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.

Using Proper Breathing Techniques

A focus on breath connects and harmonizes the mind and body, while relaxing both.   This centering puts the mind in the zone or right hemisphere of the mind, which allows for greater performance efficiency.  When ready for play, then the centering or focusing is on the ball or on the target which keeps you in the zone.  One of the Head Games is RELAXATION  through abdominal breathing.  Begin by exhaling  to a slow count of four while forcing all air out of the lungs by sucking in the belly.

Then, breath in slowly to the count of three, allowing your belly to balloon out.  This completely fills the lungs and moves up to ten times more oxygen than the way most normally breath.  Use this powerful Head Game and it will serve you well on and off the field.

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!

Positive Affirmations Can Enahnce Your Performance

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!

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.

Structuring Your Goals

Before continuing, I would like you to distinguish between two important kinds of goals: outcome goals and performance goals.  Outcome goals are the end of products of achievement, such as hitting .300, or making the All-Star team.  Performance goals are explained below.

Performance Goals

Performance goals have to do with specific behaviors you need to master in order to achieve your outcome goals.  Examples of performance goals are hitting the outside pitch to the opposite field, consistently staying focused and alert on every pitch.  Performance goals are the stepping stones to achieving outcome goals.  They are the nuts and bolts of what you need to do in order to achieve the outcome you want.

The Turning Point of the Game

What is a pressure situation?  In baseball a pressure situation can be any possible turning point in a game, or perhaps any time a player feels an urgency or a necessity to perform in the “right now” as if the game was on the line.  Pressure situations rarely announce themselves.  Pressure situations can be the bottom of the 9th in the final game of the World Series, or a clutch at bat in the first inning of a Little League game.

Nobody wants to choke in a pressure situation, but the greatest athletes and the greatest competitors have all choked at some point in the lives and/or careers.  When athletes choke, people say they have no guts, no courage, and they view the”chokers” as not mentally tough.  But, athletes who choke deserve a pat on the back because of their great desire.  Desire creates pressure.  No desire = no pressure; it is that simple.

Choking-up is trying too hard; it has nothing to do with guys.  Athletes who are said to be choking compete as hard as they can… to the point of self-destruction; they go “over the edge” to the point of their emotional control and self-discipline.  Great desire and competitiveness are attributes that every elite athlete must have, but strong emotions can easily take control, which is when choking occurs.

Becoming A Crunch Time Player

What is a pressure situation?  In baseball a pressure situation can be any possible turning point in a game, or perhaps any time a player feels an urgency or a necessity to perform in the “right now” as if the game was on the line.  Pressure situations rarely announce themselves.  Pressure situations can be the bottom of the 9th in the final game of the World Series, or a clutch at bat in the first inning of a Little League game.

Nobody wants to choke in a pressure situation, but the greatest athletes an the greatest competitors have all choked at some point in their lives and/or careers.  When athletes choke, people say they have no guts, no courage, and they view the “chokers” as not mentally tough.  But, atletes who choke deserve a pat on the back because of their GREAT DESIRE.  Desire creates pressure.  No desire = no pressure; it is that simple.

Choking-up is trying too hard; it has nothing to do with guts.  Athletes who are said to be chokers compete as hard as they can… to the point of self-destruction; they go “over the edge” to the point of losing their emotional control and self-discipline.  Great desire and competitiveness are attributes that every elite athlete must have, but strong emotions can easily take control, which is when choking occurs.

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!

Getting Your Head in the Game

This post was written for baseball and softball players, however you will find that it can be used for many life situations.  Becoming a student of the game.  Many young kids think they are a student of the game but they haven’t even walked in the club-house. I say this as I am just finishing up another Instructional League. Here we have the cream of the crop, the best young talent in the nation. Most of these kids don’t have a clue as to what their swing consists of, let alone the mental toughness to make the necessary changes. I don’t speak for all, I do however speak for most. One thing I want to instill in you is the fact that there is so much to this game, don’t hurt your chances to improve yourself by thinking you know it all. I deal with plenty of know it alls day in and day out. Guess what, most of them don’t make it. Why? Since they know it all, they don’t need anyone to teach them.

Unfortunately in their mind, there is nothing more for them to learn. Always be ready to learn. I spoke to Rudy Jaramillo, Hitting Coach for the Texas Rangers, and he told me that Rafael Palmeiro just learned two years ago what it took to be a consistent Major League hitter. This was not in the minor leagues, nor was it his rookie year, this was after 10 years in the big leagues!

I recently received an e-mail from a customer. He has been solicited by a recruiting service to help his son get a scholarship. The recruiter told this dad that college coaches don’t care much about a kid’s swing, they can teach a kid to hit – all they are looking for is a good arm and glove. I was taken back by this advice. That is just another example of mediocrity and miscon-ceptions that circulate in this game. First of all everyone in professional baseball knows that the guys that hit – play – the gloves come in for late innings if necessary. Secondly you better not wait till college to learn how to hit because it will be too late. Don’t fall for it. Don’t let anyone, or anything take you away from becoming the best you can be. Not everyone will make it to the big leagues. However, having a solid work ethic, having the ability to make adjustments, not being afraid to fail, and becoming a student of the game are all qualities to take you as far as your abilities will take you, but more importantly, they will allow you to make it in the real big leagues – life.

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