Authors: Dick Smith
ISBN-13: 9781930546684, ISBN-10: 1930546688
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Wish Publishing
Date Published: March 2004
Edition: (Non-applicable)
Written for fastpitch softball coaches and players of both genders and ages, this book is like no other softball book currently on the market. While other softball books focus merely on the broad "how-to's" of the game, Smitty's book looks at the details that transform strong skills into great plays and good players into great team members. From discussions of making the most of practice and preseason through the ups and downs of the season to the best way to approach post-season tournaments, Smitty's insights and tips will help any coach or player maximize their team's performance.
An Introduction: How Do You spell Success? | vi | |
Part I | In the Beginning | |
Chapter 1 | What It Takes to be a Great Softball Player | 2 |
Chapter 2 | Practice Makes Perfect | 6 |
Chapter 3 | Trials and Tribulations of Indoor Practices | 10 |
Chapter 4 | It Might Be...It Could Be...It Is! A New Season | 13 |
Part II | Fancy Footwork | |
Chapter 5 | "Da Feet" Equals Defeat | 18 |
Chapter 6 | First Base Is First | 21 |
Chapter 7 | Obstruction, a Season Ender | 25 |
Chapter 8 | Aggressive Base Runners Warm My Heart | 28 |
Part III | Take to the Field | |
Chapter 9 | Won't Someone Please Catch the Ball? | 34 |
Chapter 10 | Defensive Stuff | 37 |
Chapter 11 | Coming Up Short | 40 |
Chapter 12 | Hand 'N Glove | 43 |
Chapter 13 | A Saga of the Three Waifs of Softball | 45 |
Part IV | To Be a Pitcher | |
Chapter 14 | Patience, Patience and More Patience | 50 |
Chapter 15 | The Fifth Infielder | 54 |
Chapter 16 | Speed Is Nice, but Variety Is... | 58 |
Chapter 17 | So, Coach, You Know All About Orthopedics? | 61 |
Chapter 18 | The Ten Thousand Dollar Question--Why Rest? | 65 |
Part V | Batter Up | |
Chapter 19 | Keys to the Hitting Universe | 68 |
Chapter 20 | Down and Hard | 72 |
Chapter 21 | Down for the Count | 75 |
Chapter 22 | Why Ain't I Hittin', Coach? | 78 |
Chapter 23 | Yippity Doodads...a Fastball! | 81 |
Chapter 24 | Get on Top | 85 |
Chapter 25 | The Dinger | 89 |
Chapter 26 | The Eyes Have It | 93 |
Chapter 27 | To SAC or Get Sacked? | 96 |
Chapter 28 | The Way to the Trophy Table | 99 |
Chapter 29 | Take It From Me | 103 |
Chapter 30 | Hustle...The Name of the Game | 107 |
Part VI | The Head Game | |
Chapter 31 | What's the Job? | 112 |
Chapter 32 | Pressure Is for Tires | 116 |
Chapter 33 | Which Team Showed Up? | 119 |
Chapter 34 | Hitting Head Games | 122 |
Chapter 35 | Mr. Fear | 125 |
Chapter 36 | The Meek Go Home | 129 |
Chapter 37 | Translation from English to English | 132 |
Part VII | The Art of Coaching | |
Chapter 38 | Who's Running the Asylum? | 136 |
Chapter 39 | The Coyote Asks Questions | 139 |
Chapter 40 | Coach, Button It Up! | 143 |
Chapter 41 | The Right Touch | 147 |
Chapter 42 | Who's at Fault? | 150 |
Chapter 43 | The Pickle Pot | 153 |
Chapter 44 | The Learning Tree | 156 |
Chapter 45 | Depth Is Not Just for Water | 160 |
Chapter 46 | Shakespeare, MacBeth and Witch's Brew | 163 |
Chapter 47 | The Yell, You Say! | 166 |
Chapter 48 | Making a List and Checking It Twice | 170 |
Chapter 49 | Potholes Along the Coaching Road | 174 |
Chapter 50 | Check It Out | 177 |
Chapter 51 | Answers for Wile E. Coyote | 181 |
Part VIII | Softball by Smitty | |
Chapter 52 | August Lunacy--An Editorial | 186 |
Chapter 53 | The Nose Knows | 189 |
Chapter 54 | Whatta Ride! | 192 |
Chapter 55 | Ouch, It Was so Preventable | 195 |
Chapter 56 | Cryin's the Blues | 198 |
Chapter 57 | Softball Play Potpourri | 201 |
Chapter 58 | Whatta Ride, Part II | 205 |
Chapter 59 | Let's Talk About the Weather | 209 |
Chapter 60 | All I Want for Christmas | 213 |
Chapter 61 | If I Were King... | 217 |
Addendum | 220 | |
About the Author | 222 |