Synopses & Reviews
A Guide for Young Softball Pitchers sets out everything needed to develop the skills, physical conditioning, and training regimen that will bring success and satisfaction on the playing field. In this great reference for players, coaches, and parents, veteran youth coaches Don Oster and Jacque Hunter share their decades of knowledge on forming young athletes and helping them to reach their potential.
The pitcher plays the most important position in softball, and pitching is the hardest position to master, particularly for the young player, who is still growing physically and mentally. An untrained pitcher will seldom reach her full athletic capacity and will suffer needless frustration; an ill-trained pitcher risks injury and the premature end of a playing career; both will have a harder time throwing strikes. A Guide for Young Softball Pitchers teaches, in clear and readily understood fashion, the mechanics of the perfect delivery and the strategy of dominant pitching. Hunter and Oster also stress the value of flexibility, balance, and cross-training in other sports that condition the whole body, as well as the importance of a good attitude and of having fun while working efficiently and diligently to improve.
Synopsis
Good softball pitchers arent born, they are developed. A young player can become a good pitcher, and have a lot of fun along the way. Good pitchers have a couple of things in common. First, they really want to pitch. Second, they are willing to spend the considerable time and effort tocondition, train, and develop their skills.
There are several attributes that most really good pitchers possess. They can control their pitches, throw strikes, and throw them with speed. They also have good self-control. The best pitchers know how to win; they have their head in the game and use their
abilities to contribute to a successful team effort.
This book will get young pitchers started on the right track to success. With chapters on conditioning, pitching mechanics, the variety of pitches, proper practice, control, game preparation, dealing with batters, fielding, and more, A Guide For Young Softball Pitchers is a complete source for the young pitcher and for all those who coach youth softball, as well as for the parents of young pitchers.
Synopsis
Valuable advice on mastering the hardest position in softball.
About the Author
Don Oster has been coaching youth baseball for decades. His Babe Ruth League team, for which he was the pitching coach, appeared in four consecutive World Series. He is also the author of
Largemouth Bass, and the coauthor of
A Young Players Guide to Hitting, Bunting, and Baserunning and
Hunting Todays Whitetail. He lives in southern Indiana.
Jacque Hunter has, over the past twenty-eight years, coached youth softball teams at all levels. He was inducted into the Indiana High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003. At the end of the 2004 season, his record stands at 425 wins and 138 losses.
Table of Contents
SOFTBALL - THE YOUNG PITCHER'S GUIDE
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Fast Pitch Softball
Chapter 2 - The Complete Softball Pitcher
Chapter 3 - Conditioning Yourself to Pitch
Chapter 4 - Pitching Mechanics
Chapter 5 - The Pitches
Chapter 6 - Pitching Practice
Chapter 7 - Control
Chapter 8 - Game Preparation
Chapter 9 - Pitching to Batters
Chapter 10 - Pitching to Win
Chapter 11 - Fielding Your Position
Chapter 12 - Final Thoughts