Library Journal Review

The weather is improving, the end of school is near. Why not play baseball rather than help the parents with yard work? For that matter, why not coach baseball rather than do yard work? These six excellent videos approach the playing and coaching of the game from different but proven angles. Proven? Wait until you see these kids execute! Little League's Official How-To-Play Baseball is a DVD release of the 1985 video, possibly a bit dated but immune from the technical problems of the earlier analog version. The video targets players seven to 14 years old and covers the game from choosing equipment and warming up to working like a team. It is well done and contains solid information. Coaches, these are Little League rules-from 1985 at that-and local youth baseball rules probably vary. Recommended for sports collections. SportsCamp Baseball is for players from seven to 12 and features former major league player and manager Bucky Dent, major league coaches Larry Hoskin and Wally Horsman, and players from Dent's baseball school. Dent et al. have a great perspective on the game, i.e., kids should have fun. Though not as in-depth as How-To-Play, SportsCamp Baseball strongly emphasizes safety, suggesting each practice start with general loosening up exercises. It has the best overview of playing the catcher position of these six programs and wise words for ambitious players: "practice, practice, practice" and "work on your grades-someday your skills will run out." Highly recommended. Baserunning & Bunting Drills is also aimed at players seven to 12. It includes many well-thought-out exercises intended to teach skills to improve the chances of team success. Coaches must do some work, too, to explain the drills properly to their players and to keep the drills fun. Bringing a portable DVD player to practice occasionally couldn't hurt. Again, verify that local rules allow the "delayed steal" and whether bunting is permitted in your league. Coaches will also need to decide whether to use "signs" with their players and how to choose a system of signs that will be consistent. Highly recommended. Baseball the Ripken Way, focusing on youths ages ten to 14, promises a comprehensive look at youth baseball. After viewing Pitching, which could have been the weakest of the trio, coming from two ex-infielders, one quickly learns that brothers Cal and Bill Ripken both pitched in high school and that their faith in the skills and teaching abilities of John Habyan, veteran of 11 seasons in the majors, was well placed. Coaches who have had little or no formal instruction in the mechanics of pitching will be astonished by how much they can learn from just a few minutes of this disc's content. They will also gain valuable insight into teaching young players pitching and fielding the pitcher's position. Hitting presents some nicely thought-out batting drills, including one on maintaining one's balance while swinging at a pitch. There is also a valuable explanation of bunting situations and drills. Defense starts by explaining the 5-4-3 double play (shortstop to second base to first base) as a "basic catch, throw, catch, throw, catch," and progressively offers instruction on each phase, then putting them together for proper execution. The young players definitely prove the validity of the Ripkens' methods (keep it simple, explain why, make it fun, celebrate the individual) through their results. The discs also demonstrate that one need not be an exceptional athlete to be a good coach and that all youngsters can become better players through the practice and repetition of these sound exercises. The underlying good humor and playfulness of the Ripkens and Habyan pervade the series. Be on the lookout for the Ripkens' future programs on the catcher position, outfield play, and running a practice. These exceptional videos are very highly recommended.-Cliff Glaviano, Bowling Green State Univ. Libs., OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.