Coaching Pitchers - 3rd Edition [Paperback]

Joe McFarland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2002

Want to improve the mechanics of your pitching staff? Can your pitchers hold runners and field their position? Do you know the finer points of developing pitcher-catcher chemistry? Coaching Pitchers offers complete details on every aspect of the pitching position. This practical guide on pitching will be a valuable reference you'll turn to again and again.

Challenging technical instruction is communicated effectively through plain talk combined with clear illustrations. Practice drills and training aids provide supportive tools to get the job done. From mental attitude to managing a bullpen, Coaching Pitchers is packed with insights you need to help your pitchers shut down even the most formidable opponents.

Coaching Pitchers offers solid, proven advice from one of the college game's best pitching coaches. Currently the head baseball coach at James Madison University, Spanky McFarland has coached 55 players on their way to the big leagues (including Kevin Brown of the Los Angeles Dodgers). Now McFarland delivers in book form the same instruction that took these players to the top.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Coaching Pitchers" is a great learning tool for both pitchers and coaches, from Little League to college ball. If you pitch or coach pitchers, try the ideas of a truly dedicated pitching coach who has worked long and hard at his job and his love."
Kevin Brown
Los Angeles Dodgers
"""This book is an excellent example of why Spanky McFarland is one of the best coaches in the country. If you want to elevate your pitchers and pitching staff, this book is a must!"""
Rocky P. Manuel
Head baseball coach
Bellaire High School, Houston, Texas
"Spanky has worked to become one of the finest instructors in pitching fundamentals, mental preparation, and injury prevention as well as the other parts of pitching. This book will benefit any player or coach who wants to better himself on all phases of pitching."""
Smoke Laval
Head baseball coach
Louisiana State University
"""Spanky is one of the most knowledgeable pitching coaches in baseball. You can get all the ins and outs of how to become a better pitcher in his new book. Learn how to win from one of the best."""
Jim Morris
Head baseball coach
University of Miami
From Collegiate Baseball
"""One of the classic books ever written on the subject of pitching is" Coaching Pitchers "by Joe Spanky McFarland. Considered one of the gurus of pitching, McFarland's book is a timeless treasure for pitchers and pitching coaches which was first copyrighted in 1985."
From Scholastic Coach & Athletic Director
"""Spanky covers the entire waterfront graphically and knowingly
"

Review

"

”Coaching Pitchers is a great learning tool for both pitchers and coaches, from Little League to college ball. If you pitch or coach pitchers, try the ideas of a truly dedicated pitching coach who has worked long and hard at his job and his love.”

Kevin Brown
Los Angeles Dodgers

""This book is an excellent example of why Spanky McFarland is one of the best coaches in the country. If you want to elevate your pitchers and pitching staff, this book is a must!""

Rocky P. Manuel
Head baseball coach
Bellaire High School, Houston, Texas

”Spanky has worked to become one of the finest instructors in pitching fundamentals, mental preparation, and injury prevention as well as the other parts of pitching. This book will benefit any player or coach who wants to better himself on all phases of pitching.""

Smoke Laval
Head baseball coach
Louisiana State University

""Spanky is one of the most knowledgeable pitching coaches in baseball. You can get all the ins and outs of how to become a better pitcher in his new book. Learn how to win from one of the best.""

Jim Morris
Head baseball coach
University of Miami

From Collegiate Baseball
""One of the classic books ever written on the subject of pitching is Coaching Pitchers by Joe “Spanky” McFarland. Considered one of the gurus of pitching, McFarland's book is a timeless treasure for pitchers and pitching coaches which was first copyrighted in 1985.

From Scholastic Coach & Athletic Director
""Spanky covers the entire waterfront graphically and knowingly...

"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics; 3 edition (December 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736045090
• ISBN-13: 978-0736045094
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,391 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #80 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Baseball

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most ingenious book ever devised for coaches/pitchers., January 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Coaching Pitchers (Paperback)

Spanky MacFarland has devised an excellent book for secondary level coaches and players. While this book emphasizes techniques and drills directed more toward older players (teenagers or older), it also provides the most mechanically sound, descriptive, and understandable information I have yet to see for this subject. Excellent sketches show proper techniques and motions to eliminate the ambiguity of text-only documentation. I advise any upper-level coach or player to purchase this book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fundamentaly sound pitching instruction!, June 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Coaching Pitchers (Paperback)

Coaching Pitchers is well written, easy to read and understand, and provides a wealth of how to teach your pitchers the proper fundamentals of pitching. This book is well worth the price and needs to be read by EVERY youth coach. The techniques, drills and suggestions are well documented with illustrations and diagrams.If you only buy one book this year, get this one!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best instruction for coaches that I've found, June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Coaching Pitchers (Paperback)

This book covers the fundementals in a way that makes them clearly understood. Coaches will not only be able to instruct young pitchers in the proper fundementals, but will be able to easily and quickly recognize good and bad pitching form. It's well worth the money.