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Baseball Instruction - How's That Mental Game?
Nate Barnett
So many times the only skills worked on in practice have
to do with improving the physical part of the game. It's necessary,
but how much of baseball instruction is spent on the mental
side of the game? You know, stuff like the following:
1. Dealing with failure
2. Building confidence on the field
3. Visualization or imagery
4. Creating belief
5. Goal setting and achievement
6. Creating a culture of winning
7. Eliminating fear
I know you'd agree with me that the points above are valuable
to any athlete's game. But, if they are that valuable, why
aren't they being taught more? The fact of the matter is the
mental side of baseball IS being taught more, just not at
the lower levels of baseball (college and below). Until more
emphasis is placed on mental baseball instruction, you're
on your own for development. There is help along the way,
you just have to look for it. The articles I write here are
a good place to begin.
If professional baseball is now investing time into having
sports psychologists teach mental skill development, why isn't
everyone? The answer is, it's tough. There is little immediate
feedback. It's not black and white like hitting a baseball
is. You either hit it hard or you don't, right? The observation
of success or failure is immediate while hitting. Mental training
is long term; results are not always seen immediately. Plus,
few coaches have the time or the capacity to teach it. When
was the last time you handed your players a piece of information
on the mental game or devoted a practice to teaching the skill
of dealing with failure? It doesn't happen. But my point is
it can happen. It takes education. Which is precisely what
you're doing now, reading, learning, and transforming the
way you think about mental baseball instruction. Just make
sure your learning doesn't stop with this brief article. How
important is learning how to embrace and master the mental
side?
Combined with your devotion to physical improvement, it will
be the deciding factor for what gets you to the next level
(as a player or coach). Do your homework; don't take my word
for it. Ask any college coach, professional player, or scout
how important understanding the mental side is.
Nate Barnett is a hitting, pitching, and mental skills
coach residing in the Puget Sound area in Washington State.
For a FREE ebook on the mental game, click on the following
link to download. http://bmibaseball.com
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Nate_Barnett
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