Practice perfect softball

The road to a championship season begins long before the first pitch of the opening game. It begins before a player even steps onto the field. In __Practice Perfect Softball__, the game’s premier coaches share their approaches, experiences, and philosophies of every aspect of practice. This authoritative guide goes beyond the stretches and drills, straight to the heart of winning—effort and attitude. From structuring sessions to evaluating practice performance, you’ll find proven and practical recommendations from the all-star lineup of contributors: • Julie Lenhart • Rachel Hanson • Beverly Smith • Rachel Lawson • Lisa (Sweeney) Van Ackeren • Dot Richardson • Ken Eriksen • Connie Clark • Celeste Knierim • Bill Gray and Melissa Chmielewski • Lonni Alameda • Jo Evans • Jen McIntyre • Donna Papa • JoAnne Graf (editor) Inside, you’ll identify and establish practice ethics; assess team strengths; and develop players’ skills in the field, on the mound, and at the plate. Developed by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, __Practice Perfect Softball__ is your guide to developing champions on and off the field. Content: Chapter 1: Establishing a Strong Work Ethic: Julie Lenhart Chapter 2: Planning Productive Practices: Rachel Hanson Chapter 3: Incorporating Technology and Practice Tools: Beverly Smith Chapter 4: Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses: Rachel Lawson Chapter 5: Developing a Competitive Environment: Lisa (Sweeney) Van Ackeren Chapter 6: Motivating Players in Practices: Dot Richardson Chapter 7: Organizing Effective Batting Practices: Ken Eriksen Chapter 8: Organizing Effective Fielding Practices: Celeste Knierim Chapter 9: Developing the Pitcher and Catcher: Connie Clark Chapter 10: Perfecting Position Play: Bill Gray and Melissa Chmielewski Chapter 11: Offensive Situational Practices: Lonni Alameda Chapter 12: Defensive Situational Practices: Jo Evans Chapter 13: Evaluating Practices: Donna Papa Chapter 14: Practicing Indoors: Jen McIntyre. Title page - Practice Perfect Softball 2 Contents 5 Preface 7 Key to Diagrams 9 Chapter 1 - Establishing a Strong Work Ethic 10 Chapter 2 - Planning Productive Practices 16 Chapter 3 - Incorporating Technology and Practice Tools 30 Chapter 4 - Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses 42 Chapter 5 - Developing a Competitive Environment 54 Chapter 6 - Motivating Players in Practices 66 Chapter 7 - Organizing Effective Batting Practices 76 Chapter 8 - Organizing Effective Fielding Practices 84 Chapter 9 - Developing the Pitcher and Catcher 106 Chapter 10 - Perfecting Position Play 122 Chapter 11 - Offensive Situational Practices 144 Chapter 12 - Defensive Situational Practices 156 Chapter 13 - Evaluating Practices 166 Chapter 14 - Practicing Indoors 176 Appendix - Sample Practice Plans 190 About the NFCA/About the Editor 217 About the Contributors 218 "The road to a championship season begins long before the first pitch of the opening game. It begins before a player even steps on the field. In Practice Perfect Softball, the game's premier coaches share their approaches, experiences, and philosophies of every aspect of practice. This authoritative guide goes beyond the stretches and drills, straight to the heart of winning -- effort and attitude. From structuring sessions to evaluating practice performance, you'll find proven and practical recommendations from the all-star lineup of contributors."--Back cover Add Practice Perfect Softball to your dugout and begin your journey to a championship season. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has put together an all-star lineup of coaches, including Connie Clark, Jo Evans, Rachel Lawson, Ken Eriksen, Donna Papa, Julie Lenhart, Lonni Alameda, Dot Richardson, and Beverly Smith.