How to Be Consistent in the Game

When a player is “hot,” it is imperative that he not pressure himself to maintain that pace.  If so, he starts trying too hard, thereby switching the mind to the left hemisphere, where trouble is certain.  Solution?  Leave your mind on automatic, and keep positive HEAD GAMES within your control.

Only a positive mind can keep one on the road to success.  Relative to sports, or anything else, the mind must be focused on the present, in order to maximize goals.  When focused on the task at hand, goals are secondary.  Goals, in order to not be detrimental to success, must be kept on the edge of the attention, and not allowed to interfere with the present.  When relaxed and  properly focused, the mind of the athlete shifts to the creative side.  This focus on the present, the action of the moment, is the solution to thinking too much.  Positive testimonials continue to pour in from across the globe with HEAD GAMESsuccess stories.

Learn Hown to Embrace Mental Toughness

A few years ago, I worked with an out of state nine year old racquet ball and basketball player referred by Skip Bertman.   Although this young athlete has been ranked as high as number one in the U.S.A. in racquet ball for his age category,  the fun was no longer there as the pressure had mounted.  He is  now not only excited about his athletic future but life generally.

His parents were also enthused as they  embraced the HEAD GAMES philosophy.  The dad is an attorney and the mom has multiple responsibilities inside and outside the home; they immediately made plans to use what they  learned to make life simpler, more enjoyable, less stressful and more productive. The techniques when developed over thirty years ago were intended  to be holistic and not limited to  sports.  We live in a busy, stressful and complicated era.

The good news is that accolades from across the world attest to the fact that  HEAD GAMES is an effective panacea in not only coping with the demands and complexities of modern society but can also lead to happiness and success.  HEAD GAMES principles include but are not limited to teachings involving POSITIVE THINKING, RELAXATION AND FOCUSING.   Why not add your name to the growing and glowing list of testimonials?  Make a comment on this post and let us know!

It’s Time to Talk to Yourself

The mind is a phenomenal computer, with total capability of instructing your body to perform to it’s maximum potential.  However, your actions, negative or positive, are directly related to the chosen data that is programmed into the mind.  Programmed negatively, the mind can only respond negatively.  But, enter positive information and the results will be positive.  This appropriate approach displaces worry, doubts and fears or any other psychological obstacles, while allowing the body to get the job done to your satisfaction.

Positive affirmations are invaluable and work quickly.  These self talk or motivational phrases should always be in the present tense and begin with I.  Examples:  I am a great hitter.  I am confident.  I feel happy.  I am aggressive.  I have great location.  I have a great eye.  I have a great arm. I have a great glove.  I will get this guy out.  I have outstanding defensive skills.  I can hit any pitch.  I can hit any pitcher.  I have great stuff.   I am relaxed.  Develop your own affirmations according to your desires, and as you repeat them, ideally several times a day, you will experience a change in attitudes.

The repetition will instill confidence which will boost success.  Write these affirmations  down on small index cards or paper,  tape  or place them in strategic places to remind you of your chosen changes in thinking.  You will love the results!

Enhance Your Performance… Use the Golden Rule

I continue to get complaints from players about how they are treated by parents and/or coaches that hamper performance.  An athlete can and will perform better if in a positive environment in the home and on the field.  Negativity breeds negativity,. which severely affects the talent of players and teams.  Positive programming has the best chance of producing peak performance.  I am not discounting the need for discipline;  however, it can be done in a firm but diplomatic way, so that the athlete’s self image is not  damaged.  Athletes are adept at reading verbal and non-verbal language.

If players are told that they are okay, but body language conflicts with that statement, they will believe the latter.  An athlete’s confidence can be seriously impaired with no words spoken, with non-verbal assaults.  Negative facial expressions, hands on hips, kicking the dirt, cursing under the breath, the silent treatment, etc., are ways of showing rejection.  Coaches, parents and fans, do you want your athlete(s) to perform to the best of their abilities?  Then support them, accept them unconditionally, encourage them to have fun, and you will witness not only happier, but more  productive sports participants.  With no need for a long list of imposed rules and regulations, just make it simple–treat them as you would have others treat you!  Unconditional support cannot belegislated, it must come from the heart.

HEAD GAMES is a holistic approach to sports and life generally, that inspires and motivates athletes and coaches to excel on and off the field.  Based upon positive feedback from athletes, coaches and parents from across the nation, the results continue to amaze.

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.

