What makes a good hitting team?
Okay, I've been in the little league/travel ball league for a few years now helping as a coach. Currently 13u. I can think of two teams we've encountered where everyone just seemed to know how to hit. And let me be clear - I'm talking about teams of "average players", not a stacked team of athletes. They just all seem to be making contact. I can think of one rec team where the coach seem to crack the code which I actually thought was most impressive, given most players were your typical rec player.
Most teams I encounter have the top 4-7 players who seem to know how to mash, maybe a few middle line up kids who do okay, and then a few players that you just hope somehow walk or don't cause an auto out.
I need these coaches to give the secrete sauce! How do you take average kids and turn them into contact hitters? Is it a deep focus on plate approach? Do you focus a lot on timing and less on mechanics? Our approach has been a focus on good mechanics, but that truthfully seems minimally effective.
I'm beginning to think of focusing nearly all on plate approach (pitch selection) and good timing, and give much less attention to mechanics so long as they are not egregious.
What I am asking, is what are the most effective ways you've seem full teams improve their contract hitting?