Perconte, who coaches softball and baseball, has written a thoughtful guide for the “countless kindhearted people” who are trying to coach and inspire athletes in youth sports, which he believes are becoming less about having fun and more about winning. “The focus on winning at the youth level now rivals the intensity of the professional ranks,” he writes. He argues that young athletes are dropping out of participating in youth sports due to this high-anxiety environment and because many youth coaches “fail to inspire both youth and parents.” To counter this, Perconte provides a step-by-step plan for coaches to help athletes achieve and, at the same time, “keep the excitement in and the stress out of games.” He explains how to draw up a personal coaching philosophy that encourages patience with all youths, regardless of different interest and motivation levels; how to create a practice environment that reminds athletes that “the journey is what’s important”; and how to develop and maintain a leadership style that displays “self-control, consistency, enthusiasm” while remembering “to always put the kids first.” This is a valuable resource for parents and coaches of youth sports. (BookLife)