One of the stories McIntosh teaches during camps is called the traffic-light game, which can be easily played in a backyard setting. Parents have three different color cards — green, yellow and red — and the children are taught to move around with their “car,” which is actually the soccer ball. Parents hold up one card at a time to signify “go, slow down or stop,” with the child kicking the ball to follow the traffic signals. 

Another simple drill is for parents to stand across from their child with their legs spread apart and have the child kick the ball between their legs and then crawl through. Or gather some empty cans and set them up around the yard and let your child kick the ball to try and knock them down. Encouraging kids to use the inside and outside of their feet, as opposed to the top of their feet, is also a good skill to incorporate, says Mark Murphy, director of youth programs at RISE Soccer.  

“Upsies and downsies” is an exercise that Damian Sancilio, partner and director of tennis at Courtside West, uses with his youngest pupils. By hitting the ball up and down on a racket, or down against pavement, his young charges are taught the basics of handling a ball and racket. 

Since 4- and 5-year-olds are an especially active bunch, have them channel some of that energy into jumping or shuffling back and forth, Sancilio says. Being bouncy and nimble are great skills that will come in handy when kids are ready to hit the court. 

Parents can create targets in the backyard to let their child practice hitting the ball in a specific direction. Targets such as tin cans or buckets are great because they make noise when the ball makes contact, and kids begin to associate the swing with the hit. 

Alternating between backward and forward swings works best for little ones, Phillips adds. Meredith Roberts, youth-program coordinator and teaching professional at First Tee Richmond, uses a game called “zoo golf” to help teach her youngest students the basics. To hit like an elephant, kids swing the club with one arm. To hit like a bat (the kind in caves), they swing with their eyes closed, and to hit like a flamingo, kids stand on one leg and swing. 

He says that young kids have a tendency to keep the glove closed until the ball is near. Instead, he helps them keep it open until the ball has made contact, when they can close it with the off hand. “Don’t blind or twist the glove,” Horn reminds.

Kevin Light, an instructor at the Richmond Baseball Academy East who was drafted by the Washington Nationals last March, says that the key to a fun experience and avoiding injury is learning the right mechanics at a young age. “Just get out and throw and get used to the game,” he says.

For parents, Light warns them to not rush their kids. Horn adds, “The biggest downfall to kids losing interest in baseball is dads pushing their kids and not having patience. Have patience, build confidence, and the child will develop.” 

First, Dickerson recommends getting the child used to dynamic stretches, such as walking lunges. After getting loose and limber, dribbling and passing should be the focus of initial drills — not shooting, as small children are bound to develop incorrect shooting habits due to their lack of strength. 

Dickerson suggests simply dribbling in place with one hand at a time and then crossing over (right to left and left to right in front of the body). Next, walk and then run while dribbling. The parent can add some competition to the mix by shadowing the child as a defender or by challenging them to see who can complete the most dribbles in a row.

Two-handed bounces and chest passes back and forth from parent to child can also be executed while stationary or in motion.

Dickerson’s No. 1 tip, however, is to have fun and not let the game get too complicated. “Kids today grow up too fast already,” he says. “Are they really the next Michael Jordan or Candace Parker? You really won’t know this until high school, so we got some time.”