What do women softball players look for in a coach? Drawing on interviews with 50 college players and a survey of players from all NCAA divisions, this book explores what players want and need: someone who connects with them on and off the field, a competent leader who knows and loves the game and mentors them with a vision beyond softball.

Coaches from major Division One conferences, as well as Divisions Two and Three and Junior College ranks, share their experiences and coaching strategies—among them four-time Olympian Laura Berg, Baylor University Coach Glenn Moore, University of South Carolina Coach Bev Smith, and four coaches with national championships to their credit. Taking cues from the coaches and players themselves, softball coaches will have the tools they need to revolutionize their approaches.

Steve Meyer is a retired special agent of the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He has coached fastpitch softball at the recreation, club, high school and college level, most recently at Birmingham Southern College. He lives in the Houston, Texas, area.

Steve Meyer
Foreword by Taylor Harkins
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 181
Bibliographic Info: 24 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8558-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4308-3
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword by Taylor Harkins 1
Introduction 3
1. Connecting Is Essential 9
2. Must They Love Their Teammates? 28
3. Loving Your Players 45
4. Leading Your Players 70
5. Praise and Appreciation 87
6. Controlling Selfish Players 106
7. Respect Is Everything 120
8. Know the Game 134
9. A Coach’s Agenda 147
10. Profiles in Great Coaching 156
Index 175