How to have Proactive Confidence
Are you struggling to find the level of confidence needed to succeed as a baseball or softball player?
Does the success of other players around you cause you to question your abilities and further detract from your confidence?
Though gaining confidence seems to be a difficult task, it is not as complicated as some players make it out to be.
Let’s examine one major obstacle that blocks players from building high confidence: focusing too much on other players’ talents.
One big confidence killer is focusing on others’ talents.
There are two types of comparisons you might make:
- Focusing on the stats of other players or comparing yourself to teammates.
- Focusing on the technique, mechanics or methods in which other players improve.
Comparing your skills to others who are better than you hurts confidence or doesn’t allow your confidence to grow because you put others on a pedestal.
But to build high confidence, you need to focus on what you have and your plan to improve your game on the field.
Every step forward builds confidence.
Such is the approach of New York Yankee infielder Gio Urshela… Urshela was 23 years-old when he made his MLB debut. In his first three years, Urshela had difficulty at the plate with season batting averages of .225, .224 and .233.
Urshela was released by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2018 and was invited to spring training by the Yankees as a non-roster player in 2019. With the Yankees, Urshela turned his career around hitting .330 in 115 games for the Yankees.
Urshela credits his increased production on narrowing his focus on himself, his play on the field, his strengths, areas needing improvement and a personal plan designed to develop his skill set.
URSHELA: “When I stopped watching other people, and focused more on watching my own videos and improving what I needed to improve, and focus on myself, things changed. In the past, I focused a lot on watching other players. I watched a lot of video, especially of Miguel Cabrera and Mike Trout.”
“Then I told myself, ‘Why am I watching their videos? They’re amazing and some of the greatest hitters of all time, but instead, I should watch more videos of me, because I want to be a better version of Giovanny Urshela.'”
Urshela’s minor league hitting coach Phil Plantier concurs with Urshela and the importance of focusing on oneself.
PLANTIER: “The sooner that a young player understands what they do well and who they are as an individual… They start living up to their potential.”
Being the best version of yourself improves performance and, with improved performance comes improved confidence.
Focusing on Your Strengths
Stop looking around to ball players who you think are better than you.
Start by identifying your strengths, talents, and unique skills you bring to your team.
Next, what areas can you improve in your game? Fitness, technique, mental strength?
With the help of your coach, set goals and goal getting strategies that will help you improve the weaker parts of your game.
When you step on the field, focus on your talents and the preparation you are doing to be the best version of yourself!
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.
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What are baseball mental game customers saying?
“Dr. Cohn, I’ve been tearing it up lately!!! Every single thing you taught me works perfectly in every situation I’ve been in. I’ve been so into every game and focusing on the process and not the outcomes and everything falls right into place . In the playoffs I’m 5-7 with 2 run home runs and 5 RBIs. I feel great at the plate and focusing is a breeze now. I just wanted to thank you for everything and keep you posted with how everything was going.”
~Jalen Phillips, College Baseball Player
“With your help, I have been able to deal with stress and pressure of the game of baseball more efficiently. I have learned 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
“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 saying?
“As a college softball coach I experience great pleasure in helping youth league coaches develop their young players. As reversal of that process, I, as the student, look to experts like yourself to give me the “mechanics” of sports psychology so that I may better impart my knowledge to the players and coaches. Your contribution spreads like wildfire and helps hundreds of youngsters as well as us “oldies.” Thanks for your contribution–it means a lot.”
~Tom Moore, College Softball Coach
“A quick note to let you know how effective your programs worked for my son who is 17 and plays varsity baseball in VA. In late 2009, I ordered the Relaxed Athlete program for my son because I saw he was pressing too hard at the plate and had disappointing results for the 2009 season. Thanks to your programs, my son now has a completely new approach to the game of baseball (and school) and it’s more fun for him now. He made all-district player at his position and hit .443 this season. A complete 180 degree turn around from last year.”
~Mark M., sports parent
“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
Disclaimer
*Testimonials found on this site are examples of what we have done for other clients, and what some of our clients have said about us. However, we cannot guarantee the results in any case. Your results may vary and every situation is different. No compensation was provided for these testimonials.
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