Another question I receive from ball players is:
What are the mental keys for playing well in baseball?
The goal is to give a best effort performance one pitch at a time and accept whatever happens. This happens when an athlete gets his mind and body right at the right time and he commits his muscles to a specific and controllable plan-of-attack. Once all this is done before the pitch and it's time for action, he must keep himself from thinking too much by focusing with tunnel-vision on the task-at-hand. Purposeful practice leads to increases in all of these mental skills, not the least important of which are attitude and focus. Attitude comes from self-talk while focus on the task that's happening RIGHT NOW comes from the ability to block out regrets about the past and worries about the future. The athlete's routine allows him to guarantee that he is giving the best effort that he possibly can at this stage in his development. Athletes 'win' the mental side of the game (i.e. consistently give their best effort) when they commit to their preparation, their routine, and then hold themselves accountable for all of their behaviors.
Summary: (1) Create an ideal state by getting your mind and body right for you in this situation. (2) Commit to a plan of attack. (3) Don't think too much = Focus. Great athletes do these three steps (whether consciously or not) every time they give a best effort performance.
-Aaron
www.CoachTraub.com
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