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Mental Preparation for Baseball

Jul 19, 2011 | By William Lynch
Mental Preparation for Baseball
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Being a successful baseball player is as much mental as it is physical. Before each game, you must prepare your mind, ensuring that you have the confidence, information and resilience to meet all challenges. While personal approaches may vary, mental preparation features a few common components, regardless of your position.

Routine

Athletes, by nature, are creatures of habit. Baseball players are no exception. Establishing a regular pre-game routine can help you achieve a calm mental state each time out. Your routine can include everything from eating the same foods at the same time to showing up at the park at the same time and going through the same stretches and practice swings. Having a reliable routine can calm your nerves and relax the body, preparing you for success.

Visualization

Before you experience success on the field, you should visualize it in you mind. Take a few quiet moments by yourself to imagine all aspects of the game, whether hitting, fielding or pitching --- and see yourself succeeding. Visualize coming through with the clutch hit or making the key defensive play. Once you've visualized it in your mind, you'll be more prepared to make the image a reality.

Scouting

Don't underestimate the importance of scouting the opposition. Knowing the strengths and tendencies of the opposing pitcher, for example, can help you work pitch counts and anticipate the upcoming pitch. If you're a pitcher, scouting the opposing lineup can help you determine how to attack each hitter, targeting his weaknesses and staying away from his strengths. Scouting provides a mental edge that can prove invaluable during competition.

Emotional Control

Much more than in contact sports like football and hockey, emotion can actually be a hindrance in baseball. Getting angry can wreck mechanics and speed up swings, resulting in poor performance at the plate. A fiery temper may even convince you to swing at pitches outside the strike zone in an effort to do too much. The same holds true for pitching, where excess emotion can lead to overthrowing and wildness. Preparing mentally and committing to staying calm no matter what happens will enable you to keep your cool and perform your best.

Confidence

Baseball is a game of failure. Even the most successful hitters will fail seven out of 10 times, and the pitcher hasn't been born who doesn't give up hits. The ability to handle failure is what separates the good from the great. Mentally preparing to accept failure as part of the game and being willing to learn from it without dwelling on it can be crucial to winning. Stay positive to build self-confidence and maintain mental focus.

References

Article reviewed by Will McCahill Last updated on: Jul 19, 2011

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