@CoachPerk This is why it's hard sometimes to give hitting advice in a group setting. Some players are naturally more inclined to do certain things. What you tell one kid isn't what you'd tell another
I’ll take a guy with his OK Swing a great approach and a great competitor-over a beautiful swing an ok approach and wavering confidence all day long- COMPETEwCONFIDENCE Opening day Every day mindset-GOOD HITTERS LINE OUT MORE
I had a conversation with a Power 4 college coach who’s been doing this for 25+ years.
We were talking about the mentality of high school players during the recruiting process.
Here’s what he told me:
“What these kids don’t realize is…
I don’t care how many followers you have.
I don’t care how many home runs you hit in travel ball.
I don’t care how many offers you have.
I don’t care about your ranking.
I don’t care how hard you can hit a ball.
I don’t care about your metrics.
The only thing I care about is this:
Are you going to produce in between those white lines when we play this season?”
Then he said something else that hit:
“They’ve been so protected that the first time they fail, they quit… or they transfer.”
And here’s the part that matters.
The biggest development mistake I see?
Players don’t plan for failure.
They plan for success.
They visualize success.
They expect success.
But they don’t prepare for 0-4.
They don’t prepare for getting booed.
They don’t prepare for sitting the bench.
They don’t prepare for struggling for 3 weeks.
So when it happens — and it will — they panic.
Instead of executing a pre-made plan, they try to create one while emotional.
That never works.
Failure is coming.
The question is:
Did you already decide how you’re going to handle it?
THE #1 REASON WHY SOME HITTERS EVENTUALLY GET PHASED OUT OF BASEBALL IS THE INABILITY TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS.
STUBBORN HABITS THAT PLAYERS DO NOT TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO FIX, WILL EVENTUALLY BE THE REASON THEY ARE NO LONGER IN THE GAME. #HITTINGTWITTER
The #1 thing I hope every player takes away from the World Baseball Classic: You play better & have more fun when you play for something bigger than yourself.
Find a “why” bigger than you.
The team setting is not the best place to truly transform or to overhaul a swing
Especially at younger ages. Players can get very distracted and less one-on-one time with players usually equates to ineffective training.
There has to be a level of mental engagement w/ training
Coaching isn’t comfortable. It’s carrying pressure so your players don’t have to. It’s absorbing criticism. It’s losing sleep over lineups, grades, attitudes, and futures.
Players get applause.
Coaches carry responsibility.
Every correction, every tough conversation, every standard held — it leaves marks. But those scars are proof you chose development over popularity.
Real coaching isn’t about control.
The best thing about baseball?
Failure is part of the deal.
You just keep showing up.
Keep working.
Keep competing.
Because tomorrow… you get another shot.