Customer Reviews

John T. Reed's Youth Baseball Coaching

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

 

 

This is a very helpful book and I will be a better coach for reading it. The most valuable points concern the limited time for practice and what to focus on. There are many interesting concepts in the book that are full explained.

However, the book was tarnished on several accounts. It was filled with details of Mr Reed's dubious adult baseball career that I really didn't need. His constant negativity and bitterness towards the players, fellow coaches, league administration, volunteer umpires,etc.... got to be too much by the end. All of this complaining done while reminding the reader it is for the kids. I ended up questioning why Mr. Reed spent so much of his time doing something that caused him so much unhappiness.

Read this book it is worth it. But, be very careful of adopting the attitudes and feelings conveyed in it.

Book lays out very complete and thorough plan to put a successful baseball team together. With "Time" always against the coach, Mr. Reed shows how to use practice time to teach what you need to know for game situations. Lot's of good little tricks also included for plays against the opponent. I recommend this book highly as a coach in the Minor League level myself.

Page for page this is by far the best baseball coaching book I have ever read. Having just completed coaching 7-8 year olds and coaching them in an incompetent way, I can't wait until next season to implement the "Youth Baseball Coaching" system in practices and games. Every youth baseball coach and parent should read this book.

After coaching youth baseball for sixteen years, after reading numerous books on the subject, I can now say that it's refreshing to read a book that tells it like it is! Mr. Reed identifies the coaching incompetence in us all and tells us how to correct it. I personally can accept this, many other youth coaches may not. If you are a youth coach and have a high opinion of your coaching talent, I do not recommend this book. However, if you are opened minded and seek to greatly improve not only your coaching abilities but also overall enjoyment of the game, I strongly suggest this literature.

Most books on youth baseball that I read before this did not properly prepare me for the challenges I would face in coaching my team. This book is packed with details on every aspect of the youth game. The sections I found helpful include: how coaches cheat the draft; how to properly equip your kids for safety (including where to get proper equipment); what to teach your kids that will actually make your team better; and what not to waste time on. Some of the notions in this book were so radical to me that I was fascinated and unable to stop reading. While I do not agree with him on everything, I see exactly where he is coming from. The chapters on each youth position are packed with detail, hints, and drills. He spends over 20 pages (full size pages with small print) on the right field position! I now agree with his statement that 98% of youth coaches are incompetent. If you are serious about coaching a team, or even just working with your son or daughter, this book is a must!

I knew that this was going to be a good one as soon as I saw the authors' name on the cover (check out John T. Reed's *football* coaching books, excellent!). Based on my personal journey of 10 years coaching youth baseball, and associated 100+ books read & scores of clinics attended over that time - *this* is the best take on what constitutes effective 12 & under baseball coaching that I have seen to-date. Finally, a reasoned and thoughtful delineation of the differences between "real" baseball and "youth" baseball - and how to effectively coach to those differences. John T. Reed does it again!

My plug for the best companion coaching book out there - Positive Coaching, by John Thompson (a fuller exploration of the emotional side of effective youth coaching, IMHO). Utilizing these 2 books, you have all of the tools that you need to be an effective youth coach. Go get 'em!

I found this book recommended in the Amazon review of ANOTHER BOOK! I'm so glad I did. I've had kids in youth baseball for 6 years, and have had my various complaints regarding coaching and league rules. Everything Reed writes is extremely logical, reasonable, and practical. All well-organized, well-written, and with just the right amount of wry humor. He suggests ways to bring out the best in players. He outlines exactly how to prepare players for each position. He explains why it doesn't make sense to spend a great deal of time practicing things you aren't likely to improve (like batting) but to spend a lot of time working with players on things they can improve, such as intelligent baserunning and correct understanding of rules. His emphasis on safety is terrific. I bought this book for my husband, but I read it cover-to-cover myself. It makes me want to coach a team next spring. But even if you weren't interested in coaching, the information in this book could help you be a better "baseball parent," too.

John T. Reed is not afraid to speak his mind and through his outspokeness, real life experience and detailed analysis of stats provides some of the most informative, useful and novel approaches to coaching youth baseball. I have read alot of books on coaching youth and this one is a must for any coaches library because it is not just the same old, same old. You won't agree with everything he suggests, you don't have too. But you will find a large number of nuggets that will make your team practice and your team better ball players. I only have th first edition (which I guess this one is) but there is a 2nd edition out that I may have to take a look at.

I just wanted to let readers know that there are several other books and resources out there with much better content and organization for less money

Having been involved with my own kids in different facets of kids baseball I am always on the lookout for new or original material. Unfortunately this very pricey book does not fill the bill.