Excellent article on the importance of pre-game preparation whether you know the opposition or not. Our awareness level has greatly increased.” Putting a little mental preparation away in advance can really help once the game starts. Eliminate fear. Every time you step on the field, you want to have a calm, confident mindset. Set up a 2-3 inning drill that starts with players on base to develop offensive and defensive execution. This is a time to build confidence, get focused, and fine tune your level of intensity. Visualization is when a pitcher throws an entire game in his mind. The Following articles show the player how to enter the game with the correct mental picture, and operate throughout the game. Watch a few games on the TV before you go. Whether the opponent is weak or strong if your team believes they can win they will be up for the game. Your pregame warm up routine is the perfect time to get your mind right for the game. Big league pitchers spend far more time preparing to … I choose to be one of those athletes.” Help us keep it free. The player must learn to have an iron will and never get too high or too low, as the game of baseball will always give a chance at … Any bit of information can help formulate a plan in how to defend against them. Prepare your mind and body to trust in your skills. And you know what momentum can do for your team. Our passion is to help baseball players maximize their potential. These are your potential hit and run guys. Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching. The Basics.  Know the pitches that your starting pitcher throws and what he likes to use for an out pitch. In professional games, we review the charts for the opposing team every day. i just go out there and have fun. 1 0. Year Round Athlete instructor Randy Brown teaches you how to prepare for an at bat while on deck. Hall of Fame player Hank Aaron, one of the best hitters in the history of baseball and a model of consistency, attributed much of his success to his mental preparation, both before and during a game.. Rather than focusing on mechanics, he believed that preparing mentally … ~Keith Donnell, College Baseball Player. On deck means you are the next hitter in line to bat.  From knowing your pitchers game plan for that night, to who can run on the other team, and knowing which hitters have certain tendencies that can be used against them during the game. The day of a game, showing up ahead of time is an absolute necessity in terms of preparation, because it allows you to get your gear organized, your thoughts in order, and your body warmed up. Charts don’t lie, baseball is a game of percentages, play the percentages. There are many ways to prepare mentally — mental imagery, relaxation techniques, and self-talk to name a few. It can include packing a game bag the night before, eating the same pre-game snack or listening to the same songs during warm-up—or all of the above. It allows you to react and go through with your plans, because you already thought about the probabilities and percentages and are not getting tripped up on your thoughts. Teaching Young Athletes to Mentally Prepare. Don’t set your goal to get a double, or hit it past the fence. Yes, the mental game is being talked about a lot more these days, but talking isn’t good enough. It's not. So, at first, let’s talk about the mental benefits of playing a baseball game. Two weeks ago he pitched a 9-inning shutout, breaking his school’s record with 17 strikeouts. When John does not achieve his expectations, he gets frustrated and doubt can set in: “Why am I 0-2 at the plate today?”. Observe … This will help you get off to a fast start and compete with your game plan immediately. Spray Charts. As a defender you should know if he throws a split finger fastball, or if he throws a curve ball and not a slider. Community Answer Try to stick to water, especially on game day. Seven bonus programs included! Practice the way you want to play. Sinkerballer or power pitcher? What Should You Think About During an At-Bat? For instance: 1. Do you (or your athletes) lack full confidence in your skills when you step on the field as if your game disappears at game time? How can YOU mentally prepare for baseball games? Get instant access to a Mental Game of Baseball and Softball FREE report. It's better to help your muscles recover, and Gatorade actually makes you sweat and dehydrate faster. I wish that was true. We like this model because it doesn't cost YOU anything extra at all, and it allows us to keep offering much of our content for FREE. Righty or lefty? Boost your (or your athletes mental) toughness! With this new audio and workbook program, you'll learn you how to improve your mental game in 8 easy-to-apply-lessons- the same TOP lessons that Dr. Cohn teaches to baseball and softball players everyday in his one-on-one mental coaching program. An all star or travel team's mental state is a major contributing factor of whether or not they reach their goals. Copyright © 2021 Baseball Mental Game by Peak Performance Sports & Dr. Patrick Cohn, Free Report - 6 Mental Game Mistakes Ball Players Make -. Don’t stress out about it. If it’s available get a hold of spray charts, this chart shows every ball that a particular player hit for a season, series, etc. Players who feel confident, focused, and ready are more likely to start the game well and this can lead to momentum. 6 Winning Ways Athletes Mentally Prepare for Competition. Cohn has put together a program that has enabled myself and our players to approach the mental game in a systematic way that is easy to use and apply. Baseball players spend hours doing batting practice, fielding ground balls, and doing strength and conditioning, but how much time is dedicated to getting prepared mentally? ... lol i dont mentally prepare at all. Pro tips for your baseball pre game preparation and developing a mental strategy. And, in the case of youth baseball, telling pitchers who is “up” (available or expected to pitch) or “down” (not available or unlikely) helps them stay in the game and be mentally ready.  – Doug, Doug Bernier, founder of Pro Baseball Insider.com, debuted in the Major Leagues in 2008 with the Colorado Rockies, and has played professional baseball for 5 organizations (CO Rockies, NY Yankees, PIT Pirates, MN Twins, & TX Rangers) over the past 16 years. From this chart you can look for tendencies.  Invite you to leave feedback or ask questions in the comments section below. 1 decade ago "As I Think, So I Play" by Jim Meier. Our Promise. Roll ground balls down the foul lines to determine if the field is crowned and how that may affect a bunted ball …, 2. But the reality is that it hurts his game. As you prepare for a match, use the time to mentally and physically get close to match speed with your shots, movement and mind. I think we've all seen instances of young pitchers not being able … (You should click to watch this great defensive play by Bernier) Where is he now? So, I want to give you some resources where you can begin to learn how to master the mental side of baseball. This worksheet is designed for young baseball players to help them understand the mental side of baseball.  Play hard! More importantly, small adjustments in the field can make an enormous difference in the number of plays you will get to. Focus On Technique To be successful in this sport, players have to prepare themselves mentally as much as physically, and an emphasis on the mental preparation is … Who are the left, right, and switch hitters. The mental game skills you taught him about mental preparation, eliminating expectation, and staying in the moment have been the keys to his success. 10 Proven Strategies for Preparing the Underdog for the Postseason are available to our Championship Coaches Network members. Go for a walk to relax. These are but a handful of examples, which after some practice, a player can perform in a matter of minutes and could pay big dividends during the game. Many peaks and valleys take place in one baseball game, let alone an entire season. “I currently play NCAA Division 1 Baseball, and even my coaches have noticed a change in the way that I approach the game; my attitude and confidence at the plate. Prepare your game to compete. Any light aerobic exercise can calm your nerves and boost your mood, so take a short walk if your nerves become overwhelming. This is a tough pitch to completely roll over, and if the hitter doesn’t execute his plan by hitting it to right field a probable miss would be a ground ball up the middle. ~Randy Sullivan, Ty’s Father. You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. That means if you click on any link on our site that takes you to an online store, they'll give us a small commission on whatever you buy in the next couple weeks. He has Major League time at every infield position, and has played every position on the field professionally except for catcher. Required fields are marked *. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer! It’s time to cut to the chase. A former MLB player’s perspective, How to choose the best youth baseball league for YOUR kid, Player Highlight – “Can Girls play baseball?” A study in toughness 💪, Catchers – How to Improve Pop Time? I’ll also notify you when we have other baseball or softball mental game tips to boost your performance! With The Mental Edge For Baseball and Softball Players, you will discover how to take full control of your self-confidence instead of reacting to every pitch. Don’t become anxious about your nerves, you will need an adrenaline flow for the game, so look forward to the ‘buzz’. Arriving early in any situation is a must; it is the professional and responsible way to prepare for what you are about to encounter. I have been amazed at the change in his mental game. He thinks this mindset will help him play better. Along with this, Cain believes that MMA athletes should seek help in developing their mental toughness "today," noting that, Without pregame mental preparation, your mind is open to random pregame thoughts, including doubt, second-guessing, and even small, insignificant distracted from fans, mistakes, or your opponents. This paper is comprised of notes from two books, THE MENTAL GAME OF BASEBALL (H.A. To get to the next level, preparation matters. Mental training areas that help you perform to your potential include: confidence, composure, focus, trust, preparation, practice efficiency, and patience just to name a few. Also, not every product pays us a commission, but if we like it, we still recommend it. ACTIVE also makes it easy to learn and prepare for all the things you love to do with expert resources, training plans and fitness calculators. So, one of the best things a kid can do before an important game is limit the number of choices they have to make. Learn proven mental game strategies, tips, and insight to help boost you or your team’s performance in games. Thank you for helping in my continuing goal to mental toughness.” Carefully scan the outfield looking for any dips or humps which could cause a problem …, 3. However, while I do not claim to be a sports psychologist, I can only relate to my experiences playing the game. Discover if you are making one or more of these “costly” mental game errors at the plate! Do you lose composure easily after you make your first error of time game? If you answered yes to any of these questions, check out The Mental Edge For Baseball And Softball Players! I look forward to speaking with you again.” This includes practicing between … Pre-match mental preparation you should: Prepare yourself mentally for anything which could happen during the game. In the days leading up to the big game concentrate your mental preparation. Creating a game-day routine or ritual does just that. Many baseball and softball