I know this is a high school site, but I've seen other questions about little league, so here goes.

I'm coaching a 7-8 year old, coach pitch team. I can keep everyone busy by splitting them up into groups for drills. However, at some point we actually have to play baseball and that is where things get interesting. The biggest problem I have is kids turning the baseball field into a sandbox. It's not just one kid, lots of kids are playing in the dirt.

So, any ideas for keeping kids engaged while we hold a scrimmage or a game?

The only thing I have seen that works these days is flat out bribery. Since we can't yell at them, send them for a run, or whack the ol' behind we have to placate them with potential rewards so that they pay attention. I saw a coach last year of a 7-8 team have a contest where he would challenge the players to keep count of the pitches thrown while they were in the field. Each kid had to report the number at the end of the inning. The kid or kids who got the closest number right at the end of the game got a power band (one of those NIKE things).

That's very strange.

Usually one or two 5 year olds will do this on a TBall team, but 7 years old is way too old for that.

They are bored. You need to figure out a way to break the boredom. Reminds me of a preacher giving a long drawn out boring sermon. The preacher noticed one of the church members fast asleep in the pews. He called a deacon to the pulpit and asked him wake the man. The deacon replied: "You put him to sleep, You wake him up."

When coaching kids this age you have to make it fun and exciting. You have to make up games and ways to challenge them. Kids at this age get bored with practice and games. You have to have a lot of energy to coach these ages. You have to make up ways to keep them excited so they will have fun and not want to play in the dirt. GOOD LUCK!