Not all players gain confidence easily. They have obstacles in their way like fear of the unknown, or fear of a particular game situation or pitcher. The most common fear though is fear of failure. This plagues many players because baseball is a game of failure. Successful hitters make out 60% to 70% at a time. Fear of failure is real but it does not give the hitter correct information. Skip Bertman, the famous collegian coach, use the acronym, “False Evidence Appearing Real” when he addressed fear with his teams.
He explains that fear tells lies and distorts what is real and what is imagined. This distortion causes the hitter’s body to react in a counter-productive way. Fear of failure initiates a rapid heartbeat, an irregular breathing pattern, or perspiration. It tightens the body and clutters the hitter’s mind. The hitter needs to look at the fear and identify where it originates. Then, defeat it by replacing the false information with real positive thoughts and self-talk that can lead to success.
Players who have the fear of failure should remember that even the greatest sluggers fails. Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs, but he also struck out 1,330 times. Babe did not fear of striking out. He understood that strike outs were of hitting home runs.
The first step in dealing with fear is to acknowledge it and derive its source. Fear originates for many aspects of the game, from striking out, to getting hit by a pitch, to an off-field relationship. It is present and real. A hitter must consider the worst case scenario that can happen because of this fear. Realizing that that scenario is fixable and not catastrophic, the hitter decides on preventive measures as action. Acknowledgement, understanding the source, examining the worst possibilities, and taking action effectively allows the hitter to master his fears.
Excellent hitting instructors feel that helping hitters to identify their fears and assisting and relieving them is one of their greatest accomplishments. It is a quality that sets them apart. Coaches, you are capable of doing the same thing for your players.
Fear and nervousness have a distinct energy. Coteman describes a nervous energy, butterflies, or adrenaline rush before the big game, as your body try to take your performance to a higher level. Understanding that the very best athletes in the world also deal with this type of energy and that they manage to perform at their best is important information for all athletes.
Edwin Moses, the gold medal winning Olympic hurdler said he felt as though he was being led to his execution before an important race. Dennis Eckersley was known to have upsets and nausea before closing a game from the bullpen for the Oakland athletics. He turned the energy of fear into positive situations throughout his career and managed to win a Cy Young award and be named MVP of the American League.
The realization that fear and nervousness can lead to success is critical to successful athletic performance. Great athletes turn fear into anger and attack it. They use the energy from fear to defeat their opponents, allowing them to play our level.
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