- When it comes to working on the young hitter’s swing—whether it is with parents or coaches—there are two main processes to remember: Train It Time and Trust It Time.
- Train It Time is during non-ball flight training—hitting off of the tee, swinging in front of a mirror, or anything that doesn’t involve the moving baseball. This is when the swing can really be broken down, focusing on the details of each facet of the hitter’s mechanics.
- Trust It Time is during game situations when the ball is in flight—which adds another element for the hitter to focus on and doesn’t allow for much else. This is when the hitter must trust the work that wen in during the non-ball flight training.
- Coaches and Parents need to understand how to verbalize feedback during Trust It Time: This is not the time to focus on the small details of the swing or to get frustrated and shout pitch-by-pitch adjustments.
- Verbal and non-verbal cues from the parents and coaches should focus on positive reinforcement.
- Remember: A distracted hitter is an emotional hitter, which affects the way they see the pitch—not to mention it takes the fun out of the game.