You can work on sportsmanship and work ethic. Practicing catching, throwing, and hitting will improve skills to a point, but at some instance, natural ability will be the main factor that will move a youngster to the next level. (if that is your goal) Two of my buddies are ex coaches, (one in the Florida High School coaches hall of fame), ex college and pro players and coaches as well. They are retired and fathers contact them all the time about hitting lessons and pointers for their sons. The first question both of them ask is; Can your son hit? If the answer is no, then the reply back is; Sorry, I dont think I can help your son a whole lot. Baseball is an individual sport within a team setting and you have to have some natural talent to excel. You cannot teach a kid to throw a 90 plus MPH fastball or hit a baseball 400 feet.

You can work on sportsmanship and work ethic. Practicing catching, throwing, and hitting will improve skills to a point, but at some instance, natural ability will be the main factor that will move a youngster to the next level. (if that is your goal) Two of my buddies are ex coaches, (one in the Florida High School coaches hall of fame), ex college and pro players and coaches as well. They are retired and fathers contact them all the time about hitting lessons and pointers for their sons. The first question both of them ask is; Can your son hit? If the answer is no, then the reply back is; Sorry, I dont think I can help your son a whole lot. Baseball is an individual sport within a team setting and you have to have some natural talent to excel. You cannot teach a kid to throw a 90 plus MPH fastball or hit a baseball 400 feet.

And very few will hit one 400' on raw talent. You can take an average kid and make them pretty good with good, consistent coaching. My girl is not the best athlete on the field but has developed into a pretty good pitcher. Coming up through the city program there were 3 pitchers in her age group. Everyone was really high on the other two who are better athletes. She will now pitch circles around the other two, but has had lots of very good coaching. And lots of work at home.

Right now just learn to throw and catch. Make it fun, not a job. NEVER get in the car after practice or game and tell them how they screwed up.

You cannot teach a kid to throw a 90 plus MPH fastball or hit a baseball 400 feet.

I disagree with this as mechanics are and can be taught. There are some kids that are naturals but most are taught.

Hope you read this before the many of the previous posts frustrate you to the point you quit. If you want more details send me a PM and I will respond in a few days.
THROWING
1.Focus on proper arm slot and a good snap release for basic throwing along with proper grip so that the ball doesn't rise, fall or move too much with the throw.
CATCHING
2.Emphasize catching the ball in front of and not behind or beside you along with the correct positioning of the glove. This goes for catching a fly ball or grounder. On a grounder get low and glove out front. A good smoothe transfer from the glove to hand throw.
HITTING
3.Focus on keeping a short swing and keeping the hands inside the ball when swinging. Keeping the head still with no movement(Hit with the eyes not the head....) DONT CAST YOUR HANDS OUT with the swing is another way to think about it... this is biggest flaw in a youngsters swing. USE LOTS of tee work and short toss work so he continuously sees the ball in strike zone and learns to hit what is thrown correctly. Set the ball up on the tee...inside(front corner closest to pitcher on inside of plate), middle(middle of plate)and on the outside(back corner farthest from pitcher on outside of plate and teach him to hit to all the field. Inside to LF. Middle. Outside to to RF. NO POPUPS or grounders. Line drives. His head should finish the swing in the same position it starts from.
At 8 I would remember that he might decide he wants to be an ant farmer next summer and quit baseball and in your case realize that he may never be a mature ball player. Keep it fun and simple and allow him room to both succeed and fail. Get more detailed and he improves. Don't leave the basics until he can do them consistly. Good luck and have a blast with him....There isn't much this side of heaven that matches spending time on a baseball field with your son. Be patient.