| "The essence of the game of baseball is | | | | relationship will the players really buy in to what |
| SELF-ESTEEM vs. FEAR." | | | | you are saying, and only then will they share |
| Augie Garrido, head coach of 2005 Baseball | | | | information with you that you need to help them |
| National Champion Texas University | | | | perform. |
| My pen was flying across my notebook last | | | | Next, "Remove all thoughts of winning the game - |
| January when Garrido was spilling the beans on | | | | make sure it is not on your mind. Focus on the |
| the secrets to his success to a couple thousand | | | | performance. On each pitch. On one pitch at a |
| coaches at the American Baseball Coaches | | | | time." |
| National Convention. | | | | Each player should have a pre-game and pre-pitch |
| SELF-ESTEEM vs. FEAR. | | | | routine he follows, one that is carefully developed |
| That's what it all boils down to for Garrido. He's | | | | based on some key fundamental principles. This |
| won national titles before and is one of the | | | | helps reduce fear because fear is about the |
| winningest coaches in Division I baseball history. | | | | future, about outcomes, about winning. "Your goal |
| I first met Garrido when Ken Ravizza and I were | | | | is to free them of pressure: eliminate |
| writing Heads-Up Baseball back in '94 and I've | | | | expectations, support failures. "In fact, encourage |
| admired him ever since. Extremely bright guy, | | | | failure." |
| deeply into the mental game. Now here he was | | | | Finally, his basic message to his players is: "Go out |
| talking to the convention about "How to Win a | | | | and play like you are 12 years old and know you |
| National Championship" and he only addressed the | | | | are the baddest player in the state of Texas" |
| two main elements: the mental game and | | | | "Baddest" in this context of course means "best" |
| recruiting!. | | | | (a wide range of aged people read my articles, so |
| So, let's get Lesson One out of the way: Recruit | | | | I thought I'd point that out...") |
| great players. | | | | Why 12 years old? He didn't say. But I have a |
| I'll focus on what he spent virtually his entire hour | | | | few ideas. Why do you think he said 12? |
| on: the mental game. | | | | Ultimately he wanted his players freed up (no |
| "The essence of the game is self-esteem vs. fear | | | | fear), focused, and trusting their talents. He had |
| because baseball is a game that brings out fears," | | | | some more jewels on how to do this I may write |
| he said. | | | | about later, but I don't want to dilute his message |
| So the goal of the coach is to build self-esteem | | | | on what I've already mentioned. |
| and reduce fear. How do you do that? | | | | So whether you are a coach, a parent or a |
| "Number 1 is your relationship with your players," | | | | player, think in terms of "How can I build |
| he said. | | | | self-esteem and reduce fear? |
| Only when you have a trusting, respectful | | | | |