GALLERY+VIDEO: T-ball is alive and well in Worthington diamonds
Jul. 14—WORTHINGTON — With the final T-ball game next Wednesday, here is a detailed look for what T-ball really provides for young children — it is much more than a physical sport for children to play.
Molly Scheidt, who is married to one of the coaches, Jay Scheidt, believes T-ball is a great summer activity for her children.
"During the summer we try to keep them active and the YMCA has multiple opportunities for their age level. It also gives my husband an opportunity to coach them as well," Molly said.
They currently have two kids in T-ball on the same team that their father coaches. Having a father coaching has made it easier for their children, Savvy and Teddy, to join T-ball.
"My husband has volunteered his time ever since our kids could start (T-ball). It just gives him a way to coach his own children. That's something that he's dreamed about doing. It gives them (the children) the chance to be with him too," Molly added.
Molly also described how great of an opportunity T-ball is for children to progress with their social skills.
"Getting to know other kids and socialize with them" is one of the skills Molly hopes her kids will learn. T-ball can be a great opportunity to socialize and make friends at a young age.
"They get the chance to do that (socialize) in their own school district, but this allows them to see other kids and make friends with others that they normally wouldn't be able to during the school year," Molly added.
Jay Scheidt, who has coached T-ball for the past three years, didn't originally plan on coaching.
"It's been fun. I had no intentions of coaching. I actually just showed up at the first practice and they needed some people with some knowledge of the game," he said.
He has remained a coach for the youth in T-ball ever since.
"Every night I want the kids to have fun and I want them to hustle as well and work hard," Jay said, listing his main goals for the children he coaches.
"T-ball, baseball and softball can be a boring game if you don't know about it and make it fun. I want these kids to make sure that they are coming to the ball diamond and having fun, so they don't leave the game at an early stage in life," Jay added.
Jay has a unique way of coaching his team while they are in the outfield. After each batter, he switches from boys to girls.
For example, when the first batter is up, he lines up the boys and lets them field the ball. On the next batter he lines up the girls and allows them to field the ball. Therefore, everyone gets an equal chance to field the ball.
"I've noticed in the first couple years, that the boys are always really hustling to the ball and are getting the majority of them. I want the girls to also have their fair shake. We've actually found a lot of success separating the boys and the girls and making sure that the girls can make some plays too," Jay added, as his way of coaching provides everyone with a chance to enjoy the sport of T-ball.
Jay explained the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing the development his players have achieved over the summer.
"That's what I take pride in — is that we made some progress during the year," he added.
Tyler Olson, also coaching this summer, has coached T-ball for two years, and has included his own children in T-ball as well.
Skills that Olson hopes to teach are teamwork, having fun and staying active.
Olson wanted to coach T-ball because, as a dad and someone who participated in sports, he knows how important it is for someone to take their time to teach young children and lead for them.
Olson's favorite thing about coaching is getting to know the kids.
"At the start of the season they start off kinda shy, then they start to warm up to you. You get to know them and see them progress," Olson added.
This summer, there are a total of three T-ball teams. Two play against each other every week, while the other team gets a bye week. The T-ball teams have kids from ages three to four years old.
T-ball has one practice a week on Mondays and games on Wednesdays, at the softball fields near Centennial Park.
Kustom Threadz, a local business, has provided jerseys for all the teams.
