NEW FORUM - The Mental Game

Thanks for inviting me to join your forum concerning the topic I have been passionate about for many years... 'The Mental Game of Baseball'.

As you may know, I have authored several books on this topic and have worked with many MLB players (including some of the game's most outstanding players) on how to develop the mental discipline to perform their best on the ball field and off --- in competition and in their daily lives.

My goal is to tell young athletes and their parents about the performance behaviors and techniques (the mental side) that make success more likely. Many athletes have the natural talent to succeed; a great number, however, do not have the mental skills required to get the best out of that talent. Attitudes, which include approaches and responses, most often determine behavior. And appropriate behavior will greatly influence the outcome of athletic performance. If coaches (I include myself) and parents can positively impact our youth, everyone involved will succeed.

While I will contribute to the forum, I do want to set the right expectation. Because of my time constraints, I will not be able to answer everyone’s questions...assuming I receive any. What I intend to do is put an idea out there and allow you all to collaborate on it. From time to time I will respond to questions and continue the dialogue. Some of our other associates from 3P Sports will also contribute and provide their valuable insights.

Together we will cover topics such as goal setting, self talk, behaviors/thoughts that enable success and those that sabotage the athlete, mental keys and how they are used, dedication, preparation, confidence, visualization and more.

I look forward to working toward the goal of strengthening the minds of our youth -- and their parents, as well.

Awesome idea.Welcome aboard. I look forward to reading and participating on this thread.

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Together we will cover topics such as goal setting, self talk, behaviors/thoughts that enable success and those that sabotage the athlete, mental keys and how they are used, dedication, preparation, confidence, visualization and more.

Welcome to the hsbbweb!

I am curious about self-talk. Is that the inner voice that athletes sometimes use to beat themselves up when things don't go well? I noticed Tiger Woods was doing a lot of it yesterday. It seems the more he does it, the worse he plays.

Excellent idea for a forum... look forward to reading and learning...

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Originally posted by Harvey Dorfman -3P Sports:
Thanks for inviting me to join your forum concerning the topic I have been passionate about for many years... 'The Mental Game of Baseball'.

Having taken classes from Dr. Harry Edwards and Dr. Bruce Olgivie, I look forward to reading some of your thoughts on this aspect of sport.

Mr. Dorfman,

It is an honour to have you participate in this forum. I just dropped my son off at university last week. He's a LHP and my gift to him was a copy of "The Mental ABC's of Pitching" and a highlighter pen. It is his baseball bible. He can't put the book down. I will be checking out this forum on a daily basis.

Aloha!!

I will be frequenting this forum as the mental portion of my sons game is what needs the most improvememt.Every coach he has played for has commented on how talented he is but he needs to control his emotions/fustrations.I'm hoping this will get better as he matures like some of the other player on this site.I am allways open to suggestions.



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Welcome Mr. Dorfman.

Your book "The Mental Game of Baseball" has been in my car for 4 years now and is the most informative sports related book I've read. I've highlighted many suggestions while waiting for practices to end. Although my son hasn't read the book I pass on many of your techniques and solutions.

My son experienced a perfect example of "self talk" one game. A couple of years ago he came in as a relief pitcher late in a game, with the bases loaded and his team winning by one run. With his very first pitch he hit the batter to tie the game. He went on to allow a few more runs and they lost the game. On the way home I asked him what happened with that pitch. He said that while warming up on the mound he kept telling himself "don't hit this kid, don't hit this kid." He talked himself right into hitting the kid.

This is exactly the types of things Mr. Dorfman talks about in the book. The power of suggestion. Keep the negative thoughts out of your head. Instead of thinking don't hit this kid, he should have been thinking "throw a strike" or some other positive thought.

What makes this book required reading for kids and parents are the examples of major leaguers experiencing the exact same doubting moments as high school players. If pros doubt themselves of course kids will, and this book gives them techniques on how to deal with the low moments.

Great addition Julie.

Mr, Dorfman

I have a player who is a D1 player with potential to be drafted. The problem is when it comes to his failure, or teammates failures, or umpires failures he is a mental midget. He becomes frustrated and then he becomes very angry with whoever, including himself, is the culprit. How can I go about correcting this behavior?

socalhscoach,
your comments on your son's mental attitude reminds me of just exactly how my mental attitude was even after I quit competing as a youth and as an adult in hockey and baseball, I took competing absolutely too serious, to the point where I simply could not handle personal or team defeat, not just final defeat but those individual defeats that come when one does not hit every time,and is not perfect in the field etc, one simply cannot enjoy playing ball while being in this negative state of mind, I destroyed an excellent opportunity to advance as far as I possibly could while playing professional baseball with my negative attitude the only time I could keep my mind on my game was when I was having a good game, After having a banner season which I will never forget I became very disgusted with my play and just like a fool simply walked away which has and will always keep wondering just how far could have gone?
Allin All I have accomplished one thing out of it all, I have studied baseball from the most experienced and knowledgeable baseball teachers in sports and in my opinion I have become an excellent student,teacher and coach, only after I put together my positive mental aspects,such as, learning and how to dwell on the fact that"YOUR MIND""LEADS OUR body""LETTING NEGATIVE THOUGHTS ENTER YOUR MIND""CREATES NEGATIVE BODY controlling ACTIONS""HAVE A PLEASANT""POSITIVE MIND" "AND YOU WILL ENJOY WHATEVER IT IS YOU ARE DOING" as you go along Find out the things you can control and the things you cannot control, Dwell only on the things you can control.
well I could go on and on but I should close now.
you and your son Listen to Mr. Dorfmans advice very closely and the very best of luck with your son's positive change of mental mind.
Playing college and pro ball is much,much fun.
Here is Mr. Marv Fremerman's contact source, he is a news paper cloumnist and Performance Enhancement Trainer/Consultant who specializes in motivational psychology and the building of self-esteem and has been doing so for three decades.
One of his books is "Mind over sports", A Performance enhancement program,for athletes, coaches and parents, 213 pages, another book, "Mind over sports"The relationship Of self esteem to athletic performance, a book for athletes, coaches and parents, 118 pages, these titles are on the front of each book.
These people certainly teach you and your son many things on the positive mental side of one's mind, remember, "YOUR MIND" "LEADS YOUR BODY"
Marv Fremmerman.
E-mail, marv@mindoversports.com
www.mindoversports.com
669 West LaSalle Street
Springfield, Missouri 65807
Don Ervin

WOW...Mr Dorfman and his books have been high on the suggestion list of HSBBW posters for years...great to have him around...

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What a great resource! I am looking forward to learning more about helping my LHP son from Mr. Dorfman.

This is simply fantastic. Most important part of baseball, in my opinion.

The college my son is interetsed in going to has a new head coach who would like to see him attend and participate with 3psports. I had never heard of them and now I'm seeing them everywhere. It looks like they have every aspect covered... impressive knowing the mental game is included. The mental game of baseball is on our coffee table right now!

Harvey Dorfman has been the most influential baseball person in my 25 year career! I just came across this forum and want to commend you on having Harvey contribute. Thanks!
Performance and Development Coaching
www.baseball-cap.net