Always allow ample time to get stretched, run, play catch and take a couple minutes before you go out on the field or hit. And, in the case of youth baseball, telling pitchers who is “up” (available or expected to pitch) or “down” (not available or unlikely) helps them stay in the game and be mentally ready. An all star or travel team's mental state is a major contributing factor of whether or not they reach their goals. Let me know if you have found the ideal routine to play with confidence, focus and consistency to share with other readers. ... lol i dont mentally prepare at all. From this chart you can look for tendencies. Watch a few games on the TV before you go. (You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier) Where is he now? We support the site through affiliate relationships with baseball retailers. 1 decade ago "As I Think, So I Play" by Jim Meier. Mental skills can be taught, drilled and perfected the same as physical skills, and are as creatable a group of skills as throwing, catching, running and hitting. If you have trouble taking your practice game to competition and under perform in games, your mental game might be the culprit! Do you (or your athletes) lack full confidence in your skills when you step on the field as if your game disappears at game time? One of the best way to mentally prepare for pitching is to visualize. Community Answer Try to stick to water, especially on game day. Cohn has put together a program that has enabled myself and our players to approach the mental game in a systematic way that is easy to use and apply. Both Cain and Ladd sees themselves as similar to a jiu-jitsu or strength and conditioning coach, and just as necessary. Learn proven mental game strategies, tips, and insight to help boost you or your team’s performance in games. Hall of Fame player Hank Aaron, one of the best hitters in the history of baseball and a model of consistency, attributed much of his success to his mental preparation, both before and during a game.. Rather than focusing on mechanics, he believed that preparing mentally … This paper is comprised of notes from two books, THE MENTAL GAME OF BASEBALL (H.A. Spray Charts. That means if you click on any link on our site that takes you to an online store, they'll give us a small commission on whatever you buy in the next couple weeks. The day of a game, showing up ahead of time is an absolute necessity in terms of preparation, because it allows you to get your gear organized, your thoughts in order, and your body warmed up. Righty or lefty? Any light aerobic exercise can calm your nerves and boost your mood, so take a short walk if your nerves become overwhelming. What Should You Think About During an At-Bat? How to steal bases – 6 Base Stealing Tips from MLB stolen base leader Eric Young Jr. 4 Baseball fielding tips from Rockies Nolan Arenado, Hitting Routines, including Batting Practice, You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier, What baseball scouts look for: Advice from Orioles Scout, Everything you need to know about how to use a wood bat, Bat Path – The most important hitting trait no one is talking about, Baseball bat sensor product review: Swing Tracker by Diamond Kinetics, Linear vs Rotational Hitting, Pros and Cons of each baseball swing, How to know good from bad baseball instruction. ~Keith Donnell, College Baseball Player. I’ll also notify you when we have other baseball or softball mental game tips to boost your performance! The Following articles show the player how to enter the game with the correct mental picture, and operate throughout the game. Our Promise. This worksheet is designed for young baseball players to help them understand the mental side of baseball. Our passion is to help baseball players maximize their potential. Your pregame warm up routine is the perfect time to get your mind right for the game. There are many ways to prepare mentally — mental imagery, relaxation techniques, and self-talk to name a few. Along with this, Cain believes that MMA athletes should seek help in developing their mental toughness "today," noting that, This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Doing your pregame homework might seem like a lot of work. On deck means you are the next hitter in line to bat. Do you feel embarrassed after striking out and carry this with you for longer than one inning? He may be more inclined to hit a ball up the middle. Visualize how you want to perform and execute you game or race plan. Go for a walk to relax. If you are using your mind effectively to get a hit. Charts don’t lie, baseball is a game of percentages, play the percentages. Whether the opponent is weak or strong if your team believes they can win they will be up for the game. Teaching Young Athletes to Mentally Prepare. 10 Proven Strategies for Preparing the Underdog for the Postseason are available to our Championship Coaches Network members. Here’s what the research says…, How to make baseball practice more fun, Part 1, How to practice baseball from home – Kobe Bryant’s advice & Covid-19 Quarantine, The surprising link between fun and success in baseball, Real confidence vs fake “self-esteem” – How to build confidence in athletes. Your pregame warm up routine is the perfect time to get your mind right for the game. Prepare your game to compete. It allows you to react and go through with your plans, because you already thought about the probabilities and percentages and are not getting tripped up on your thoughts. A pre-game routine starts when the player gets to the stadium. Without pregame mental preparation, your mind is open to random pregame thoughts, including doubt, second-guessing, and even small, insignificant distracted from fans, mistakes, or your opponents. Required fields are marked *. If the same sinkerballer wants to throw a fastball away, look for the