Coaching Kids Baseball with Cal Ripken Jr.'s Proven Strategies

Caitlin: My wife rented me this book at our local library, read through the first few chapters and it is was a lot of refresher information - the biggest thing for me with this book is the drills and practice programming. It has helped so much with my team and myself. I highly recommend this to anyone who coaches youth baseball. We are a 12u travel team and my kids have significantly improved since I have used the programming outline and drills in here. Almost all the drills in the book are on youtube explained how to do them as well so I can send the videos to my other coaches so we all coach the same style. Buy this book!

United States on May 24, 2023

Cyrus Samii: I like the overall philosophy and then the drills and practice plans are great. I found it helpful to combine what I learned here with things I learned from the Coaching Youth Baseball podcast with Dave Holt. Both Holt and the Ripkens share the philosophy of maximizing reps and keeping practice active and fun. Use these and practice becomes as enjoyable for the kids as the games, for dinner even more enjoyable, and they genuinely improve faster too.

United States on Jul 12, 2021

Kristen: I have coached baseball for years. However, this season, I was just too busy with work and life to sit down and devote the time needed to plan out my practices. I bought this book with the hope it would give me some quick drills and allow me to plan out a practice in a few minutes.

It certainly checks all of the boxes I was looking for. The drills are effective, there are full practice plans. Even for people who have been coaching for a long time, this is really a time saver.

(note, I used to coach my son's 13 year old team).

United States on Apr 12, 2021

Amazon Customer: Very informative for new coaches/managers

Canada on Apr 13, 2019

Amazon Customer: great guide

Canada on Apr 02, 2019

AAmazon Customer: 英語なので大変ですが，理念および練習方法について
非常にためになります。ぜひ日本の指導者の方も読んでほしいと思います。

Japan on Jan 24, 2017

Down To Earth Person: This is a very nice book that can help parents, new coaches and even many that call themselves coaches, but all they do is throw pitches and hit balls to players. I played for over 35 years and now becoming recreational coach. The first part of the book helps you understand your duty as a coach and be a better communicator to avoid future misunderstandings with parents, children, umpires, etc. The second part a large number of drills and fun games that will certainly keep children engaged. In my baseball experience I never did most of them, but I can see that this book will help me succeed as a coach. I strongly recommend Parents, every coach or wanna be coach to read this. I have helped coaches for the last 4 or 5 years, and I can tell you neither one of them read this book. I can understand why my kids don't love the game as much as I do. The reward you get after reading it completely justify the few bucks you spent. I am a parent as many of you reading this. I have a full time job, and as many of you sometimes I don't want to drag everything and drive to the field to play a bit of baseball with the kid(s). There is many things you can try and do in your own backyard after...

United States on Aug 22, 2016

Rob Burton: Awesome all aspects!

Canada on Nov 10, 2015

Sidewinder: a

Canada on Oct 01, 2014

Amazon Customer: We think anyone who coaches young baseball players should read and use this book. One of Cal and Bill Ripken's biggest goals is to get young players to LOVE THE GAME and have fun! We originally picked this book because it is written by the Ripkens (and we think Cal Ripken is one of the best ballplayers of all time!)

The book is not just a list of drills but they also take time to discuss coaching responsibilities and philosophies and reasonable expectations. They include great ideas for practices and how to run games at the younger levels - we wish this book was required reading for ALL volunteer youth baseball coaches. Drills included are several for Hitting and Baserunning, Throwing and Pitching, and Fielding.

The best part of the book is the Practice Planner, where they go over Practice Particulars for each age group (4-6, 7-9, 10-12, etc.) They also tell you what skills you should be teaching kids at what age level. I was amazed at the "basics" that my 8 year old son hasn't learned yet. The Ripkens want kids to learn and have fun doing it so they love the game.

We found ourselves agreeing with everything the Ripkens had to say and we will be using the rest...

United States on May 05, 2009