Side note though.... how do I get my kid to pay attention out on the field without sounding like a raving lunatic yelling at him to stop dancing, playing with the dirt, screaming, etc. My wife and I are embarrassed... but the kid is a ball of energy and don't know how to get him to focus...
The coach actually moved him from the pitchers position to an outfield spot in the middle of an inning because he wasn't paying attention and some of the kids are really starting to hit the ball hard and feared he'd get a concussion... another inning, the coach actually stood next to him throughout the inning as he was dancing... I have no clue what to do other than embarrass him and publicly make him leave in the middle of the game... I'm at a loss..
I know when I was a kid and was in the outfield, I picked dandelions or looked at the clouds, but it was mostly in tball and it was only in the outfield, never when I caught...
My oldest Son did the same thing on the T-Ball field. The game is a bit slow for kids that age, who all have short attention spans. My son not only did the very same things yours is doing in T-Ball, he did the same playing AYSO Soccer too. I did not allow him to play soccer a 2nd year, and he didn't want to either. I didn't want to see him watching everything but the ball, which was what he would do. The soccer or baseball would roll right by him, and he wouldn't notice.
One method I used to get him to practice, practice and practice, the fundamentals of fielding, was to get him to throw a tennis ball against our brick wall, (better than a pitch back), and field those hot grounders, and some line drive type balls, (if thrown higher against the wall).
Recalling in my own youth, constantly throwing a ball against a wall or pitch back to practice til I could field or hit in my sleep.
If you have a brick wall, put some tape on it creating a small square for a strike zone, and see how your boy enjoys that, (again use a tennis ball, so as not destroy a ton of hard balls). I know my Son could not get enough, of this routine game, much like I did as a kid.
Little League is often about drilling oneself to execute and constantly practice the fundamentals of baseball. Yet it has to be fun to the kid, and if not, they won't drive themselves. That is the key, a kid has to want to get as much from baseball as humanly possible, til they are practicing in their sleep,and utterly can not get enough of baseball. I used to fall asleep with my mitt on. As much, when it was raining, I would line up my baseball cards, and throw a sock balled up, against a wall with a small box taped off to create a strike zone, (the sock was quiet enough to not bother my parents, and could not break anything); thus simulating a pitching effort, and strenghtening the arm. Keep caution tho' to ensure your Son's arm does not get sore, if so, stop and rest for a week or 2 or 3.
My two cents, for what its worth.
3 components of Little League, should be taught first and foremost-
1-Fundamentals No child should be faulted for improperly fielding a ball, especially as most kids are NOT taught the proper fundamentals of fielding, hitting, stealing, sliding, catching, pitching, so one......
2-Self Discipline (to execute the Fundamentals in one's sleep, repetively til the cows come home).
3-Teamwork (a kid has to learn to sacrifice oneself for the sake of bunting over a team mate into scoring position, or a sacrifice fly). Teamwork builds true character, and builds a team who all are for one and one for all.