Being Selective At the Plate

Yogi Berra was notorious for swinging at bad pitches, but was also very productive in doing so.  However, he was one of few that could do it and get away with it.  I often work with hitters who are playing in the zone but not programmed to hold up on undesirable pitches.  The first major leaguer that I worked with had this problem.  The following remedied the situation for him, a host of others,  and it will for you or a player(s) that you may be coaching.  Have a special batting practice session, with instructions to the hitter not to swing at anything out of the zone.

Start throwing to him at slow speeds, then gradually increase the speed to the maximum. He begins the therapy by practicing out of the left or thinking side of the mind and then converts gradually to the right side of the mind, where the reflexes are located.  Should he revert back to the old bad habit, slow the pitches again while gradually increasing  the velocity.

This programs the sub conscious mind and body to swing at good pitches only.  Once reprogrammed,  focusing only on the ball will guarantee right brain play and maximum performance potential.

A Panacea?

I receive numerous calls, e-mails and other contacts inquiring if Head Games is effective in other sports.  The answer is a resounding yes!!  And, not only in sports, but life generally.  Many players, coaches and parents are involved in other sports and need the benefit of sound, proven mental techniques to enhance their particular game(s).  This past season, I worked with a National Hockey League player who had never heard of the benefit of playing out of the right hemisphere of the mind and had never used abdominal breathing.  Although a first round draft pick, he has never realized his potential.

He was so excited that he is now anxious for next season and highly recommended the book to a friend, who is a PGA player.  The golfer immediately ordered a book.  Regardless of the sport, POSITIVE THINKING, the right degree of RELAXATION and FOCUSING on the task at hand is paramount to making an athlete all that he or she can be.  The same is true in all areas of a person’s life.  Head Games will serve you well.

A TRIP TO PARADISE

A few years ago I worked with the University of Hawaii, Honolulu,  baseball team who was hosting an Easter tournament.  Seven teams participated, all with good or great records.  Hawaii entered with an 8-18 record, but finished SECOND in the tournament, with a 4-2 record.  What had been the problem?  My analysis?  Attempting to pitch, hit and field out of the left side of the brain.  Why the sudden and almost unbelievable success?  Using simple HEAD GAMES techniques to get the players to play out of the right side of the mind, or in the zone.

The pitching immediately became awesome and hitter after hitter came out of slumps.  The team had scored in double digits only once in the season, but scored fourteen runs twice in the tournament.  If a player is to reach maximum potential, he MUST stay relaxed, aggressive and focused on one pitch at a time, whether at the plate, on the mound or in the field.  HEAD GAMES can get you in the zone and keep you there.

Proving that Head Games WORK

This lesson can be applied to every part of the game: pitching, hitting, and fielding. Near the end of this season, I worked with a pitcher who had experienced a lot of success in previous years,  but was having a terrible current season.  He immediately embraced Head Games.

He called after his next start to give me the results of his first outing–a nine inning complete game,  allowing only one run on four hits, with nine k’s and a low pitch count.  In his career, due to location problems, he walked too many, had a high pitch count early, seldom going past the fifth or sixth inning, and had never worked both sides of the plate.  Since consulting with him by telephone,  he began to locate extremely well, making quality pitches and going deep into the games.  A hard thrower, he didn’t realize that it was possible to consistently keep the ball down.

The formula for this remarkable turnaround?    There are a number of things that I taught him, but foundational to great location is using the eyes, or guidance system to lock in on the target at the point of release. With the eyes under control,  a consistent follow through will insure an accurate release point.  Unless the eyes are focused on the target,  the body cannot determine the exact, intended location.  An effective tip for even greater accuracy is to have your catcher cross a small fluorescent piece of tape in the mitt.  This causes the eyes to shift to a more narrow focus.  Choose to use Head Games!  The success stories continue to pour in.

HOW BIZARRE, HOW BIZARRE!

Two struggling college hitters called me recently.  They had been coached to think “yes, yes, no” when awaiting pitches.  The yes, of course, was to swing; the no, to take.  During this same time, a struggling pro player called who was taught that he should begin counting backwards from 100 when he entered the on deck circle and continue that mental counting at the plate.

The players in both cases were assured that if they followed this advice that they would be in the “zone”.  NOT!!  Both of these methods include language, which is left brain.  To be in the zone, a player cannot be thinking at all.  A focus only on the ball insures right brain play, and success.  Using simple HEAD GAMES techniques will elevate you into the highest possible level of performance.

« Previous Page