Michele Smith's Book of Good Softball Cheer -
A Practical Guide for Developing Leadership Skills in Softball and in Life
By Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith and Lawrence Hsieh
Softball Cheers edited by Jennifer Hsieh (Wish Publishing 2008)
A Practical Guide for Developing Leadership Skills in Softball and in Life
By Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith and Lawrence Hsieh
Softball Cheers edited by Jennifer Hsieh (Wish Publishing 2008)
Hello Student-Athletes!
Being a great student-athlete requires a keen understanding of the game (whether the
“game” is softball or math), sound mechanics, physical fitness and sharp mental skills. But
one of the most important skill sets for a student-athlete to have is leadership and an overall
mental approach designed to make improving a way of life. Based on my own journey to
become a two-time softball Olympic Gold Medalist, I’ve teamed up with Lawrence Hsieh to
write this book to help young student-athletes in 4th through 9th grades and beyond develop
the leadership and other skills necessary to become the best student-athletes and softball
players they can be.
I grew up during a time when girls’ sports was just beginning to explode in growth. My
parents’ and grandparents’ generations had fought long and hard for equal access for girls
and boys in academics and sports, and the results were just beginning to show....
But the issues facing individual girls haven’t really changed that much over the years. First,
there’s the ever-present threat of drugs and alcohol. Then there’s the barrage of distractions
that used to be limited to television and the mall, but today also come in the form of cell
phones, the Internet and video games. Finally, you’ll discover when it’s time for middle
school or high school that it can be a time of exciting change, but also great apprehension. It’
s easy to get lost in the crowd, especially if you’re shy.
Your pre-teen and early teen years are also significant because it will likely be the first
time in your life you’ll be judged on your performance, both in school and in
extracurricular activities. Students are separated based on performance. You’ll probably
have to try out if you want to play summer or travel softball. “Intangible skills” like leadership
and your overall mental approach to improving your skills will greatly impact how much you
get from your academic and athletic experiences.
With all this pressure and these distractions, you’ll really have to focus your energy if you
want to be the best student-athlete you can be. This book will help you achieve your goals by
giving you ways to develop the following skills and qualities:
Leadership (and assertiveness at the plate, on the field and in life)
Opportunity (how to make the most of them, and how to create new ones for yourself in
softball)
Teamwork (how individual performance is crucial to being a good teammate)
Proactive Practice (how to make every swing, throw, catch and pitch in practice an
opportunity to be better today than you were yesterday)
Perseverance (good things come to those who never give up, sometimes in the least
expected and most serendipitous ways)
Consequences and 2nd Chances (how to bounce back from setbacks)
Exercise and Conditioning (tips from me to help you stay in game shape)
We’ve also included chapters on the following topics:
Health and Safety
Sports Diversification (the benefits to playing more than one sport)
Sports Careers
Giving Back (you don’t have to be rich or famous to start to give back to your community)
Team Spirit (including popular softball cheers)
We’ve included in each chapter examples from both the world of softball and from real life.
We hope that you’ll be able to apply what you learn from this book to your game and your
studies and later in life, your field of work, whether you’ll be the CEO of a large company, a
great mom, or both!
Keep in mind that children need a strong family support structure to be able to excel in
academics and sports. I’ve been very blessed with parents and sisters who supported me in
school and sports from a very young age. I played field hockey and basketball, and was good
enough to play Varsity in high school. But softball was always my favorite sport and I started
playing when I was 5 (interestingly, I didn’t start to pitch until high school). I was always a
good student – I was a Pre-Med at Oklahoma State University and made Dean’s List. Your
moms and dads support you in many ways - by checking your homework, introducing you to
extracurricular activities and then driving you to them, practicing sports with you, and perhaps
even coaching your softball team. Don’t forget to show your appreciation for all they do by
thanking them, and by being the best you can be in the classroom and on the field!
