Good coaches and good parents both try to teach kids the same things: persistence, hard work, how to handle pressure, and hw to be a good winner. Baseball can help young players learn these lessons, but only if the coaches and parents stay focused on them. This book addresses the two main problems for coaches and parents: They are often unprepared or undertrained to teach the lessons basebabll has to offer, and they often are trying to live vicariously through the children (which is the absolute last thing the kids need).
Each chapter of The Ballgame of Life ends with "Life Skills Learning Drills" designed to help kids and adults remember that baseball is a game meant to be played. Chapters include:
- The Goal of Every Great Parent/Coach
- Building Confidence and a Successfull Attitude
- Learning the Terms Team, Teammate and Teamwork
- Dad or Mom's Limited Window of Opportunity to Coach
| DAVID ALLEN SMITH is a Transactional Business Attorney and former American Arbitration Judge specializing in Employee Contracts and Sports Transaction in Newport Beach, California. He is the author of the book From the Prom to the Pros (Seven Locks Press) and was designated in 2001 as an Expert in Sport Contracts and related issues. |
| JOSEPH AVERSA, drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1990, has over fifteen years of professional baseball experience. In the offseason, he coaches and instructs over 250 players from the major leagues through tee-ball at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana, California. Aversa is currently an assistant hitting instructor and coach with the San Diego Padres. |
