Your attitude will mold your life. The dictionary defines attitude as a state of mind, behavior, and conduct regarding some matter as indicating opinion. Purpose – if you have a positive attitude then you will look at things to improve yourself, regardless of the results.

This Means – Respect your opponents, they make you better. Always congratulate them on their performance. Keep dreaming and never give up. Show appreciation to your coaches, when they tell you something say okay, and try to use what they have told you. This shows that you are willing to take advice to make yourself better. Always encourage your teammates, pick them up when they make a mistake. Although winning is important, trying to win at all costs is not logical. A loss can be disappointing but your attitude should always stay positive. Learn from your losses and make yourself better. Have courage and learn to play in the face of fear. Your courage will not get rid of fear; it will only help you overcome it. Always having this attitude will help you to become better, and have fun. The ultimate goal in life is to have fun at whatever you are doing.

Baseball is meant to be fun. You learn how to enjoy competition, and how a positive attitude will help you. Hope your parents and coaches have a positive attitude with your teammates.
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CORRECTING BATTING FAULTS – Here are a few common batting faults:

1. Fault: OVER STRIDER - You shift your weight to the front too soon & stride is too long, leaving only the arms to hit, thus losing power. Correction: A) No stride in practice; B) Widen stance to shorten stride (wide as your shoulders); C) Pick up front heel and place it down & then swing. Inward turn with your front hip to delay stride; D) Let arms do the work in swinging the bat; E) Step to hit – don’t step & hit.

2. Fault: STEPS IN THE BUCKET (bucket footer) - Front foot is pulled away from home plate; Will have trouble hitting outside pitch; You are too anxious to pull ball & weight is not going into ball; Hitter has little or no rear leg pushoff or body drive; Back leg is locked – not pivoting on back foot (pick up back heel, squash the bug) Correction: A) Start stance with open front foot (where you step to in the bucket); B) Bring front foot in to swing; C) Place front foot at right angle to back foot with your head directly at the pitcher and both eyes looking at the pitcher’s release point, turn in and swing; D) Use arms more and turn toe of front foot in & turn front heel toward pitcher; E) Place more weight on balls of feet, bend knees slightly. Keep in mind you may only try one of the corrections at time and see what works.

3. Fault: LUNGER - The upper half of your body is ahead of the lower half; hitter is off balance and his hips cannot pivot properly, causing him to lose power and timing. Correction: A) Inward turn & pick up front heel, more weight on rear foot; B) More ERECT STANCE, OPEN width of your shoulders; C) Do Drill 1,2,3: 1. Heel up place down; 2. Pivot back foot (squash the bug), keep bat over back foot; 3. Swing the bat & explode the bat as fast as you can. Once you feel you have the control of your body, keep weight back on rear foot and do steps 2 and 3 together.

Keep swinging – Remember to be a good hitter you must have confidence, concentration, & courage to attack the ball. If you can reach the ball, hit it – especially with 2 strikes. Walks don’t make you a good hitter.