The ability to concentrate is critical to successful performance in all sports, especially in baseball. Each game requires you to turn your concentration on and off several times. When it is time to go to the plate, you have to turn on the concentration. When you’re in the dugout, you can relax … [Read more...]
The Power of Choice in Hitting
February 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The power of choice is one of the most important mental game abilities that ball players possess. Much of my work with athletes involves teaching players that they have the ability to make good choices with their mental game. In fact, everything I do in sport psychology revolves around showing … [Read more...]
Refocus When You Get Too Far Ahead
November 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Do distractions cause you to become sidetracked during baseball or softball games? Are you anxious about what the outcome of the game might be? Do you tense up and put more pressure yourself to win? If you said yes, then you focus too much on results and not enough on the process. You … [Read more...]
How to Keep Practice Exciting
November 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Keeping practice interesting is a big challenge for professional players that spend as much as eight hours a day practicing and playing ball. It’s also a challenge for amateur players who practice more than two hours at a time. When you are bored with practice, you don’t feel challenged enough. … [Read more...]
How to Think Less at the Plate
October 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The ability to swing your bat naturally and instinctively is critical to great hitting. The major purpose of batting practice is to trust your swing when it’s time to play the game. As you get more repetitions through practice, you develop a memory program for that movement. Soon with a lot … [Read more...]
6 Common Mental Game Errors For Hitters
October 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment
In my work, it’s important to help ball players be aware when they are making mental errors and also provide direction. You first have to know when there is a problem before you can address it. Great hitting requires you maintain a great attitude. Confidence, trust, and focus are the keys to … [Read more...]
Mariano Rivera and The Power of Self-Discipline
October 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Coping with failure is very much a part of baseball. Hitters’ certainly don’t get a hit or succeed every time. The top hitters succeed three out of 10 times on average. Pitchers have had their taste of failure too. Pitchers succeed only half the time, even at the professional level. With all … [Read more...]
How to Avoiding Choking in Baseball
October 9, 2009 By Leave a Comment
All baseball and softball players feel the pressure of competition at some point in their career. The word “choke” for baseball players can stop them in their tracks. Players never want to admit to others that they choked. PGA Tour player Bob Tway said, “It's how you handle it. Some people … [Read more...]
Do You Step Up in Big Games?
October 7, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Most athletes train hard all year long to make it to the playoffs or a state level competition. It's clear to me that "the cream always rises to the top" during big games--the top athletes raise the level of their performance when they need it the most. I'm sure you're also aware that some athletes … [Read more...]
Don’t Be Wishy-Washy at the Plate
October 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Doubt and indecision will ruin your confidence at the plate. I call this “wishy-washy hitting.” Players who engage in wishy-washy hitting have trouble making decisions and can’t decide on a specific plan for each at-bat. Players who step up to the plate without a plan or change their plan … [Read more...]
