The Baseball Book and Trophy

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax.

This baseball-instruction manual divides the teaching of basic baseball
into nine chapters that correspond to nine days of skill-building and
practice. Chapter 1 (or Day 1 on the field) concentrates on throwing,
Chapter 2 on catching, and so on through the basic skills to the more
advanced concept of playing the position.

Humber sets out to inspire as well as instruct, and he more than
succeeds in his intentions. He is upbeat and enthusiastic, and wants to
make learning the game fun and rewarding. Humber stresses the
cooperative nature of the game and insists that his nine-day program not
be conducted in isolation: a “coach” to provide guidance and
positive feedback is mandatory.

Accompanying the book is a small trophy to be awarded by the coach on
the first day of instruction. Achievement stickers provide further
incentive and positive reinforcement. The program builds up the
player’s skills in a logical and sequential fashion, and the more
advanced drills and workouts build naturally on the mastery of basic
skills.

Clear illustrations support the text, and Humber does not make the
mistake of using only male figures: half the drawings are of female
future sluggers.

This book is useful for backyard training, and because many of the
practice strategies can involve many children, there is much in these
exercises to interest the classroom coach as well. Recommended.