The Softball Coaching Bible, Volume II

About the NFCA Established in 1983, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play. The organization's 5,500 members include coaches, umpires, clubs, businesses, and fans of fastpitch softball. Education, events, and awards are the pillars of the organization, highlighted by the annual national convention, regional coaches' clinics, in-person seminars, All-America teams, Leadoff Classics, and summer student-athlete camps. Members are recognized for their contributions on and off the field, while student-athletes are honored for their academics. In addition, education remains the organization's top priority. Featuring a grassroots Coaching Tools package compiled of practice plans, drills, and evaluation forms, the NFCA also disseminates podcasts, forums, a digital education library, virtual coaches' clinics, webinars, a mentoring program, publications, a drills database, legal counsel, and accurate and credible information surrounding the sport. The national office is located in the Crescent Hill community of Louisville, Kentucky. This home base of 10 employees, 19 board members, and seasonal interns moved to the Bluegrass State in 2012. About the Editor Gayle Blevins served as head coach for Division I collegiate softball programs for 31 years, coaching at Indiana University from 1980 to 1987 and at the University of Iowa from 1988 to 2010. She brought the two teams to the Women's College World Series seven times and never had a losing season at either university. She led her teams to eight Big Ten championships, winning five of them. She amassed 1,245 wins overall. Additionally, she has seen nearly 80 of her former players become coaches of their own teams across the nation. Blevins was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year by the National Softball Coaches Association in 1986 when the Hoosiers finished in third place in the Women's College World Series under her tutelage. Blevins was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999. Twice she has been selected as the Division I National Coach of the Year. Blevins now works as a National Fastpitch Coaches College instructor. She also serves as a public speaker for national conventions, service organizations, educational institutions, and corporations across the United States.

Part I Coaching Priorities and Principles Chapter 1 Sharing the Passion Chapter 2 Defining Expectations Chapter 3 Establishing a Winning Attitude Chapter 4 Playing Hard and Respecting the Game Chapter 5 Leading by Example Part II Program Building and Management Chapter 6 Building a Successful High School Program Chapter 7 Building a Successful College Program Chapter 8 Selecting and Mentoring Your Staff Chapter 9 Promoting Your Program Chapter 10 Recruiting the Right Way Part III Effective Practice Sessions Chapter 11 Structuring Indoor and Outdoor Practices Chapter 12 Minimizing Monotony Part IV Player Skills and Team Strategies Chapter 13 Batting Practice for Power and Consistency Chapter 14 Firming Up Offensive Fundamentals Chapter 15 Developing Your Pitching Staff Chapter 16 Developing Your Receiver Chapter 17 Fielding Practice for Errorless Play Chapter 18 Strength Training, Conditioning, and Agility Part V Player Motivation and Leadership Chapter 19 Establishing a Positive Player-Coach Relationship Chapter 20 Understanding Today's Athlete Chapter 21 Assessing Your Team's Mental Makeup Chapter 22 Building Team Chemistry Chapter 23 Developing Student-Athletes off the Field Part VI Coaching Challenges, Pressures, and Opportunities Chapter 24 Handling Each Season's Highs and Lows Chapter 25 Continuing to Learn, Continuing to Develop Chapter 26 Coaching, Family, and Personal Priorities