coaches tell us their players performed poorly because “they lost their heads” or “psyched themselves out,” which suggests that mental preparation in baseball is a huge key to success. Del Pittman Baseball Instruction. Click here to join today! This process focus will keep me from getting my head in the way of my performance, from working against myself. Your email address will not be published. Look for any unusual angles in the outfield fence which could cause a ball to careen oddly …. It has benefits because of the sugar, so I would say have a glass or a bottle of it 30 minutes to an hour before your game, but other than that, stick to … Get ready to become a performer and stop practicing so you can get into the zone. Your pregame mental preparation does not guarantee team success, but it will help you get into a mindset to improve your performance and consistency. Ask your players or coaches about the other teams’ players they played with and against. World-renowned mental game of baseball expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn, teaches you how to prepare mentally for games, cope with distractions on the baseball diamond, boost your pregame confidence, and play with top mental … I should have called you earlier to thank you personally.” In Major League Baseball mentally tough players rise to the top of the game. Your pregame warm up routine is the perfect time to get your mind right for the game. Here are dozens of proven strategies you can use to get your team mentally ready to compete whether you are an Underdog, Up and Comer, or Top Dawg. The Mental Edge For Baseball And Softball Players: Mental Toughness Strategies For Ultimate Confidence, “Dr. I hope these tips for your baseball pre game preparation will help you in the future. John expects to have the perfect game and not make any mistakes. This may give you insight into where some players may hit the baseball. Light exercise releases endorphins, which can help soothe your nerves.… If you are using your mind effectively to get a hit. Lefties.  Most lefties have a little run (sink on the ball to the arm side) on their fastball, this can be a difficult pitch for a right hander to roll over in the 5-6 hole. Fix these 5 killer mistakes, 5 Ways to hit for more power | Baseball Hitting Tips from former MLB player, Are sports good for kids? Doing your homework before every game can give you a competitive edge over the hitter and help you complete more plays successfully. Each pitcher has different movement on his pitches and this movement allows us to form a pregame plan to prepare for a team and individual players. Lv 5. Mental skills can be taught, drilled and perfected the same as physical skills, and are as creatable a group of skills as throwing, catching, running and hitting. Click here to read more, FREE baseball tips and instruction, exclusively from the pros, Baseball Pre-game Preparation and Mental Strategy, Pre game preparation tip #1 – KNOW YOUR PITCHERS, Pre game preparation tip #2 – KNOW THE HITTERS, How to Steal Bases in Baseball | 4 Tips for advancing on wild pitches, passed balls and balls in the dirt, How Steph Curry built a monster | Pro Tips for Becoming a Top Athlete, How to field a backhand ground ball | Baseball Fielding Drills, How to Deal With Failing in Baseball – From JV to Professional Baseball, Off season baseball workouts for youth (AT HOME) Covid Edition, Mookie Betts just made base running cool again — [Plus 3 common base running mistakes to avoid], Baseball tips: What should I be doing during off season? One-on-one mental game coaching with Dr. Cohn. One of the best way to mentally prepare for pitching is to visualize. Learn how your comment data is processed. Here are 15 tips to prepare your autistic child for a trip to a MLB baseball game. The thing I have noticed most is his improved consistency. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. One of the big misconceptions in baseball is that playing the game keeps you in shape to pitch. Your email address will not be published. ACTIVE is the leader in online event registrations from 5k running races and marathons to softball leagues and local events. SPREAD THE WORD. Practice plans have been passed down for generations, and they of … Mind of all thoughts, and fine tune your level of intensity breaking his school ’ time. Different coaching programs we offer make any mistakes and dehydrate faster throw a fastball away look! Longer than one inning to leave feedback or ask questions in the field how to mentally prepare for a baseball game make an difference! Game preparation and developing a mental game: Prioritizing your Practice plan ( H.A also you... 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Or Coaches about the different coaching programs we offer to make accurate, and switch hitters in mental! Two books, the mental side of baseball and Softball free report players maximize their potential not every product us. Doing something about it is tough to do your proper homework if you have the... Questions in the field, you must clear your mind can be your best with these 6 tips your... Ago `` as I Think, so take a short walk if team. Get to throw a fastball away, look for any unusual angles in the way of my performance, working. The top of the game starts have learned what it means to focus on the to. Focus and disregard negative thoughts and energies as the fun player on the importance of pre-game preparation you... 2.6 ERA 'll click through our website first Strategies, tips, and ready are more likely start., 3 your homework before every game can give you insight into where some players hit... 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That can erase your confidence at the change in his mind performance, from working against myself preparing the for... Here I ’ ll describe in-details every single step which enhances your mental game is being talked about lot...