Onward,
Michele
Being a great student-athlete requires a keen understanding of the game (whether the
“game” is softball or math), sound mechanics, physical fitness and sharp mental skills. But
one of the most important skill sets for a student-athlete to have is leadership and an overall
mental approach designed to make improving a way of life. Based on my own journey to
become a two-time softball Olympic Gold Medalist, I’ve teamed up with Lawrence Hsieh to
write this book to help young student-athletes in 4th through 9th grades and beyond develop
the leadership and other skills necessary to become the best student-athletes and softball
players they can be.
I grew up during a time when girls’ sports was just beginning to explode in growth. My
parents’ and grandparents’ generations had fought long and hard for equal access for girls
and boys in academics and sports, and the results were just beginning to show....
But the issues facing individual girls haven’t really changed that much over the years. First,
there’s the ever-present threat of drugs and alcohol. Then there’s the barrage of distractions
that used to be limited to television and the mall, but today also come in the form of cell
phones, the Internet and video games. Finally, you’ll discover when it’s time for middle
school or high school that it can be a time of exciting change, but also great apprehension. It’
s easy to get lost in the crowd, especially if you’re shy.
Your pre-teen and early teen years are also significant because it will likely be the first
time in your life you’ll be judged on your performance, both in school and in
extracurricular activities. Students are separated based on performance. You’ll probably
have to try out if you want to play summer or travel softball. “Intangible skills” like leadership
and your overall mental approach to improving your skills will greatly impact how much you
get from your academic and athletic experiences.
With all this pressure and these distractions, you’ll really have to focus your energy if you
want to be the best student-athlete you can be. This book will help you achieve your goals by
giving you ways to develop the following skills and qualities:
Leadership (and assertiveness at the plate, on the field and in life)
Opportunity (how to make the most of them, and how to create new ones for yourself in
softball)
Teamwork (how individual performance is crucial to being a good teammate)
Proactive Practice (how to make every swing, throw, catch and pitch in practice an
opportunity to be better today than you were yesterday)
Perseverance (good things come to those who never give up, sometimes in the least
expected and most serendipitous ways)
Consequences and 2nd Chances (how to bounce back from setbacks)
Exercise and Conditioning (tips from me to help you stay in game shape)
We’ve also included chapters on the following topics:
Health and Safety
Sports Diversification (the benefits to playing more than one sport)
Sports Careers
Giving Back (you don’t have to be rich or famous to start to give back to your community)
Team Spirit (including popular softball cheers)
We’ve included in each chapter examples from both the world of softball and from real life.
We hope that you’ll be able to apply what you learn from this book to your game and your
studies and later in life, your field of work, whether you’ll be the CEO of a large company, a
great mom, or both!
Keep in mind that children need a strong family support structure to be able to excel in
academics and sports. I’ve been very blessed with parents and sisters who supported me in
school and sports from a very young age. I played field hockey and basketball, and was good
enough to play Varsity in high school. But softball was always my favorite sport and I started
playing when I was 5 (interestingly, I didn’t start to pitch until high school). I was always a
good student – I was a Pre-Med at Oklahoma State University and made Dean’s List. Your
moms and dads support you in many ways - by checking your homework, introducing you to
extracurricular activities and then driving you to them, practicing sports with you, and perhaps
even coaching your softball team. Don’t forget to show your appreciation for all they do by
thanking them, and by being the best you can be in the classroom and on the field!
Onward,
Michele
Michele Smith's Book of Good Softball Cheer -
Wish Publishing
Wish Publishing
All softball images on this
page, © Hsieh and/or M. Smith.
page, © Hsieh and/or M. Smith.
Michele Smith's Preface (excerpt)
Order today:
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble.com
Michele Smith Autographed
Copies Available at
MicheleSmith.com
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble.com
Michele Smith Autographed
Copies Available at
MicheleSmith.com
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OneVarsityLetter.com
© 2007 Lawrence Hsieh
Click here to see the Good Softball
Cheer Photo Album.
Cheer Photo Album.