| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
diamondstarz
105 Posts |
 Posted - 11/16/2008 : 22:30:05
|
If I asked you what percentage of playing baseball is mental what would your answer be?
How much time do we as coaches spend on the mental game?
Do you believe mental toughness is important to being a sucessful competitor?
What is mental toughness? Can it be taught to young players?
Do you know how to coach it or teach it?
Reply to this post. I am interested in your feedback. I would like to get a dialogue on this subject..........
Diamond Starz Academy |
|
|
panther
38 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2008 : 10:44:06
|
| heck yeah it is important. Mental toughness is what makes great players and teams. Our dad always would preached to us in baseball it is how you handle the pressure of sports that will make you the best you can be. While it is nice to go 3-3 on a day when everybody is wearing out the pitching, but more important to go 1-3 when the one hit wins a tight ball game 2-1. He always stressed to us how important is was to get rbi's when you had the chance. He always wanted us to concentrate a little harder in those at bats or pitches. As a coach we talk all the time about it being a different person everyday to come through to have a championship team. Mental toughness is probably the most important thing to have baseball. I am sure every coach spends time talking about this stuff but we talk about it every practice. |
 |
|
|
bigcatsdad
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/17/2008 : 15:52:23
|
| Not sure of the percentage, but it is a major part. If you don't have the ability, the mental stuff isn't going to help much. MT is what you need to get over the edge. When you're saying, "I don't know if I can get this guy out or not". You have to face the music and pitch anyway. Or when batting, I'm not going to let this guy get me out, even though it might be one of the best pitchers around. This is more times than not the difference in the average ones and the great ones. A coach can try to teach it at an early age, but unless the kid is brought up that way it could take a few years or never. We've all heard coaches tell us push yourselves until you can't give anymore, then reach down and push some more. It's doing whatever it takes to get better every time you step on the field. Sometimes you're not involved in every play, but you still have to have the mentality that "YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET BEAT BY THE GUY ACROSS FROM YOU"! You can talk about it all day, but until those players believe in YOU(the coach), you won't see it. One of the hardest parts of coaching is getting the kids to focus ALL the time. |
Edited by - bigcatsdad on 11/17/2008 17:33:33 |
|
|
|
bigcatsdad
22 Posts |
Posted - 11/18/2008 : 07:53:02
|
123,
You're right on. You can only hope that most kids will learn valuable life lessons from their failures and be better people in the long run. For example, it's hard to handle when a kid has been a very good hitter for several years, and then has a tough fall. Or, they fail to make their choice of travel teams. As you know, it's detrimental to the kid AND parents. With that first major failure in a kid's life, comes the chance to gain experience from it (mental toughness learned). Having heart and a little talent, they can push themselves harder than ever before in order to be the high level player they want to be. |
|
|
|
diamondstarz
105 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2008 : 22:26:14
|
All great points and glad to see that you recognize the importance of this in the game AND in practice.
There are practical ways that the mental game can be taught. If we just say or verbalize words to the players these are just words to them. We must give them PRACTICAL THINGS TO DO to deal with the mental side. Most of this mental game is rooted in learning how to deal with failure. In baseball and softball, players will experience or feel failure A LOT
However there are practical and tangible things that coaches can do to help their players. The result is mental toughness. We just cannot say BE MENTALLY TOUGH and then expect it to happen. We as coaches need to give the players, yes even the younger ones, things they can DO to BECOME MENTALLY tough and focused. Establishing things like routines in hitting, pitching etc.. is a starting point. Giving the players a focal point to bring them back to the present moment during each game is another. Teaching them to play pitch by pitch and not dwell on the last pitch or at bat...How to live in the present moment. How to release negative thoughts.
Also these techniques, such as hitting routines and swing thoughts need to be PRACTICED in PRACTICE just like any other physical skill. It needs to be come a part of what gets done at practice. We need to make practice more game like so when the pressure hits during the game the players already know how to deal with the pressure.
There are a lot of coaches who will tell their players to be mentally tough or tell them to focus, BUT they never tell them HOW TO DO IT. This is teh the difference. Coaches that are trained in techniques on HOW to do this end up having more competitive teams and players. It is proven.
If you would like to learn more or have us show you and your players HOW then please give us a call at Diamond Starz. Several HS programs across the country are implementing mental game programs into their practices and games.
678-715-1472
--------------------
Diamond Starz Baseball and Softball Academy
8950 Hwy 5
Douglasville, GA 30134
678-715-1472 |
|
|
|
HITANDRUN
436 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2008 : 14:29:58
|
I see alot of parents trying to turn their kids into leaders or players that are mentally tough, I think it's something you have and if you aren't born with it, then you probably wont ever have it. Now like speed you can improve on it, but probably not to the point where it pushes you to the next level.
I read an article once and forgive me for not remembering who said it or where I got it, but it's a good read if you have the time.
How many times have we heard coaches talking about a player and saying something to the effect of, "Boy, he really has "IT". Yet when you ask them what the, "It" is they are talking about, they stumble around and give examples but never really place a word to define, "It."
What are the things that the coaches are seeing that lead them to the conclusion about a particular player? To me the obvious talent things are not where the tire meets the road but they are certainly a big part of the equation.
Watch carefully the next time two teams that have not ever played each other take the field. Watch them as they stretch or go through the motions of playing catch. Watch your key player, the one who can get it done when the game is on the line, the one who wants to bat when it is really hairy and other players are about to pee their pants, the one who thrives on pressure and enjoys himself the most when one mistake can cost the championship. This player has one of the two factors that to me define, "It." That factor is that he is a DIFFERENCE MAKER.
Now watch him sizing up the players on the other team. This one gets a quick glance and is quickly ignored and he moves on to the nest. A little more time but not much really. Eventually, he will find the other player of consequence, his rival, the one with the second factor, PRESENCE. A player with presence will walk like his feet are feathers and prance more than walk. Usually, they will know they are being watched by the other and, with time, their eyes will meet. Then they will know. And if you are the manager, leaning against the dugout entrance, the other player will find you and your eyes will meet and you will both know.
Now, if you are going to ask me. "know what?" I am not sure I can explain it to you. You will see the confidence and the competitiveness in his eyes and you will know who he is as a player. He will not be intimidated nor be trying to intimidate. He will be inquizative and probing. He will put the read on you and pigeon hole you. You will do likewise. Everyting is only a matter of degree. Of one thing you can be reasonably sure; the mental side of their game is pretty well developed for their age. Above
the other players participating.
So to me, other than the obvious innate ability and skills things, the two things that define, "It" are presence and being a difference maker. You can see it when 100 kids are at a tryout or at a championship game preliminary activities. A skilled coach will spot these kids at tryouts when they walk on the field. That is a gift that can only be refined to a degree with practice.
Many coaches are fooled at tryouts by kids who have a lot of glitz and solid mechanics but in reality are short of innate ability. They know how to do the right things like hustling and looking the coach in the eyes when he speaks. The kids with, "It" also do these things but smoothly and calmly and as a matter of routine with no need to impress anyone. That comes automatically and they really aren't into such stuff. Besides, they have sized up the competition and know their pecking order already.
Chew on this and be more observant next time out. If you are fortunate enough to see some playoff games where kids are competing, try to spot these things. But if you are in the stands, don't expect eye contact from the kids with, "It." As a spectator, you are of no consequence to them.
Again, Forgive me for not knowing where I got this from |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Mental Game Part of Baseball
