I was coaching a team of 14 year olds once and we were struggling at the plate.
Lots of strike outs looking.
The kids were down and I was too.
We had some "thats OK johnny Moms"
At a practice on day I called the kids together to talk aout our lack of success at the plate.
I asked them as a group "when you strike out and walk bck to the dugout whose voice do you hear fist?"
One kid looked at th ground ad said "my mom's" I asked "what does she say?"
She says...."thats OK you will get it next time"
I paused until they were all lking at me and said "is it REALLY ok?
They all kind of smiled and said ..."not really"
I told those young men that day going forward lets approach every at bat with the goal of making he PITCHER'S mom say "thats OK you will ge him next time."
It was a conversation at 14 they were ready to hear. They seemd to unerstand that year that the hitter/pitcher match up produces a winner and a loser. Alot of that battle is won by who wants it the most!