| Forward by Mark “Pudge” Gjormand, President of the National Baseball Coaches Association (2009).
As a long-time coach of the game of baseball it is good to see such a well-organized, detailed, and easily-understood baseball book for baseball coaches of all levels. Coach Murray, a well-respected veteran teacher of the game of baseball, and co-author Brien Roche, have put together a comprehensive guide for “teaching” the game of baseball. I highlight the word “teaching” because this book not only clearly explains the skills of the game; it gives guidance on how to relate skills to players. As any coach will tell you, what is important is not only what you know, but it’s what your players know. The key to being a successful coach is communicating your knowledge to players. You will find many good teaching tools in the first chapter as well as throughout this book.
Each chapter breaks down the finer points of hitting, pitching, fielding, catching, and base running in an easy-to-use and easy-to-understand format. From beginners to advanced players, on the 60-diamond and on the 90-foot diamond, this is a valuable guide for any coach. The importance of practice organization cannot be overemphasized. Maximizing your practice time and getting players as many quality repetitions as you can should be the goal of any coach. The authors have provided appropriate age-level drills to reinforce specific skills as well as a detailed plans for integrating important aspects of the game into a smooth and efficient practice.
This is a must-have for any baseball coach.
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VBC Coach Handbook