Let 'em Play: What Parents, Coaches, & Kids Need to Know about Youth Baseball

by Jack Llewellyn

Youth baseball has become a national phenomenally popular, and phenomenally controversial. In Let 'em Play, a leading sports psychology consultant restores the sanity — and the fun — to this wonderful pastime. Featuring original interviews with Major League baseball players.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2001

Reviews

[John H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall summary of how to approach youth baseball. There is not a lot of support cited for his advice and conclusions, but it is consistent with a lot of research that is available. I really like how he tied in comments from positive role models from the MLB. Well respected coaches and players provide their thoughts on how they grew up to love baseball and how they would approach baseball with kids today. Bottom line, kids would rather play and play for a positive, supportive coach than win. Baseball at the youth level is still a game. it is about getting them moving, having fun with friends, and getting better in a competitive environment. The results in the W-L column are secondary or even tertiary.

I am finishing my 5th year coaching Little League, and his advice rings true. Based on observations, I would assume that many people either would not agree with him or simply have not put much thought into it as we still see coaches "in it to win it" over developing players or providing a positive, recreational, age appropriate environment. This book was written in 2001, but 22 years later, it still holds true.