Each player must accept responsibility for his mental game. This begins with accepting responsibility for mental mistakes made on and off the field. Alibis take players out of the present and away from reality. Taking responsibility helps the player to learn from a situation, gain confidence, and become proficient in handling pressure situation.
Being responsible also leads to correcting or improving on mental mistakes. A player taking responsibility for his thoughts and actions accepts himself. It makes him feel good and is important to his well-being. It empowers him to take control of his thought process, to include what he chooses to think.
Choosing to respond to adversity in a positive manner enhances the player’s performance. Negative thinking is self-defeating. Player chooses to think positively or negatively. He has the capability to change his thoughts. A positive, responsible-thinking player seizes up situations and acts accordingly.
If his performance in the game does not live up to the player’s expectations, then trying to learn from it will assist him in achieving the desired outcome in the future.
The responsible player learns from a past experience and moves on to the present. The player’s reaction to his preference is critical and it affects his, and possibly his team’s performance, throughout the game.
To whom is a player responsible? Certainly to himself, his teammates, his school or professional organization, and his coaches. Baseball is a game of situations with players relying on one another. A hitter who is called upon the bunt must take the opportunity to responsibly lay it down.
Second-guessing a strategy or trying to execute another plan is not acceptable. The player has a job to do and should complete it to the best of his abilities. His best effort to execute the bunt gives his team a chance to win. It reinforces his confidence in himself and the confidence his teammates have in him also. It is the responsible way to support the team effort.
Responsibility can be given away. A player may try to make a fellow player or coach responsible for his shortcomings. Harry Dorfman and Karl Kuehl in their book, “The Mental Game of Baseball” say the players thinking, “I have to” or “I must” suggest that the speaker does not have a choice in his actions. He is therefore being forced to act in a certain way. “I have to be on time. I must hit a certain way.” People choose to be on time or choose to hit a certain way because they realize the value of a certain action or wisdom of the hitting instructor.
Thinking “I want to” or “I choose to” is making your responsible decision. It puts the player into a positive mindset which allows him to perform the task productively.
The last major responsibility for a hitter is to establish a set of goals. Goals are plans for completing tasks that will improve the hitter. When accomplished, they give the hitter confidence and boost his mental gain.
Gary Mack in his book “Mind Gym” states that the acronym for goal-setting is SMART.
S stands for Specific. A player wanting to make a high school team has a specific goal of improving his hitting skills through proper practice.
M is for Measurable. Everyday, I am going to take six swings per set and complete ten sets, concentrating on proper mechanics.
A stands for Achievable. The goal is reachable and within the player’s control.
R is Realistic. It is believable.
T is for Time-bound. There is a target date for completion.
Goals should be written down by the player and shared with his coach. Review each player’s goals with him. Make sure they are attainable and follow the SMART guidelines. Rewards for achieved goals are always a positive form of coaching and give the player another sense of accomplishment. It shows the player that his coach values his goals and the accomplishments associated with them.
James Loehr, author of “Mental Toughness: Training for Sports” knows that hockey star Wayne Gretzky believed in meaningful goal-setting. It allowed him to focus on playing moment to moment, and have fun during his performance.
Goals help players stay on task. It gives their efforts meaning and finality. Successful athletes set high standards and gain satisfaction, plus confidence, when achieving their goals.
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