Youth Coach Sticks to the Basics in Baseball Book

And when it comes to the game of baseball, nothing is more important to the 1990 Line Mountain High graduate than learning and practicing the basics.

"Baseball is about the basics," he explained. "The sport was built on the fundamentals of hitting, catching, and throwing."

Shoenfelt's philosophy may sound a bit simplistic, but it certainly has helped him make a name for himself in Central Pennsylvania as one of youth baseball's top instructors.

So when DEStech Publications, Inc. officially released Shoenfelt's book, "Baseball's Forgotten Basics: A Field Manual and Instructional DVD," back in February, coaches, parents, and players quickly grabbed a copy and found themselves overwhelmed by the author's extensive baseball knowledge.

"Coaches and parents have been phenomenally pleased with the book so far," Shoenfelt commented in a phone interview. "I try to really break down the basics of the game into simple English rather than confusing the reader with a bunch of baseball jargon."

From teaching a four-seam grip to correcting a hitter's stance in the batter's box, Shoenfelt hits on the little aspects of the game that many coaches, parents, and players often neglect.

"People today are always looking for an edge, so people always want advanced training," said Shoenfelt, who made two appearances in the Div. II College World Series with Mansfield University. "But you can't coach youth baseball without starting with the basics of the game."

While Shoenfelt provides an in-depth discussion of the game's basic techniques, drills, and strategies in his instruction manual, the book offers more than just the information that he lays out in all 182 pages.

For the first time, a 99-minute DVD brings Shoenfelt's printed words to life, demonstrating these same coaching tips in visual form.

"The book covers what publications overlook and don't see: the minute details of basic baseball," Michael Hauck, marketing director of DEStech Publications, Inc. stated. "One of the keys to the success of this book is the DVD which demonstrates in video what the written word tries to express."

For Shoenfelt though, providing coaches and players with the correct techniques and skills is only half the battle.

As an elementary school teacher in the Lancaster community, Shoenfelt knows that every coach must act as a role model and invigorate his players to want to play the game.

"If you're not excited to coach baseball, your players won't be either," he said. "I'm trying to be the perfect robotic coach with this book."

While Shoenfelt's work places its priorities on instructing Little League and youth league coaches, the author believes that anyone can gain a greater insight from reading his book.

"Anyone can pick up this book and read it," he added. "There's always something that you can learn."

But Shoenfelt also knows that his name alone will not garner the attention that more reputable coaches have received from the public.

Instead, he must rely on his ability to teach youngsters how to become successful youth baseball players.

"I can't live on my name like other coaches can," Shoenfelt admitted. "More people are starting to hear about me, but I still have to do a good job or I could be out of business."

And he has done just that.

With his company, B2B Baseball, continuing to grow, Shoenfelt constantly has his hands full, whether hosting coaching clinics, directing the Lancaster Barnstormer's summer camps, or speaking in front of a national audience about the secrets of baseball instruction.

"I want my readers to be overwhelmed with information that will later help them be successful coaching youth baseball," Shoenfelt said. "I want the kids to look back and say they learned a lot and had fun at the same time."