Product Description

Coaching Youth Softball is written especially for the unprepared parent thrust into the role of coaching his or her 8- to 12-year-old child's softball team. Upbeat and inspirational, it schools new coaches in the fundamentals of controlling, motivating, and encouraging a disparate group of kids in the art and science of softball.

Parents learn the logistics of running a youth team and the specifics of coaching softball. They learn how to match drills to a player's skills and motivation level and gain a wealth of detailed instructions on such specifics as how to run a successful practice and manage during a game.

• Takes a drill-based approach to teaching basic skills
• Reviews softball fundamentals for inexperienced parents

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #432003 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

From the Back Cover
"Jacquie Joseph conveys her knowledge of the game with a great, hands-on approach to coaching kids. This book is essential reading for parents and coaches of young players."--Lacy Lee Baker, Executive Director, National Fastpitch Coaches Association

"Your goal is to provide a fun and rewarding softball experience for your players. This is an opportunity for you to make a difference in their lives."­­--Jacquie Joseph

Coach. You thought you were just going to sign up your child for the youth league. Now here you are, a newly appointed coach. You didn't ask for it, but it happened anyway. Now you need help.

Don't despair. This complete guidebook will not only get you through it but will help you become the coach you'd like to be­­--the coach who can give those kids the sports experience they deserve. You've already taken a big step: you said "yes" to this important commitment. Congratulations. You'll have a great time, and Jacquie Joseph is here to help.

• Survive your first practice and game
• Win over problem players--and parents
• Reach all your players
• Match your drills and strategies to age and ability
• Make it fun and rewarding
• Be the coach you never had
• Generate enthusiasm
• Improve your players and your team

Praise for other books in the Baffled Parent's series:

"This book is a great source of information for youth coaches and players."--­­John Cerutti, former major league pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays, on Coaching Youth Baseball

"An excellent guide to teaching kids about the game."--Larry Bird, basketball legend, on Coaching Youth Basketball

"Essential reading."--­­Jim Sheldon, Executive Director, National Soccer Association of America, on Coaching Youth Soccer

About the Author
Jacquie Joseph is head coach of the Michigan State University softball team. She has coached at the national level as an assistant to the gold medal U.S. team in the Pan American Games qualifier in 1997 and as head coach for the West Team in the U.S. National team trials.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Coaching Book for New Coaches
I am not a parent but nonetheless, this book is excellent! This book gets right down to the heart of coaching. It tells you step by step how to teach someone how to throw, catch, pitch, hit and play every position. It also tells you what type of girl would be good for positions of pitchers and catchers which is important since most girls at this age have no experience in many positions. The drills have diagrams and there is glossary in the back to help with the terminology. There are not that many good softball coaching books (believe me I've looked), so grab this one!

Excellent for beginner or experienced coach
This is an AMAZING book! Even if you have never coached, played, or even heard of softball, it helps you out. It breaks every aspect of the game down and puts it in simple terms so you can explain it to your team. It gives you practice advice and schedules as well as drills you can use for team members to improve, or establish, softball skills. It also gives you advice on how to become the best coach, dealing with gender issues and how to handle difficult parents. This book is a MUST for EVERY coach!

good book for beginning coaches
I have yet to coach a girls' softball team, but I am really interested in doing it. This book has some great advice on how to handle beginner players and their parents. The thing about this book that I found great was that it told you some characteristics to look for when selecting a pitcher, something that I would not have had a clue about doing. Highly recommended.