Coaching

Must Read Books for Baseball and Softball Coaches

30 Books for Baseball and Softball Coaches

I get asked frequently what it takes to be a great coach, and I can honestly say there is no real answer to this. At the end of the day, our goal as coaches is to make a difference for the student athletes that you have the opportunity to coach. But if I had to […]

three-goals-of-a-hitting-coach

Three Goals for Hitting Coaches

It’s not always clear what the role of a hitting coach is. Should a hitting coach strive to give as much information as possible in the time they have, or is it important to internalize the concept of “less is more?” Can we best serve our hitters by teaching them the same exact swing as […]

internal-vs-external-focus

Internal vs. External Focus for Baseball and Softball Hitters

As hitting coaches, our primary role is to serve as a translator for our players. We have to understand complex scientific concepts about how the body moves during the swing and design drills (and cues within those drills) that our hitters can actually put into practice. In fact, communicating effectively with athletes is such an […]

thv_role_of_hitting_coach

What is the Role of a Hitting Coach?

Over the past few years, teaching baseball and softball swing mechanics has become exponentially more science-based. For some coaches, that’s been an empowering development. Innovations in measurement and analytics have given them valuable new insights into their players’ movements, helping them better understand what’s working and what needs improvement.  For other coaches, that science revolution […]

drills-for-first-time-coaches

8 Basic Drills for First-Time Baseball & Softball Coaches

Thousands of first-time baseball and softball coaches take the field each year, and many wonder where to start. How do you keep a group of 10 or more Little League players engaged and learning over the course of a 90-minute (or longer) training session? Your first step should be to develop a written practice plan […]

alexa-coach-update-hero-new

Coach Update: Alexa Peterson

This is Alexa Peterson letting you know what I’ve been up to! I just got back from the Netherlands where I spent two weeks playing in their professional league for the Haarlem Sparks. It was my first time to Europe, and I really enjoyed my experience. I felt right at home (I’m from Oregon) with […]

Q and A with Coach Lisle

The Hitting Vault Coaches Group: Live Q+A

Here’s an sneak peak into an hour-long Q&A that Coach Lisle hosted on The Hitting Vault’s COACHES ONLY private Facebook page last night. This group is only for our COACH members, but we had such a good time we thought we’d share it with you. Pop-up Q&A with Coach Lisle One of the biggest benefits […]

Do You need to Yell

Making a Difference for Student-Athletes

In 2024, the landscape of youth and collegiate athletics, and how we coach student-athletes, is vastly different than it was in 2004, 1994, and even more so than 1954. You can be demanding but without being demeaning or tearing down. If an athlete is trying but doesn’t understand your words, raising the volume seldom helps. […]

It's OK to Swing and Miss

Swing and Miss?

Do you have hitters that swing and miss at the plate? It’s not always as alarming as you think. Let me paint a game scenario for you. Late in the game. Close score. Good hitter up. The count is 1 ball and 0 strikes. The pitcher throws a changeup on the outside part of the […]