| I want to focus on Self-talk using positive | | | | fail 70% of the time and the best pitchers |
| affirmations because I feel it is just as important | | | | succeed maybe half of the time. Not very |
| to have these attributes and skills as it is to have | | | | promising, is it? Do you see why it is important |
| outstanding pitching mechanics. In my opinion, | | | | that athletes can't rely on physical strength and |
| what separates some minor league pitchers and | | | | natural talent alone to succeed? The point is |
| major league pitchers is their attitude. | | | | experiencing all of this through plenty of on-field |
| These positive affirmations aren't the answer to | | | | performances we can use our past experiences |
| everything a pitcher needs, but, in my mind, a | | | | either to our advantage or disadvantage. We can |
| vital part to success. What are our athletes saying | | | | draw a lot of power from the past successes we |
| to themselves on the mound during the game? | | | | have achieved. A pitcher can take him back to |
| How are they mentally preparing themselves | | | | the time of their peak pitching performance. This |
| before they step on the mound? I know if the | | | | can have such and impact on how they approach |
| following principles are applied effectively, that you | | | | game day. I've worked with several pitchers that |
| will improve your pitching performance drastically. | | | | have struggled finding the strike zone. |
| The following is an example that I like to go | | | | I will talk to them about that time when they felt |
| through in my mind, not just on the pitchers | | | | unstoppable when their game was 100%, |
| mound, but through any important event in my | | | | everything seemed to work in their favor; they |
| life. (I use it everyday) I just substitute pitcher | | | | were un-hittable. (They were literally Superman!) I |
| for other activities I'm going to be doing. | | | | have them describe to me what they were |
| Everyday is your most important day in your life | | | | thinking, how they felt emotionally and they paint |
| right? Okay! Positive affirmations/self talk You can | | | | that picture of success deep into their minds that |
| use this example if you're a pitcher, but any | | | | those feelings come back to them. When the |
| athlete can use this same template and apply it to | | | | athlete can truly remember those feelings |
| anything that you do whether it is hitting the ball, | | | | (physically, emotionally, and mentally) they will |
| fielding, throwing etc. | | | | have no problem zoning in and not only throw |
| Remember, good self-talk is done with confidence | | | | strikes but have command on all of his pitches. |
| not cockiness! Here we go. "I am the best pitcher | | | | Why? Many reasons, but he knows he can do it! |
| in this league. I am the number one Pitcher | | | | He's done it before right? Why wouldn't he be |
| because I am focused and enthusiastic all the | | | | able to do it now? That is the attitude he begins |
| time, and my skills are the best. Every time I | | | | to establish again, one of complete and unshakable |
| step-up on the mound I am physically and | | | | confidence. The pitcher can immediately change |
| mentally energized and ready for the best game | | | | their current emotional state of feeling frustrated |
| of my life. I absolutely feel it today! Today is the | | | | to creating excitement and true enthusiasm |
| best day of my life and today is the day I | | | | through self-talk on a successful experience that |
| achieve my goals! On the mound I know that I | | | | happened in the past. We can also look at past |
| am successful and this is where I make true | | | | failures as a learning tool of what not to do again. |
| magic happen. Stepping up to the mound, I am | | | | I remember pitching to an outstanding team with |
| excited; with the expectations of many strikeouts | | | | a lot of great hitters. These boys knew how to |
| and my talented teammates behind me, I am | | | | crush the ball. I knew that because the three |
| confident! As I find each hitter's weakness I | | | | pitchers that threw before me were getting |
| attack it a pitch at a time, knowing each pitch is | | | | shelled. Sure enough, with the bases loaded, my |
| the most important pitch I throw. My teammates | | | | coach calls me in to finish the job and save the |
| look to me as a leader and their confidence | | | | game. One hit could score two and that would be |
| grows when they know I have the ball. I set and | | | | the end. Now, at that time I was in High School. |
| achieve huge goals and have a clear vision of | | | | As I took the mound, it wasn't with great |
| what the final outcome of each game will be. I | | | | confidence. With about 10 warm-up pitches, I was |
| am emotionally, physically and mentally prepared | | | | supposedly ready the throw. Another issue, I was |
| because I continue to work on pitching mechanics, | | | | thinking the "I hope I don'ts". You can guess |
| pitching drills and emotional training. I am | | | | where that got me. One pitch, bases loaded, big |
| enthusiastic and passionate every day! I am the | | | | farm boy, homerun, game over! A couple days |
| most consistent reliable pitcher on the team. My | | | | later I remember my best friend's father tell me, |
| emotions are positive and I am in complete | | | | Boy that ball would have gone out of any ballpark! |
| control of me and my mindset. | | | | Fortunately, I haven't forgotten the feelings I felt |
| I am the best! I am the best! I am the best! I am | | | | on the long bus ride home that night. I truly |
| the best! I am the best! I am the best! I am the | | | | learned from that experience. |
| best!" It is important to read your affirmation out | | | | Don't dwell on these performances; recognize the |
| loud each day. Switch this up if you have to, | | | | emotions behind the loss or a poor performance. |
| make it your own, but decide today that | | | | At times a pitcher may be in a similar situation |
| mediocrity is unacceptable and you will begin to | | | | that he was in when he had a bad experience; |
| achieve goals and others will want to follow your | | | | (game experience, good and bad, is some of the |
| lead. After a few weeks of reading the | | | | best experience a pitcher can have) understanding |
| affirmation (with enthusiasm) that you have | | | | self-talk and positive affirmations can change the |
| written for yourself, you will begin to experience | | | | pitchers mindset and help them experience a |
| huge success. Self-talk will quickly help you | | | | different outcome the next time he encounters |
| become who you want to be, Be who you want | | | | similar problems. I hope everyone takes these |
| to be right now by acting the part!! Many pitchers | | | | exercises and principles that have been learned or |
| can relate to a time when they have overcome | | | | reviewed and starts to apply them immediately! I |
| great odds and succeeded. These same athletes | | | | am confident that if done correctly, any athlete |
| have failed on several occasions. Think about this | | | | will drastically improve their overall performance |
| statistic that I've read and given great thought to | | | | on the mound and also become a better leader |
| several times. | | | | on and off the field. |
| Baseball is a game of failure, Hall-of-fame hitters | | | | |