4 Year Olds & T-Ball

One of the most enjoyable ways to spend an hour or so on a summer's evening is to watch a group of 4 year olds learning to play t-ball.  

Last night we watched a very sad and reluctant Nolan learning the game and it wasn't too promising at first.  I'm sure his reluctance was because he didn't quite understand what he was supposed to do so he spent a lot of time drifting away from his team and clinging to his mother.  She wisely would send him back out on the field, trying to be oblivious to his tears.  I give him a lot of credit for actually returning to the field time and time again.

The diamond was filled with volunteer fathers that deserve a lot of credit for their valiant efforts in forming a wayward pile of 4 year old kids, some crying and many wandering, into a group that might become a team.  Matt and Steve (not fathers yet) showed patience that amazed me.

Forced by parental pressure to stay on the field despite his intense reluctance, Nolan decided to show his defiance by standing like a statue.  No problem..he was on the field.  Then he got into the large group of little kids who were bunched together waiting to catch the ball the other team hit off the t-ball stand.  At least he was now participating a little bit.  Then it was his turn at bat and a whole new Nolan appeared...we weren't sure who he was anymore.  He hit the ball and ran the bases.  He smiled.  From then on he was happy to be with his team, none of whom knew any more than he did.  And that was the beginning of him learning t-ball.  All worth the effort of parents and coaches.

A coach said it was like herding cats and that's exactly what it looked like.  Kids wandering and being urged back in; kids crying because they were overwhelmed and being hugged by one of the coaches; kids jumping on top of each other to catch the ball...and Nolan being accidentally run over by another player and receiving the first injury of the game, a scraped knee that was bandaged by his mother before sending her crying and injured son back onto the field.  She did the right thing.

T-ball is a right of passage for children.  It's their first real foray into the realm of sportsmanship.  It's where they learn what it means to belong to and support a team.  This little group of 4 year old children learned something important last night and it's all thanks to the coaches who volunteered their time and efforts.