Improving The Mental Side of Your Game
How frustrating is it to put in all the physical work just to fall short of your goals?
You have probably been at this point in your baseball career where you wonder,
“I have worked so hard but never seem to get over the hump.”
Performance is like baking… you need all the ingredients for your cake to come out just right. Forget one little ingredient and the end product will be totally off.
That’s the reason hard work alone does not produce the best end result. What is missing for you to get to the next level? The mental game ingredient!
After winning the American League East Division in 2015 with 93 wins, the Toronto Blue Jays are looking to get to the next level this season. The Blue Jays lost to the Kansas City Royals, 4-2, in the American League Championship Series missing their opportunity to play in the World Series.
The Front Office decided it would be critical to add another ingredient in the mix and have committed to focusing on the mental side of the game.
The Blue Jays hired Angus Mugford as their first-ever Director of High Performance geared towards the mental and physical development of the players.
Mugford’s goal is to provide players with all the mental tools necessary to gain a competitive advantage. Mugford believes these mental skills are often the difference between winning and losing.
MUGFORD: “I think the key part is understanding that the margins of winning and losing are so small. There are many instances where you could look back at one play, one pitch, one event that could have meant everything. So that’s the key: What are the little things? Are they going to make a difference?”
Mugford wants his players to be proactive instead of waiting for slumps in performance. This proactive approach helps players better prepare for games and play at a higher level with more consistency.
MUGFORD: “Rather than just wait for things to go wrong, look at what are [the player’s] habits and things that help them be successful. That way they can be more consciously aware of what they’re doing well and hopefully they’ll be able to do that more consistently.”
The greatest benefit of mental training is that these skills can become so ingrained in a player’s mindset that responding mentally strong in pressure situations becomes a conditioned reflex.
MUGFORD: “When [the pressure is on], [mentally tough performers] focus on the process of what it takes to be successful. And they’re so well trained in that that it’s not about rising to the occasion. They are able to fall back to the level of their training.”
Tip for improving your mental game:
Review some of your best and worst games. What was the difference between your performances in both games?
Pay particular attention to the mental game factors that affected your performance. When did you perform with confidence and focus, for example?
Write down 1-2 mental skills that you will commit to work on for the next year that helped you perform your best. Develop s mental training plan that focuses on these 1-2 mental skills. For example, where are you today with your focus and where do you want to be?
Remember, skills require training and training takes time. It’s a good idea to seek out expert advice to help you view your performance in an objective way and provide advice and proven strategies to assist your mental game.
Contact us to request a one-page test that can help you identify some weak areas of your mental game or to request our mental training programs.
Get The Mental Edge For Baseball and Softball Players!
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?
Do you lose composure easily after you make your first error of time game?
Do you feel embarrassed after striking out and carry this with you for longer than one inning?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, check out The Mental Edge For Baseball And Softball Players!
Boost your (or your athletes mental) toughness! Learn 8 mental toughness lessons to help ball players improve confidence, focus and composure.
Download your copy today!
What are mental game customers saying?
“With your help, I have been able to deal with stress and pressure of the game of baseball more efficiently. I have learned what it means to focus on the process to help me keep my focus and disregard negative thoughts and energies. This process focus will keep me from getting my head in the way of my performance, from working against myself. Thanks for your help. I look forward to speaking with you again.”
~Keith Donnell, College Baseball Player
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You’ll discover:
- How your mind can be your best or worst asset during batting.
- If you are using your mind effectively to get a hit.
- A critical mental error that can erase your confidence at the plate!
- How to prepare your mind using an at-bat routine.
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Mental Game of Baseball Success Stories
“I currently play NCAA Division 1 Baseball, and even my coaches have noticed a change in the way that I approach the game; my attitude and confidence at the plate. Thank you for helping in my continuing goal to mental toughness.”
~Tylor Prudhomme, College Baseball Player
“Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with our team. It was greatly appreciated and really helped a lot. I found myself implementing your teachings in our first practice right after you left. I really enjoyed the way you implemented already known ideas, but gave us a different way of viewing it. Thank you.”
~Amber Prosser, Clark College Softball
Boost Your Self-Confidence And Focus With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.
You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!
What are our mental coaching students, parents and coaches saying?
“Dr. 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. Our awareness level has greatly increased.”
~Marty Hunter, Head Baseball Coach George Fox University
Coaches, Help Your Ball Players Change Their Narrative On The Field!
In this seven-day program, baseball and softball coaches learn proven strategies to build their teams’ self-confidence, improve sports performance, and stop self-doubt instantly!
Learn how to teach your team to have unshakable self-confidence with “Instilling Confidence in Baseball and Softball Players.”
This program consists of one 72-minute audio CD that includes 7 days of confidence-fueling exercises. You’ll also receive a simple-to-follow 74-page coaches’ manual that guides you through the 7 team sessions you’ll conduct.
We’ve also included the top confidence-building exercises on athletes’ worksheets. You’ll copy these for your team members, which help your players understand and apply what they’ll learn in the team sessions.
Learn more about the program here: Instilling Confidence In Baseball And Softball Players
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