If You Can Do One, You Can Do the Other

This season, I worked with a Double Aoutfielder who was hitting just over .200.  He was depressed and wondered if he would ever be able to hit for average, but his defense had always been good.  He bought into HEAD GAMES and the same day he had three hits, including a two run home run.  He called me a few days later after that breakout performance and was elated to tell me that during a two week stretch that he hit over .350.

I have numerous success stories from players who became convinced that it was only logical that the same ability used to  perform one skill could be utilized for another.  This player uses the book and the c.d., but the HEAD GAME that he felt helped him more than anything else was abdominal breathing.  This technique is extremely powerful in effecting maximum performance. Proper breathing and centering on the skill at hand can deliver remarkable results in the field or at the plate.

COACHING–AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY!!

Take it lightly or seriously, but the fact is indefensible that a coach has positive and/or negative effects on his or her players.  Much of my work is because of the negative influences; it’s good for my economy, but I honestly wish that this was not a prevalent problem.  A tremendous amount of needless emotional suffering, consequent  performance debilitation and the danger of present and future influences in other areas of life attest to this dilemma and beg for positive changes.  To quote Katherine Graham,”To love what you do and feel that it matters–how could anything be more fun?”  It obviously does matter how you treat your players.

A coach who embraces a negative philosophy should not expect better conduct or peak performances from his or her players and should be held accountable.    Like it or not, we’re talking role model here and  one cannot separate actions from influence.  To many who coach with a positive approach, I congratulate you for allowing your players to have fun, which also influences better performances and helps mould character in beneficial ways.  To those who are negative, including the successful, please give the positive a try.   A considerable number over the years have made radical changes and with  greatersuccesses, because the positive is far more powerful than the negative.   Begin to really love what you are doing and the fun will begin!!  Choose HEAD GAMES  as your guide.  This philosophy is holistic and regardless of circumstances, the mind and body will utilize the inherent phenomenal power.

Could Aristotle Have Been a Great Athlete?

This genius believed that the mind’s only function was to be a cooling mechanism for the circulatory system.  Bet you know someone like that.  Well, according to humorist Will Rogers, everyone is ignorant, just on different subjects, and Mr. Aristotle was at least deficient in one area.  However, had he been right, at least that would have eliminated the problem of TOO MUCH THINKING, which is usually an athlete’s Achilles heel.  I am constantly amazed and dismayed at those in any sport who teach  mechanics excessively and little or nothing on the mental aspect.  The number one theory seems to be If there is a problem, it’s got to be mechanics, right?

If  that were  true, then each and every athlete that I work with, even by telephone, would not be making immediate improvement.  I know mechanics, but by telephone I do not have the luxury of analyzing and advising in this area.   I am not minimizing the necessity of teaching sound mechanics, which requires thinking, but once the skill(s) are learned, right brain play, which eliminates thinking, is absolutely essential.  Proper breathing and focusing solves the problems of  worry, doubts and fears and allows for peak performance.

Contagious Success

“Hey Walter, I just wanted to update you on Jackson’s season so far.  It is his first year of kid pitching and he’s hitting .370.  He made the statement after one game that the other kids look nervous and they need to talk to you.  I can see him take a few deep breaths before he gets into the batter’s box.  I am also the head coach and our record is 8-1.  I teach and use your methods at every practice and game.  The thing that I am most proud of is we are winning the right way.  Coaches are not hollering at the kids, but patiently teaching them, and coaches and players are having a lot of fun.

There has not been one player cry on the bench when they strike out or make a fielding error.  That is a huge accomplishment with 9 and 10 year olds.  Thanks, and I hope that all is well with you and your family.”  Alton   Thanks Alton!!  What a breath of fresh air.  Coaches and players having fun and winning?  If I am not mistaken, this was Mr. Doubleday’s intent when he invented the game.  He would obviously be pleased with this testimonial.  Head Games continues to set coaches and players free from negativity, misery and  sub-par performances.