breath, and execute in the same situation with 10,000 fans screaming in the bottom of the 9th. The great players are able to be present in any and every situation, which is why many of them are referred to as “clutch” players.
2)
From a statistical standpoint, baseball is the most difficult game to play on the planet. A .400 hitter is considered one of the most elite to ever play the game, however basketball players who shoot 40% from the free throw line, or quarterbacks to complete 40% of their passes don’t play for long. With that said and from a mental standpoint, players need to understand that they will “fail” at least 60% of the time, even the best in the business. Knowing that, handling failure becomes extremely important and accountability is a huge part of handling that the right way. The player who transfers blame to the umpire, weather, coach, etc won’t be successful for very long. Instead, OWN what went wrong, be accountable and figure out a way to not let it happen again. Accountable players make adjustments quicker and know the game better than selfish players who transfer blame on someone or something other than themselves.
3)
Mentally locked in players want to be the guy at the plate or with the ball in his hands with the game on the line. They are decisive in taking matters into their own hands and will not let anyone or anything else dictate the outcome of the pitch, at bat, or game. Players who shy away from the moment are going to have a difficult time being successful in the moment and players that aren’t decisive in “big spots” aren’t mentally able to be consistently successful.
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head Coach Jake Boss Michigan State University
"Mental preparedness"
Mental Preparedness in the game of baseball
“Baseball is 90% mental, the other ½ is physical” – Yogi Berra
There is no doubt that mastering the mental side of our great game is paramount to having a consistently successful program. Being confident in the face of adversity will allow a team the opportunity to win in a sport where “bigger, faster, stronger” doesn’t necessarily equal wins as consistently as it does in others. The mental game is coached more currently than ever, “mental coaches” are employed and books are devoured by programs looking for the slightest of edges on their opponents. Our program is no different and below is a brief look at 4 things our players see every day before they leave the locker room as a reminder to get their minds right before they step on the field.
1)
The idea that we need to stay in the moment and slow the game down in that moment is one we talk about daily with our team. The game can be won or lost at any time and in any inning, thus, every at bat or pitch should have equal importance and should be handled in the same manner. Easier said than done, obviously, but if we can be in the moment in the 2nd inning with nobody on base and be successful, we need to figure out a way to relax, slow the game down, take a deep breath, and execute in the same situation with 10,000 fans screaming in the bottom of the 9th. The great players are able to be present in any and every situation, which is why many of them are referred to as “clutch” players.