Tee-ball
Tee-ball (also teeball, tee ball or T-ball) is a
Description
Tee-ball associations generally allow children between the ages of four and seven to play in their leagues.
Many parents assist during the game by coaching players in the dugout, in the field, on the bases, and at the plate. They often also perform the task of umpiring.
Equipment specifications
Bats: 25 to 26 inches long, 2.25 inches diameter, maximum weight 17 to 20 oz.[2]
Balls: typically appear identical to baseballs, but slightly softer to reduce injuries: 9 to 9.5 inches around, 4 to 5 oz weight, with a molded core or sponge rubber center.[2]
Footwear: Athletic footwear such as
Gloves: 12 inches long maximum.[2]
Tee: Height-adjustible, flexible tube, with a movable base.[2]
History
The game's origins date back to at least the 1950s, with several people claiming to be the father of the game, and it appears to have been independently invented in several places. Albion, Michigan claims to be the earliest place of invention of the sport, in 1956, by Jerome Sacharski.[3] Claude Lewis, director of the Warner Robins, Georgia, Recreation Department, formed a tee-ball league in March 1958, in which 20 children played the first year. Lewis designed rules for the new game and mailed the rule books out to recreation departments all over the country and overseas. Nevertheless, the city of Starkville, Mississippi, claims to have independently created tee-ball in 1961. According to the Starkville Rotary Club's website: "In 1961, when it was apparent that younger children needed some way to participate in the program, Rotarians Clyde Muse and W. W. Littlejohn devised the game of "t-ball" and added it to the summer baseball program."[4]
A "Tee Ball" trademark was filed in April of 1971 and subsequently registered in February of 1973 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Robert Dayton Hobbs (1924–2006), the pastor of a fundamentalist Christian church he founded in Milton, Florida, and also the organizer in the late 1950s of the first organized youth baseball program in Santa Rosa County, Florida.[5] Hobbs's "Tee Ball" trademark was still asserted by Gospel Projects, Inc., of Milton, Florida, at least as of 2009[update] (last year of publication of their "Tee Ball Baseball Organization Rules").[6]
Hobbs credited the United States Navy with spreading the game overseas.[citation needed]
It is estimated that 2.2 million children play tee-ball.[7]
In the "White House Tee Ball Initiative", U.S. president George W. Bush hosted tee-ball games on the South Lawn of the White House.[8]
United States
T-Ball USA Association
A non-profit
In Australia
Tee-ball is a popular sport for Australian primary school children. An estimated 60% of Australian primary schools include Tee-ball in their sports programs and 17,000 children play in organised competitions.[12] 2017 research found 10.6% of 6–13 year-olds regularly play tee-ball, making it the 14th most popular children's sport in Australia.[13] This does not appear to translate into increased participation in baseball and softball which are not popular sports for teenagers older than 14.[citation needed]
See also
- Baseball5, a similar game where batters hit with their hand.
References
- ^ a b Joseph. "Different Coaching for Different Ages". Ultimate Youth Baseball. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ ISBN 9780071425391. Retrieved 1 August 2015.
- ^ "T-Ball Invented in Albion", Frank Passic, Morning Star, April 28, 2002, pg. 5
- ^ "A Look at the Starkville Rotary Club Through the Years". Starkville Rotary Club.
- ^ Hobbs, a 1959 graduate of Bob Jones University, founded Santa Rosa [County, Florida] Christian Schools in 1962, and instrumental in forming the Christian Educators' Association. "All Things for Jesus: The Ministry of Dayton Hobbs". Voice of the Alumni. 82 (4). Greenville, South Carolina, US: Bob Jones University: 14–16. 2009.
- ^ "Tee Ball Baseball Organization Rules". Milton, Florida: Gospel Projects, Inc. 2001. Archived from the original on October 25, 2009.
- ^ Office of the Press Secretary (June 26, 2005). "White House South Lawn Tee Ball". The White House. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
- ^ "Tee Ball on the South Lawn: A Salute to the Troops Game".
- ^ a b c d e "Welcome - T-BALL Home". TeeBallUSA.org. Op. cit. 2014.
- ^ "Rules". TeeBallUSA.org. West Palm Beach, Florida, US: T-Ball USA Association. 2014.
- ^ "Field of Play". TeeBallUSA.org. Op. cit. 2014.
- ^ "Junior Baseball". Australian Baseball League.
- ^ "Top 20 sports led by walking, swimming and gym training". Roy Morgan. 13 May 2018.