Trouble staying confident...

Head up man.

Focus on your fundamentals. If you can make these errors and still play (because you're the best the team has) it is really a great thing for you. Every one needs development time. Everyone makes mistakes while developing.

Winning is in the way of development time.

At 14 your coaches should be emphasizing development, not winning. Yeah, yeah, we all like to win. But, it should be secondary to learning the game at your age.

If you are in position to be removed from the lineup because of the errors, then that's a tough situation. Suck it up. Believe. Get after it. Hustle. And, most of all............HIT. If you hit you'll play.

Derek Jeter made two errors in one game last week--the Yanks won and his response to the question of "What happened?" after the game was very simple---"I messed up but at least it was in a game we won and I didnt cost us the game"

That is how you have to think--always positive

Believe in yourself at all times-- erros happen--strikeouts happen--it is all part of the game

Here is a true life example of one of our players last fall who is headed to Division I baseball om scholarship this fall--- we were playing in the WWBA event in Ft Myers against a very strong Cincy Reds Scout Team-- we are leading 7-1-- then the wheels come off the wagon and this young man makes two errors in the same inning allowing them to tie it up 7-7 with our last at bat coming up and he is leading off-- he comes off the field mumbling and irate at himself-- I looked and him and said " Mike--forget it--you cant change it--it is done--you lead off --now get in there get something started "--and he did just that--second pitch ==BOOM== 380 feet over the left centerfield fence and we win

That is what it is all about--belive in yourself--have determination and DO NOT let the miscues get to you

Good luck with your future

Learn this little trick:

After you make a mistake, and you will make many, every baseball player does, pick up a little dirt, mentally put your error in it, toss it down and grind it a little with your foot. Now, you've put it away, so move on and forget it. Never let your last mistake create your next mistake.

hokie

Very well said !!!

Remember the Costner character in For Love Of The Game? "Clear the mechanism". Just as a full mind is an empty bat, it can also be an empty glove.

Try to direct your thoughts during the game to the situation --- where's the play, where/how did this guy hit. Concentrate on the Now. That's not easy, and will require the same kind of self-training as taking ground balls, but your at a good age to start.

The very fact that you asked for help and are not just worrying about it is an excellent sign. You've gotten some good advice in this thread, perhaps you could print it out and "recharge" with it when you need a boost.

Best of luck!

DJeter2,

Perhaps you didn't know that DJeter1 set records for making errors his first few years of professional baseball.

Just keep playing and keep working hard. Things have a way of working out the way they're suppose to.

You are thinking too much. Have some fun.

thanks for all the advise, keep it coming. by the way here are my stats as far as fielding goes.

54 PO, 56 Assists, 13 errors. thats in 33 games. in my first 3 tournaments i had 28 PO, 22 Assists, and 2 errors. and my last 4 tournaments i have had 26 PO, 34 Assists, and 11 Errors. i will number my tournaments and say how many errors:

#1 - 0 errors
#2 - 0
#3 - 2
#4 - 1
#5 - 1
#6 - 4
#7 - 3

i might just be in a little fielding slump. i feel good out on the field and my arm is good and i make some steller plays but i cant seem to get those easy plays and 06Dad, i dont find my self being Flashy, i always try and get in front of the ball unless i have to get dirty or do a backhand. keep the ideas coming

As PG said--you are thinking too much---just play the game and let your talent take it where it will take you !!!

Go for it !!!

Mant times I see a player such as yourself make errors because they are trying to hurry. There is a huge difference between being quick and hurrying. Two things that I always tell my players that seem to help: 1. View each batter as a fungo hitter, hitting the ball to you. (When taking fungos most players rarely make errors because they know the ball is coming to them) 2. Be quick, but do not hurry. (Know what you need to do when the "fungo" is hit and then execute.) Also, practice at game speed and work on quickness in that way. Stay confident and positive and you will be fine. Good luck.

Two things I think might help:

1) FAITH/MENTAL SUGGESTION: The really good ones have the mind-set that they WANT the ball it to THEM, rather than to anybody else...they simply BELIEVE they have the best chance of making the play and helping the team. And, they have that attitude EVEN IF they've just "booted" one. Without trying to offend anyone, it can be somewhat like religion...faith in something you cannot yet prove. Maybe a better way to describe it is a form of self-hypnosis: You put yourself in a "receptive" or "suggestive" state-of-mind and, then, impress the thought you want upon that mind.

2) MENTAL PREPAREDNESS: The really good ones have ALREADY made the play...IN THEIR MINDS. They KNOW the situation (i.e., who the runners are, whether they're fast or slow, whether they're getting good leads or whether the pitcher is holding them tight, who the batter is and how the picher is throwing to him (i.e., does he "pull," is he a line-drive hitter, what's his foot speed, is the pitcher working him outside or in, is he throwing something off-speed, what's the count). All these variables and likely possibilities are assessed BEFORE the pitch is ever delivered and WELL BEFORE the play must be made (i.e., on a hard ground ball hit to my left, if I field it cleanly, I do this; a soft grounder to my right, if I can't field it cleanly, I do that; for a line drive, I do something else). When the ball is put in finally put in play, the one's who've done this exercise already KNOW what to do...they've removed "indecision" from the equation and, often, ANY decision. All that's left for them is to EXECUTE the plan/decision they've already made. This approach requires the mental discipline to STAY IN THE GAME and to go through each possible scenario in a very fluid/changing environment. But, it should yield BIG dividends by giving you the confidence of ALREADY KNOWING what you're going to do, having already played out the scenario (successfully) in your mind. When the play ultimately develops JUST LIKE ONE OF THE SCENARIOS YOU ENVISIONED, its very rewarding and should inspire confidence and trust in yourself.

It should be noted that these two things are complimentary. Hope this helps...GOOD LUCK!

Thanks kb. i always hope the ball comes to me, i fantasize about making a diving catch in the whole and throwing the runner out, i always want to be the one that starts the double play etc. even when i make a bad play i hope it comes to me so i can redeem myself. and i always think about what i am going to do before it happens. i think about if there are runners on 1st and 2nd and a grounder to my right that i will be going to 3rd. a slow chopper i have to go to first etc. in fact as i think of these things i tell my teamates that i will be doing etc so then they kno wat i am going to do. thanks for all the tips and i am starting to feel i more confident and i havent stepped on to a field since sunday. thanks and keep it coming