Practicing the mental game is extremely important. The following practice drills in situations that are helpful in developing a strong mental game.
In a ball pen practice situation, have the hitter take pitches threw it to into him. Let him work on his concentration. You have seen the ball out of the pitcher’s hand. Reading each pitch as it is delivered and trying to identify the spin are important perception skills.
The hitter uses a soft focus first, looking out toward the pitcher but not focusing on anyone thing. Then he hard focuses on the pitcher’s release point, 2 to 3 seconds before the pitch is still there.
Each either wants to concentrate on five pitches at the time because it is more game like. Rotate the hitters and allow them 4 to 5 opportunities in a practice situation. They must be reminded that they are working on there concentration by seeing the ball come out of the pitcher’s hand.
Concentration is keeping your mind focused on one tasked. The task is a whole or that part of the task that allows you to be successful. Telling the hitter to concentrate on seeing the ball out of the pitcher’s hand, to find is the task.
The coach may later want to work on soft focus the hard focus during one series. Timing or when to begin his swing sequence could be another task. The possibilities are endless. Remember, concentration is focusing on given task at a time.
Drill number 2 is the Dry Drill. There is not pitcher or ball involved. Only a hitter swinging. He should concentrate on only one swing at a time. He should be aware of how his swing feels to have the body parts working in a proper sequence. He becomes the swing.
Concentrating on one particular part of the swing or remain focused on swing at a time by staying in the present and not allowing a poor prior swing affect the next swing is the focus of the drill. Allow the hitter to use self talk and visualization in between swings.
Practice his hitting routine and make sure he stays on tasked. Again, the possibilities are endless. In the early part of the season, have the hitter concentrate on one task and advancing to movable task as the player becomes comfortable and trust his mental game.
Limit to here to five swings per set. Completing as many as three sets with rest in between each. Remember, the focus needs to be on one swing at a time.
The third drill is used to practice pressure situations. Have scrimmage or set up a drill to practice pressure situations, especially those that produce fear for players. Talk about the situation and the fears related to it.
Remove the false evidence that is associated with the fear by facing it and thinking it through realistically. Help them to develop self talk that will help them merciful. Keep it sharp, to show there successes after the drill is complete, to build there confidence.
Drill 4 involves the College Style Batting practice. When using the college style, you must watch each phases of the drill. Place emphasis on focusing on focusing on the task at hand. Be at running, bunting, or hitting.
Keep track of the number of concentrated efforts observed and report the findings to the team. These shows there success plus the value that coach play vulnerability to use there mental game in achieving success.
Drill 5 is actually a 2 or 3 innings scrimmage. Each inning, the offensive team will begin with players on base to develop offensive and defensive situations. Here is a good way to practice execution and observed the teams performance in those situations.
After the execution or batch play, help the players analyze there performance and ask them about there thought processes. Often pick out a position play here before the play. Ask him how he is using his mental game in this situation.
Structure the drill to use mental practice. Give at equal time with the physical practice and coincide it with your usual hitting drills. Eventually, the mental and physical game become one. Working together for greater hitting success.
Practicing all phases of the mental game is important. Restructure your favorite drills and invent new ones that can improve a player’s mental game. Have competitions and some to increase practice intensity. Making practice, more game like, increases the mental involvement of players.
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