Explanation, demonstration, correction and repetition are essential to the activity of teaching. Successful coaches must be able to effectively and consistently incorporate each of these teaching methods into lessons for their teams. Ideal for any age group, the concepts in this guide help coaches to master these basic principles as they focus on the most important elements of how to teach hitting.
Introduced with the author’s own teaching-coaching philosophy, this work offers 21 chapters covering a hitting coach’s every need. When to Start, Bat Size, Grip, Stance, Swing, Drills and Station Work, Bat Speed, Mental Preparation and Confidence, Pinch Hitting and Running a Hitting Clinic are a few examples of the many specific instructional sections included here. There are 137 photographs that supplement the text.

Worcester State University head baseball coach Dirk Baker was an adjunct professor at the university for 15 years. He previously coached at Harvard and Boston University as well as in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He lives in West Boylston, Massachusetts.

Dirk Baker
Foreword by Mike Easler
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 216
Bibliographic Info: 137 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2005
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2049-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0659-0
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword (Mike Easler)      1
Introduction to Teaching and Coaching      3

1. When to Start      13
2. Bat Size      17
3. Grip      23
4. Stance      29
5. Swing      39
6. Drills and Station Work      59
7. Strategy      84
8. Bat Speed      91
9. Mental Preparation and Confidence      95
10. Common Mistakes      106
11. Switch Hitting      115
12. Pinch Hitting      119
13. Pitcher and Strike Zone      124
14. Bunting      145
15. Inside Pitch and Getting Hit      154
16. Making a Lineup      158
17. Batting Practice      164
18. Signals      171
19. Work Ethic, Attitude and Winning      175
20. Dealing with Failure      182
21. Running a Hitting Clinic      188

Index      203