hitter to take it back up the middle. Every time you step on the field, you want to have a calm, confident mindset. Your athletes will learn practical mental game strategies to help them get mentally ready to compete, which is when their mindset is most critical… First, your kids get 10-minute audio programs for young athletes (including cheat sheets for review), which walks them through eight simple lessons for pregame preparation in sports. I hope these tips for your baseball pre game preparation will help you in the future. Preparing for the Big Moments in Baseball and Softball, Concentration Skill For Baseball and Softball, How to Keep the Game Simple After a Layoff, Baseball Mental Game by Peak Performance Sports, Park distractions in your life and enter the role of the athlete. During the game use performance cues and triggers that help you perform such as “bases loaded, infield up” or “third and long, watch for the pass.” Boost your (or your athletes mental) toughness! Know who is pitching for your team. I look forward to speaking with you again.” Players who feel confident, focused, and ready are more likely to start the game well and this can lead to momentum. ... Learning to manage stress properly and even controlling excitement can help improve your mental game when it's time to compete. Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching. Be your best with these 6 tips for getting in the zone before a competition: 1. Many peaks and valleys take place in one baseball game, let alone an entire season. How your mind can be your best or worst asset during batting. Creating a game-day routine or ritual does just that. Addressing The Mental Game: Prioritizing Your Practice Plan. It can include packing a game bag the night before, eating the same pre-game snack or listening to the same songs during warm-up—or all of the above. Visualization is when a pitcher throws an entire game in his mind. It's not. Learn how your comment data is processed. This may give you insight into where some players may hit the baseball. 1 0. Doing your homework before every game can give you a competitive edge over the hitter and help you complete more plays successfully. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. This is a time to build confidence, get focused, and fine tune your level of intensity. It will become easier with time as you become familiar with general game tendencies, and as you see the same players again and again. In Major League Baseball mentally tough players rise to the top of the game. ~Marty Hunter, Head Baseball Coach George Fox University. Chase Utley for example uses mental preparation techniques before games to … Two weeks ago he pitched a 9-inning shutout, breaking his school’s record with 17 strikeouts. I should have called you earlier to thank you personally.”  Play hard! Instilling Confidence in Baseball and Softball Players, How the Dodgers Use Self-Talk to Boost Confidence, Keep Your Mind in the Present on the Field, Baseball Catcher Gary Sanchez Knows What it’s Like to Experience a Slump. If you answered yes to any of these questions, check out The Mental Edge For Baseball And Softball Players! Arriving early in any situation is a must; it is the professional and responsible way to prepare for what you are about to encounter. Maximizing Mental Game . These are your potential hit and run guys. Many pitchers try to mentally see themselves pitching by focusing on things that they want to achieve during the game. SPREAD THE WORD. Many baseball and softball coaches tell us their players performed poorly because “they lost their heads” or “psyched themselves out,” which suggests that mental preparation in baseball is a huge key to success. Is the infield soft and dusty or hard and gritty ? We think that picture social stories are a great tool to use to prepare your child for any new experience. Thanks for your help. Here I’ll describe in-details every single step which enhances your mental thoughts. Who are the good contact guys? He thinks this mindset will help him play better. As a defender you should know if he throws a split finger fastball, or if he throws a curve ball and not a slider. Your email address will not be published. Excellent article on the importance of pre-game preparation whether you know the opposition or not. Del Pittman Baseball Instruction. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators. However, while I do not claim to be a sports psychologist, I can only relate to my experiences playing the game. As you prepare for a match, use the time to mentally and physically get close to match speed with your shots, movement and mind. This will help you get off to a fast start and compete with your game plan immediately. When John does not achieve his expectations, he gets frustrated and doubt can set in: “Why am I 0-2 at the plate today?”. You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Copyright © 2021 Baseball Mental Game by Peak Performance Sports & Dr. Patrick Cohn, Free Report - 6 Mental Game Mistakes Ball Players Make -. Each pitcher has different movement on his pitches and this movement allows us to form a pregame plan to prepare for a team and individual players. This includes practicing between … When you are up to bat, you must clear your mind of all thoughts, and only focus on the ball. I have learned what it means to focus on the process to help me keep my focus and disregard negative thoughts and energies. I have been amazed at the change in his mental game. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!  – Doug, Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 5 organizations (CO Rockies, NY Yankees, PIT Pirates, MN Twins, & TX Rangers) over the past 16 years. Ask your players or coaches about the other teams’ players they played with and against. 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