| If you or your kid have played baseball long | | | | about? They were still thinking on the previous |
| enough, I'm sure you have heard the phrase | | | | inning and the errors they made. When something |
| "mental toughness". In fact, you probably have | | | | doesn't go the way you want it too, take a |
| heard those words used plenty of times in other | | | | second to think through what happened and how |
| sports and even outside of sports. But what | | | | to fix it so you can work on it later and "flush it |
| exactly is it and how can you improve your | | | | down the toilet". Re-focus on the task at hand |
| mental toughness? We've all witnessed the guys | | | | with a clear mind. |
| who strike out, throw their helmet, and are | | | | 3 - Think Positive |
| obviously angry for the rest of the game. In the | | | | Especially if you're in a slump, or not having |
| field, they make an error on an easy ground ball. | | | | success on the mound, it is so easy to go to |
| Then, next time their up, with a chance to win | | | | "Don't strike out this time" or "Whatever you do, |
| the game, they swing at bad pitches and hit fly | | | | don't walk this guy." Guess what, you're probably |
| out to end the game. | | | | going to do what you are telling yourself not to |
| Compared that to someone who is considered | | | | do. Instead walk up to the plate saying to |
| "mentally tough". Yes, he strikes out the first and | | | | yourself "my mechanics are perfect, I know I |
| he appears angry for a while, although he doesn't | | | | WILL hit this guy hard" or on the mound "I have |
| throw his helmet. As soon as he steps on the | | | | all my stuff today, this guy has no shot, and I am |
| field to play defense, it appears that he has | | | | in control." |
| washed it away and he has. He makes a good | | | | 4 - Relax |
| play on the same ground ball, and when it comes | | | | You have to remember that you are playing |
| time for him to hit again with a chance to win the | | | | baseball here and that failure is going to happen. |
| game, he hits a line drive base hit up the middle. | | | | We are all humans and any human will make tons |
| So what is so different about these two | | | | of mistakes. The key is not to worry about |
| example? It wasn't the amount of time they | | | | mistake or anything else. To relax when you are |
| worked on their swing, the work they put into | | | | feeling stressed, breath deep, and don't be afraid |
| their fielding, or that one was better than the | | | | to take a mental "vacation". For me, I find that |
| other physically. The difference was that the | | | | whistling any random tune helps me relax |
| second example was better mentally. So if the | | | | tremendously. Also, take deep breaths pushing |
| mental aspect plays such a large role, how can | | | | your stomach out helps relaxation as well. This |
| you improve it? Here are some simple tips to | | | | also provides your body with more oxygen, which |
| getting better mentally. | | | | is essential in anything athletic. |
| 1 - Clear the mind | | | | 5 - Visualize |
| Yogi Berra also said "I can't think and hit at the | | | | Take time everyday to visualize yourself |
| same time". While he may not have been the | | | | succeeding on the baseball field. Visualize yourself |
| brightest fellow around, he was definitely on to | | | | with the perfect mechanics just absolutely drilling |
| the mental aspect of the game. When you step | | | | that curve ball the other way or yourself on the |
| on the field, whether pitching, hitting, fielding or | | | | mound throwing your dirty change-up for strike |
| running, you have to totally clear you mind. I | | | | three. Visualization can happen a number of ways. |
| found that repeating to myself "ball, ball, ball, ball.." | | | | You can see yourself from the outside or see |
| helps me focus. A game is NOT the time to think | | | | things through your eyes. You can do it pretty |
| about mechanics. Tell yourself your mechanics are | | | | much anywhere, and you'll be amazed out how |
| perfect and think only about the ball. | | | | much this can help you prepare for when you are |
| 2 - Flush it | | | | actually playing. Just remember to see yourself |
| We've all seen it happen and probably it's | | | | doing the right thing, just like you practice your |
| happened to you. A player makes an error in the | | | | swing the right way. |
| field, which leads to a second error because their | | | | I hope this helps. The mental side of baseball is |
| mind was still on the last play. They then come up | | | | often overlooked and is such an important part of |
| to bat and strike out. What where they thinking | | | | success on the field. |