Congratulations on your commitment to coach youth softball. If you’re new to coaching, you’ll find Coaching Youth Softball invaluable in making your first season a success. If you have previous coaching experience, you’re sure to discover tips and strategies that will help you improve on last year.

Coaching Youth Softball will help you manage your team with confidence. This age-specific and field-tested coaching guide will prepare you to

• handle your responsibilities and establish proper priorities as a coach;
• communicate with players, officials, other coaches, and parents;
• teach softball skills and strategies using a combination of 27 drills and 39 coaching tips;
• minimize the risk of injury, establish a safe playing environment, and administer basic first aid;
• plan and conduct efficient practices;
• manage your team on game day; and
• keep it all fun.

Written for coaches of players ages 18 and under, this book is a valuable component of the Coaching Youth Softball the Babe Ruth League Way online course, the official certification course of Babe Ruth League, the premier amateur baseball and softball program in the world. With this book, you will create and nurture an athlete-centered environment that promotes player development, enjoyment, motivation, safety, and sportsmanship—an environment that inspires players to perform at their best and come out for the team year after year.

Audience

A resource for youth softball coaches (ages 18 and younger) and parents of youth softball players.

Chapter 1. Stepping Into Coaching
Chapter 2. Communicating as a Coach
Chapter 3. Understanding Rules and Equipment
Chapter 4. Providing for Players’ Safety
Chapter 5. Making Practices Fun and Practical
Chapter 6. Teaching and Shaping Skills
Chapter 7. Coaching Offense
Chapter 8. Coaching Defense
Chapter 9. Coaching on Game Day
Chapter 10. Developing Season and Practice Plans
 

Babe Ruth League, Inc., is one of the premier amateur baseball and softball programs in the world. With a combined size of over a million players, Babe Ruth League divisions include Cal Ripken Baseball (for ages 4-12), Babe Ruth Baseball (ages 13-18), Babe Ruth Softball, Bambino Buddy Ball, and Xtreme Fastpitch. Founded in 1951 with the belief that every child with a desire to play baseball or softball should be afforded that opportunity, Babe Ruth League is dedicated to teaching baseball skills, furthering athletes’ mental and physical development, instilling respect for the rules of the game, and embracing and promoting the basic ideals of sportsmanship and fair play.