Former Trinity baseball coach Al Hobby publishes a new book on the mental side of sports for young athletes. Titled ‘Your Mindset + Skill = Performance,’ the book is now available on Kindle and will reach bookstores and Amazon.com on Oct. 26, PennLive reported.
When Al Hobby publishes advice on the mental game, it draws on decades in the dugout. Hobby spent 30-plus seasons as a baseball head coach at Trinity and beyond. The new book is his second on the psychology of sports, following ‘Chalk Talk’ in 2021, a collection of discussions between a coach and his players on the mental game.
Why Al Hobby Publishes a Second Book
Hobby said he had no plans to write another book. The project began when his son started coaching his daughter in softball and asked for help.
“My son started coaching his daughter in softball and I started helping him. He asked me to write him a book to help him with coaching, to better reach his players,” Hobby said.
Todd Hobby, a Cumberland Valley alum who played baseball at Frederick Community College and a season of independent ball in Johnstown, died in 2023 at the age of 48. Partial proceeds from book sales will fund a scholarship in Todd’s name.
“He never really got to use most of the stuff I had ready, but I promised him the book,” Hobby said. “I went through a long bereavement period, but I owed him, so I finished the book.”
Telling a personal story can carry real weight, a theme in our piece on why your story is worth more than you think.
How the Book Teaches the Mental Game
As Al Hobby publishes this second title, he keeps the format readers know. Hobby uses a structure similar to ‘Chalk Talk.’ He explains a specialized subject through real-life sports moments, articles and notable athletes.
The book ranges well beyond baseball and softball. It covers the pressure pro golfers face on the 17th island green at TPC Sawgrass in Florida and young athletes playing before millions of viewers at the Little League World Series.
“There is a summary of each chapter, so people can really pick and choose. Attaching sporting events and sports icons makes it attractive to everyone. How did they reach peak performance in that moment?” Hobby said.
His favorite chapter, ‘Twisties,’ examines sports anxiety through Olympic gymnast Simone Biles. Biles withdrew from the all-around competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which the source describes as a byproduct of immense pressure and stress.
“Not to sound braggadocious, but I care. I want kids to reach peak performance. And if they want that, they’ve got to get involved with what’s going on in their head,” Hobby said.
A Coach’s View of the Al Hobby Publishes Project
Jeff Sanno, head baseball coach at West Perry from 2001 to 2025, said the mental part of the game often gets overlooked. Sanno compiled a 324-213-1 record with multiple division championships.
“The purpose is you want to establish a routine to allow your players to be the version of themselves,” Sanno said. “But you need something to go to when things start to go sideways.”
Sanno said Hobby shows athletes how to stay in the present moment, without dwelling on past or possible future failures. He called the book relatable because it ties lessons to sports history, games and players.
For coaches, the news that Al Hobby publishes a new guide adds to a growing conversation. Sanno added that sports psychology was a polarizing topic 30 years ago. “As time goes on and things progress, everyone has a mental coach,” he said, adding that Hobby relays that well to younger athletes. Building that kind of outlook is also the subject of our interview on cultivating a mindset for the future, and growth lessons appear in our talk with Greg Kish on scaling what used to work.