques to keep your athlete ready for each practice. Athletes need to "warm up to throw" not "throw to warm up".
Throwing mechanics—introduce the four-seam grip; point the front shoulder, step, and throw; introduce the concept of generating momentum toward the target and following the throw.
Catching and fielding—thrown and hit balls; fingers up versus fingers down; see the glove and the ball; use two hands; forehands and backhands; introduce the underhand flip; first-base fundamentals; crossover and drop steps.
Hitting—choosing the right bat; proper grip; hitting pitched balls; introduce drill work (tee, soft toss, short toss).
Learning positional play—learn the positions and the areas each player should cover; cover the nearest base when the ball is not hit to you; basics of cutoffs and relays.
Dwarfs Baseball
Boys Grades 4th through 5th
Players play four-days a week Monday - Thursday
9:10-10:40 am (Travel for games)
Learning the basic rules—infield fly rule; balks.
Warm-Up - In the sport of baseball, warm up and fundamentals are extremely important at every level. With arm health as the main focus, coaches at every level will focus on the proper warm-up techniques to keep your athlete ready for each practice. Athletes need to "warm up to throw" not "throw to warm up".
Baserunning—leads; steals; extra-base hits.
Pitching and throwing mechanics—wind-up versus stretch; four-seam grip; shuffle, throw, follow; pitcher covering first.
Hitting—repetitions; drill work (tee, soft toss, short toss, stick¬ball, lob toss, one-arm drill); bunting.
Learning team fundamentals—cutoffs and relays; basic bunt defenses; basic first-and-third situations; underhand flip (box drill) and double plays; defending the steal; infield and outfield communication and priorities.
Pee Wee Baseball
Boys Grades 6th through 8th
Players play four-days a week Monday - Thursday
9:10-10:40 am (Travel for games)
Throwing mechanics and pitching—emphasis on generating momentum toward the target and following the throw (larger field); breaking balls; change-ups; pitching mechanics and using the body effectively (longer distance); pickoff mechanics; flat-work (drills); introduction to long toss.
Warm-Up - In the sport of baseball, warm up and fundamentals are extremely important at every level. With arm health as the main focus, coaches at every level will focus on the proper warm-up techniques to keep your athlete ready for each practice. Athletes need to "warm up to throw" not "throw to warm up".
Hitting—introduce situational hitting (inside-out swing; hitting behind runners; hit and run; productive outs); sacrifice bunting versus bunting for a hit; understanding the count.
Baserunning—first-and-third situations; steal breaks; delayed steals; reading situations and reacting to them.
Fielding—generating momentum back toward the target on throws when necessary; crossover and drop steps; backhands and when to use them; double-play depth; pitcher covering first; infield communication.
Learning team fundamentals—pickoff plays; full bunt defenses; full first-and-third defenses; pop-up and fly ball priorities; double plays and underhand flips.
Girls Fastpitch Softball
Girls Grades 5th-8th
Players play four-days a week Monday - Thursday
9:10-10:40 am (Travel for games)
Throwing mechanics and pitching—emphasis on generating momentum toward the target and following the throw (larger field); breaking balls; change-ups; pitching mechanics and using the body effectively (longer distance); pickoff mechanics; flat-work (drills); introduction to long toss.
Warm-Up - In the sport of baseball, warm up and fundamentals are extremely important at every level. With arm health as the main focus, coaches at every level will focus on the proper warm-up techniques to keep your athlete ready for each practice. Athletes need to "warm up to throw" not "throw to warm up".
Hitting—introduce situational hitting (inside-out swing; hitting behind runners; hit and run; productive outs); sacrifice bunting versus bunting for a hit; understanding the count.
Baserunning—first-and-third situations; steal breaks; delayed steals; reading situations and reacting to them.
Fielding—generating momentum back toward the target on throws when necessary; crossover and drop steps; backhands and when to use them; double-play depth; pitcher covering first; infield communication.
Learning team fundamentals—pickoff plays; full bunt defenses; full first-and-third defenses; pop-up and fly ball priorities; double plays and underhand flips.