T-Ball University Squash The Bug Drill www.tballu.com

This T-Ball University Mini Drill (www.tballu.com) is designed to train coaches and parents how to instruct children on how to "Squash-the-Bug" or proper foot, leg and hip movement for batting. This drill is a sample of the many drills available at T-Ball University at www.tballu.com . By enrolling in T-Ball University, you can gain access to all of our video drills, downloadable drill sheets, practice plans and coaching forms and much more.

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Sports

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• Tee Ball
• Tee-Ball
• T-Ball University
• Coaching Children
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• coaching tee-ball
• squash-the-bug
• squash the bug
• batting drills
• coaching baseball
• coach tee ball
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• how to coach tee ball
• how to coach baseball
• beginner baseball
• beginner tee ball
• baseball drills

[TBALLUNIVERSITY]

One recent post was deleted because of profanity, but the poster questioned the lack of stride. They indicated that all high school age players do take strides. This is true, there is an age when a stride is added to the swing, however at the t-ball age, we are more focused on developing the hand eye coordination and a level swing. The steps disorientates beginning players and reduces the odds of hitting the ball correctly. Therefore we highly advice "no step' during a swing at this age.

[jbauer22275]

This kid looks like he should be playing pony league or babe ruth. I think this is a good drill but don't expect your 4 to 6 year old to get this right away or pay attention like you see in this video.

[TBALLUNIVERSITY]

Yes some of our T ball U alumni appear in our videos and we do disclaim this in our program. It helps illustrate the correct form for the drills. The reality is that it will take some time for your younger players to create the "muscle memory" to do these things correctly. However, we have learned that the earlier you start them, learning correct fundamentals, the better players they will become...and the less time you and other coaches will waste, fixing mistakes. Have a great season!

[cpacol1]

try explaining 60% to a 6 year old.. might take longer than learning to hit

[WiFiToaster]

I point my friends to this video whenever I say I majored in T-Ball in University. For some reason they never believe me.

[Vinselator]

man...I was a beast at T-Ball...coulda went pro

[spankytdx]

taught my 4 ypo how to open up his hips...good stuff

[spankytdx]

my 4 yo son and I watched the video together and although he doesn't comprehend all of it, his hitting has improved. Squashing the bug teaches the child to open up their hips. Also, he has fun saying "Squash the bug" good stuff!

[Rotneybot]

At school, I was at P.E., And I was wearing my Ichiro Shirt, and I got 2 homeruns in T-Ball. I got 3 homeruns total. Tomorrow, I'll try to get 1 or 2 more homeruns.

[themetsfan861]

@TBALLUNIVERSITY- You reprimanded the kid for doing it the correct way (coming up on the toe.)

[patsoxwon]

Hitters should be taught that squashing the bug is the result of proper hip rotation. Try to rotate your hips without squashing the bug. Impossible. But it's very possible to squash the bug without rotating your hips. That's why kids end up with a swing that uses a lot of leg and no hips. The result is late swings, no pop. I show kids my belt buckle and take a swing, demonstrating that my belt buckle ends up facing the pitcher. If they forget, I remind them with a simple verbal cue: belt buckle.

[jeterlover03]

@crankermo yes...."squashing the bug" is very outdated...we do not teach that to our kids anymore. It either creates "spinners": kids that keep their weight back instead of attacking the ball....Coach Candrea has a great batting video that discusses weight distribution. A lot of coaches confuse kids pulling their heads out of the contact zone with the weight moving forward when in fact it's that the head should stop moving once the rotational part of hitting begins...

[marinecorpscop]

@noo41 You have got to be kidding me. Keep your kids out of sports. For all of our sakes. He/she might accidentally kill an ant while sliding into home. How horrible THAT would be. We would have to suspend play while we give the poor ant a funeral.....at our expense no doubt. Then we would have to close the field while a study is done on the habitat of the domestic ant and learn that baseball is encroaching on their natural habitat.  We may have to close all fields for good.