Best Baseball Coaching Books of 2026

This book, "Win the Next Pitch! Essential Mental Game Skills for Young Baseball Players," is a valuable tool for parents looking to help their 8-12-year-old baseball players improve their skills on the field. Written by sport psychologist Dr. Curt Ickes, this book teaches young players how to develop concentration and confidence, and how to apply these skills to any performance situation. The story follows Jack, a new player on the Oak Groves Owls team, as he learns to overcome anxiety, reset after failure, and improve his mental game. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for young baseball players looking to elevate their game and enjoy playing even more.

You Got This! Mental Game Skills for Young Softball Players is a book written by Dr. Curt Ickes, a sport psychologist, to help 8-14-year-old softball players develop a great mental game. The book introduces the players to sport psychology techniques that are usually reserved for older, more advanced athletes. The lessons are taught using concise and easy-to-understand language, through a fun, relatable, engaging story. It teaches proven, easy-to-learn mental game skills that help players develop the mindset to play in the present and win the next pitch rather than worrying about failure. At the end of the book, there is a review section, and specific drills that improve mental game skills are included. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for young softball players, coaches, and parents.

The Science of Hitting by Ted Williams is a comprehensive guide for baseball players of all levels seeking to improve their hitting skills. The book is filled with detailed illustrations, anecdotes, and concise coaching, covering topics such as pitch selection, bunting, and hitting the opposite way. Williams, who was arguably the greatest pure hitter who ever lived, shares his secrets and insights into the finer points of hitting. The book is a must-read for all baseball players looking to improve their turn at bat and for all coaches and parents teaching the sport.

Local Legends: The High Cheese is a children's chapter book about a young baseball player named Billy Kramer who must navigate a difficult decision when his family moves to a new town. The book explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and sportsmanship in a relatable way for young readers. The story is well-written and engaging, with a clear message that is easy for children to understand. Overall, The High Cheese is a great addition to any young reader's bookshelf and a perfect summer read for any baseball fan.

Mind of a Superior Hitter: The Art, Science, and Philosophy is a must-read for any baseball or softball player looking to improve their hitting skills. The book offers a comprehensive analysis of the psychological, emotional, and strategic aspects of hitting, providing invaluable advice from some of the best hitting coaches and players in the world. Hitters of all ages will learn how to deal with slumps, develop better focus, become a better situational hitter, customize their swing, and be more confident in their approach. Written by former DI collegiate baseball player Michael McCree, this book is a unique and insightful addition to any baseball book collection.

The Beckett Baseball Card Price Guide 2022 is the ultimate reference book for collectors of baseball cards. It is considered the #1 authority on collectibles and covers a wide range of cards from vintage to modern. The guide includes over one million cards with their corresponding values, making it easy for collectors to track the worth of their collections. The book is categorized under Antique & Collectible Sports Cards Books, and it lives up to its reputation as the best in the field. This guide is a must-have for any serious collector, and the information it provides is invaluable.

The Baseball Drill Book, written by seventeen of the game's top collegiate coaches in collaboration with the American Baseball Coaches Association, is a comprehensive guide to improving individual and team performance with 198 proven drills. Each drill follows a concise format that identifies the primary skill or tactic to be enhanced, provides procedure and setup details, includes illustrations for proper technique, and offers coaching insights. The book also includes chapters on incorporating drills in practice sessions and simulating game situations. Overall, The Baseball Drill Book is an essential tool for coaches and players looking to improve their skills and win on the diamond.

DIAMOND MIND: Inspiring Stories of Mental Toughness for Young Athletes: A Baseball Player's Guide to Sports Psychology & Motivation for Kids and Coaches is a book that provides baseball players with the mental toughness secrets that could transform them into living legends. The book contains stories of sports legends, the importance of commitment, setting challenging goals, having a good support system, and finding balance between sports, school, and social life. This book is an excellent guide for both seasoned athletes and beginners who wish to take their game to the next level.

Every Moment Matters is a must-read book for coaches at any level who are looking to improve their leadership skills and build high-performing teams. Author John O'Sullivan has compiled insights from top coaches, sport scientists, psychologists, and athletes to create a blueprint for success. The book emphasizes the importance of being intentional in every moment, from designing practices to inspiring players. Whether you're coaching a youth team or competing for an NCAA championship, this book provides practical tools and strategies to become the coach your athletes need. Overall, it's an inspiring and insightful read that will help coaches bring out the best in their teams.

This book is a tribute to Skip Bertman, the legendary former LSU head baseball coach, and Athletic Director. The author, Glenn Guilbeau, a veteran sportswriter, sheds light on Skip's work ethic, inventiveness, attention to detail, entrepreneurial ability, and overall contributions to LSU. The book includes chapters on each of the five National Championships won under his direction, beginning in 1991. It reveals his secrets to training great pitchers who later pitched in the Major League and shows how he embraced and used "The Power of Positive Thinking" throughout his career. The book is a must-read for baseball lovers and anyone who wants to learn from one of the greatest coaches in college baseball history.