Mental Toughness

quote:

Baseball is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical, but boy do I have a strong 10 percent

hitting101, Welcome to the HSBBW.

It seems to me that you already answered your question?

You get nervous when people that you percieve as Scout's are Recruiter's are watching you.

I know it's easier said then done.
But you must think about nothing, But having fun.
Meaning nothing bother's you.
Just play the game, You can't control how many people are going to be watching.
You can control how you approuch each at bat.
Are how you play in the field.
Relax and do what you know you are capable of.
Don't try to impress people, That's when you forget about playing the game.
The most important thing is to be prepared and in baseball shape.
And the last thing, Have FUN
EH
Play the same way all the time.

My favorite quote:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. “ Theodore Roosevelt

Focus, Focus, Focus.

It's a cliche that is heard so often, and really practiced by so few. Focus is not something that is turned on/off when a player gets to the field. Those who practice it every hour, of every day, throughout their life are those who are probably the top of the "mentally tough" class. They stick out like a sore thumb.

It is the attribute/tool that I enjoy watching most. It is not inherited, it is not a gift, it is a reward.

Tacking on to deldad's inspiration - and along similar lines:

"Good fortune will elevate even petty minds, and give them the appearance of a certain greatness and stateliness, as from their high place they look down upon the world. But the truly noble and resolved spirit raises itself and becomes more conspicuous in times of disaster and ill fortune."

Translated into baseball terms - it means to me - that you should never be afraid to fail - you should never think about anything other than the next play or the next pitch - and you should run like a wild dog ever time you set foot on the field.

I think if you believe all that - and act on it - you wont get nervous much anymore. Just my opinion.

The scoreboard means nothing during the game. Who you are playing , where you are playing , who is at the game should mean nothing. Just play the game. Everytime you step on the field in practice or in a game there should be no difference in your approach to the game. If your up and you are ahead by 10 runs in the first inning or you behind by one with two outs and you are up there should be no difference in your approach to the game. You play hard and you play to win because thats the only way you know. You attack the ground ball, you attack the pitcher, you attack the batter etc etc because that is how you play the game. When you put any of your focus on anything other than just playing the game you are then not focused on the task at hand. And that is simply playing the game. Players who do not practice with a sense of urgency to get better. Players who do not put themselves in a game situation mentally in practice have a hard time adjusting to game situations. Players who get caught up in anything other than just playing the game will never play up to their ability. If your goal is to impress someone who is at the game then you are not focusing on just playing the game. You have to get lost in the game itself and block out everything but helping your team win anyway you can. Then everything else will take care of itself. Mental toughness is never being afraid of failing. Mental toughness is understanding that you never fail unless you quit. Mental toughness is fighting to win untill the last out is made.

thanks, i dunno its hard to block that stuff out i find the adrenaline starts to pump. ands theres nothing i can do to stop it i guess im just gonna have to stop focusing on the surroundings and more about the fun of the game to be in those situations

Nervousness, especially before a big at-bat, is quite normal. How you deal with it is up to you.

I would recommend breathing slowly, and doing everything at 1/2 pace. Adjust your batting gloves slowly. Walk to the on-deck circle slowly. Take the signs slowly. And don't step in until you are absolutely focused and calm. This should help.

agree pretty much all of the above, when your team is behind you and incouraging you to step up in the clutch its easy to realax and come through. the hard part is win your mind wanders. maybe you take your eyes off the game in the ondeck circle, or you might think of failure. this you cant do. be focused and confident.

my high school coach preached daily "you must be present to win". great advise.

Short story,
Last year we had an awesome Senior on our HS baseball team. When I say awesome I mean awesome all the way around, kinda kid. Great GPA, power hitter, an accurate arm like a bullett, and as kind hearted and honest as all get out!
Now, we live in the boondocks ( I like to call it our own lil' fishpond ) and it takes REAL TALENT, not just kinda sorta maybe talent, for a scout to actually come to one of our games.
Well this particular day they were there. Three of them all wanting to take a closer look at this boy. Sometimes I have heard people say they didnt know when a scout was visiting,..that they just blended in. Not the case on our single, wood splintered, bleacher. These scouts stood out like sore thumbs.
The result, not a boy on the field or the bench could play a lick. Nerves got to all of them. I saw boys do things they hadn't done in two years ( like a ball that went through their legs! ) It was plain pitiful!! To call us the bad news Bears would have been a compliment!

The senior boys father and I sat cringing at every error. The boy was almost in tears feeling as though his only chance to play college ball was disappearing right in front of all our eyes. I too was sure this was not going to end positively. I was wrong. Dead wrong. Never been happier to be soo wrong! ha!

The scouts came right up and talked to the players father. The father looking sheepish made apologies for taking up the scouts time. They inturn said that they weren't there to take note of errors. They were there to watch this players athletic ability. They said that they had the capability to recognize overall athleticism and raw talent. They were impressed and knew this player was nerveous, rightfully so. They seemed unfazed.
I was amazed.

Bottom line: Our senior HS player had three offers and signed with his best fit. His nerves didnt kill his dream.

Now I'm not condoning not giving 110% effort all of the time, but I do believe talent is talent and can be recognized by those who really know the game, in any situation. Sometimes how one handles a mistake, strikeout, or missed ball, can work in one's favor.

It worked in this particular scenario. It could work for you too.

Nervous is for people that don't practice. If you do, you'll be fine. Rude and crude analogy but that's what I believe.

quote:

Rude and crude analogy

Rude? no
Crude? no
Honest? yes!

Good points coach!

I agree with shortstop mom. I think alot can be learned about a player when watching the way they handle a situation when things are NOT going their way. This situation came up when I was watching my son in Ft. Myers. He did his skills evaluations early in the morning and didn't do so great. We talked about it afterwards, he knew he did well below his ability. I told him no one wanted to hear excuses, all that mattered was what he did from there on out (in games). He understood completely. His performance in the games was great, did really well.

And just at the point where we all "let our guard down" a bit and thought wow, he's really "ON".... a ball goes between his legs at third! At that very point, my immediate thought was "Alot can be told by how he handles this...." Two plays later, on a much more difficult play to 3rd, he fields it cleanly, not rattled at all. As a parent, I actually felt more proud at that moment than during 1 1/2 games of "errorless" play.

It's easy to look good when everything's going your way. The way you handle a downfall is much more telling (IMO)

Similar situation at a high school game in which my son was playing...The college scout had not been on the field, so "errors" could have been due to the ball hitting an unseen stone, etc....The scout was looking at footwork, the softness of the hands, etc.

Not to worry.