Customer Reviews

Teach Your Kids... Bean's About Baseball

5 star:		(3)
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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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I bought "Bean's About Baseball" because I had heard it mentioned on an infosports.net discussion board.

I have coached highschool, Little League, and adult baseball so I beleive that I know something about the game but I also know there is always something to learn. I read the book hoping to learn something I did not know and with the thought that I would get another coach's perspective on the game.

If one reads this book, it must be done the first time from cover to cover. If you "skim" the book, you may very well come away thinking it is terse and sexist. However, early on the author explains why the book was written in this way and those aspects drft into the background.

The book is full of tips and drills while it helps identify and explain common mistakes made by young players. From my perspective in having some knowledge of the game, the book was a great review. I even took away some new thoughts and ideas for my practices and certain players. That is the wonderful thing about this game, like Earl Weaver used to say: "It's what you learn after you know it all that really counts".

Bean's About Baseball covers only the basics. Basics that managers and players have to go back and reveiw through their entire "careers". If you are expereinced, the book will be valuable as a review and you may learn a little something new. Another coach's perspective can often be valuable.

If you are a new coach, this book is an excellent starting point. Take an evening to read the book (about 120 pages) and go back to it as you need it. After you read it, you will know the basics of hitting, pitching, and fielding. When you know the "how to" basics, you have to convey that to your players and this book helps there also. Good coaches know the game and can teach it. This book will get you closer to being a good coach.

I have given my copy to one of the first year managers in my league that sought me out to ask about practices and drills for young players. I do not expect to see that copy again. Like many books on youth baseball, readers of this book will need to make value judgements on certain aspects as they relate to the local league rules and philosophies.

I will be recomending to our local board of directors that this book be given to each manager as part of their packet for next spring. I will further recommend that a companion sheet accompany the book to elimnate conflicts between it and our local rules and philosophies.

Like many lagues, ours has many well meaning coaching volunteers that do not really know youth baseball and how to teach it to kids. If my proposal is adopted, "Bean's About Baseball" will be a primer to next year's coaching clinic.

I would strongly recommend it for new coaches and old.

Just my thoughts, Splitter

My wife bought this book several years ago at a homeschooling convention. My sons have not had an interest in baseball until recently. I blew the dust off the book, read it cover to cover, then "coached" two of my sons, ages 9 and 12. With just a few practices, they have gone from knowing zippo to looking like they have played for years. I refer to the book frequently for techniques and drills.

I am giving copies of it as a gift to the coaches of their baseball league.

As other reviewers pointed out, this is a MUST READ for parents (and coaches).

Coaching is not only about patience, and repetition, it is also about teaching the kids CORRECTLY. Baseball is confusing, and it is absolute chaos if taught wrong.

Never played the game before, and with my son 2nd year playing the game, I always struggle to understand why the coach makes certain recommendations. After reading the book, I know the reason from the coach, and HOW I CAN TEACH MY SON CORRECTLY.

Do a huge favor to your son, yourself and your team, get the book, read it. And read it with your boy.

Not what I was looking for. A little to dry. I liked some of the other books I bought better.

I think it is a nice book. Pricey for the content and paperback quality.