Tip of the Week

Helping players develop a good hitter's mindset is a constant coaching task. It is best when players go into the season with it. As a hitting coach, there are two things I preach, so baseball players do not get down on themselves, a common thing with the difficulty of hitting a baseball. First, I want them to have the right goals.

Whenever my mind gets a little dry, I turn to greatness, and it always works to inspire me to come up with something to write about. It's fastening what reading about or listening to "genius" can do to motivate. One of the all-time greatest coaches, Phil Jackson, was known to pass out books to players.

The first meeting with team parents and the first meeting with the players is crucial for a smooth season. Coaches must prepare for both because the first impression buys the coaching staff time to gain respect from all. At the preseason parents meeting coaches should state their coaching credentials, coaching philosophy, team and parent rules and expectations along with team goals.

One of my first questions to my hitting students is, "Do you have your batting tee setup at home." The word setup is the key, because many have the tee, but that doesn't mean it's being used or ready for use. After the question, I inform them that they cannot be serious about improving their hitting without having a workable batting station at home.

Even with young ball players, or especially with young baseball players I should say, it is important to help them learn baseball focus methods. Kids' minds wander easily, and especially during baseball games when there are 15 to 20 seconds between pitches. I try to help players baseball focus skills in two ways - by helping them develop a verbal cue and a visual one. The verbal clue is usually just a word or two that helps players regain focus. Words like "breathe," "now" and "responsibilities," can help players get their minds back to the present.

The great Major League catcher and manager, Del Crandall, use to tell us, his team, that in all his years around the game, only two players ever played better when mad, in his estimation. Those two were Jackie Robinson and Frank Robinson. The point was that many players may feel like it helps them to get angry but usually that takes away from their ability to succeed, it does not enhance it.