Customer Reviews

Coach's Guide to Game-Winning Softball Drills: Developing the Essential Skills in Every Player

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a league administrator, I'm always looking for great coaching
resources for the coaches in our league. I love this book because it's
a combination coaching and drills book. Many drills books out there
just have drills (with a smattering of ad hoc remarks on mechanics).
But this book is different. Every section of the book has a thorough
discussion of the required mechanics (hitting, pitching, defensive
footwork, infield defense, outfield defense, etc.), followed by a slew
of drills. The book contains a progression of drills for every level of
player (youth league level, as well as tons of "advanced variation"
drills for travel league and high school players). The book is very
organized, and therefore is a great resource for coaches to refer back
to on a regular basis. You can tell that Michele Smith is a stickler
for details because the photos and captions are very detail oriented and
helpful. All and all a fantastic resource!

This book is a great reference for any coach of U10, U12, U14 and high school girls softball. The book is very organized and well written, and explains very clearly the fundamentals behind each drill. As expected, the pitching chapter is excellent. But the hitting and the defense chapters are also outstanding. There are lots of advanced level coaching tips throughout the book, including in each drill's "hints" section. Michele Smith is in alot of the photos personally demonstrating the mechanics and drills. The diagrams are good, and clutter free.

As a high school softball coach for the past 18 years, I have found that coming up with challenging, productive drills that improve skills, challenge, AND entertain players can be daunting, day after day. This book is clearly one of the best I have encountered, if not the best, for quality, productive drills. The explanations and illustrations are clear. I particularly like the legend on each page that indicates the time needed for the drill, the skill level, and the cardio-level required. This feature, in particular, helps me provide a great variety of drills during a practice to maximize learning and conditioning at the same time. Brilliant. Do yourself a favor . . . buy this book! (Also, check out Kathy Veroni's book for great tips for all aspects of coaching.)

As an avid fastpitch coach, I purchased this book to obtain new ideas and progressions on drills I was already implementing in my practices. I would recommend this book to any softball coach that is getting started. Michele Smith and Jennie Finch, have been documented to have one of the safer pitching motions of the house hold name, team USA, pitchers. While it is hard to look at still pictures and have them represent movement (most specifically related to pitching) it is a good book. I open it several times a week before I plan my next practice and even seasoned coaches that have attended clinics and such can reinforce what they have learned. I gave the book 4 stars because of the too few pictures used in motion sequences. More photos or video weblinks would have earned a 5 out of 5.

Length:: 4:33 Mins

To all softball players, coaches and parents:

In this video review, I explained that I'm qualified to review this product and why I strongly believe that this book is a great resource for softball drills especially for youth softball coaches.

Reviewer's credentials:

- Experienced Softball Coach (over 20 years of softball coaching experience including the international and college levels)

- Experienced presenter / course conductor in the field of softball and coaching

- Master's Degree in Coaching Sciences

- Doctoral Studies in Coaching Expertise

I have two daughters, an eighth grader who is really into softball, and a fourth grader who is just getting into the sport. I ran across this new drills book and highly recommend it. It's really organized, with good pictures to go along with the drills. And it's great for both of my girls. I'm definitely going to tell their coaches about it.

I got this book along with 2 others that seemed more basic after getting roped into coaching a team with several first time softball players in a reasonably competitive middle school fastpitch league. Michele Smith's book had the most drills that were useful for our practices, more understandable descriptions of the correct mechanics, and sound advice for the long-term development of players that actually paid off over the season. In the end, this was the book I relied on. I only wish it had told me that teams which improve dramatically often run into protests!

I bought this book and a few other books to help 'further' my education in softball and baseball coaching, as I was 'chosen' to coach my kids' teams. I have found this book to be one of the most helpful softball books I've read, and I still reference this book today to up-n-coming fastpitch coaches. Plenty of drills and diagrams, and lots of tips for parent/coaches for indivdual practice at home too.

A 'MUST BUY' for those needing quality reference material for their budding coaching career

We really liked this book. I was glad I purchased this book for more drills. Our tournament team of 8 and under girls really like some of the good ideas for drills.