How to Have Stable Confidence
Are you a consistent performer? What is consistency? What contributes to consistency?
When you believe consistency is pitching a shutout each game, giving up a run during a game will feel like a letdown and will hurt your performance.
When you believe consistency is getting two or more base hits every game, your expectations will put more pressure on you.
A high school baseball player posted his concerns about performing consistent throughout the season:
“I want to hit consistently and when I don’t, I feel there is a mental block. Sometimes, after a great game, I expect to do the same in the next game, but usually I play worse.”
If your belief is that consistency is having a great game every game, you are setting the bar extremely high.
For example, after a 3-hit game, you expect every game to be a 3-hit game. Even when an infielder makes a great play and throws you out at first, you will still feel you fell short because you didn’t get three hits.
This causes you to feel like you under performed, and start doubting your abilities. You see under performance as a slump, making consistent play even more challenging.
Your confidence will go up when you’re playing well, and down when you under-perform.
Consistent play requires stable confidence, consistent preparation, and a consistent approach to the game. When you focus on these three aspects of consistency, the results will take care of themselves.
Outfielder Demi is working hard to improve his consistency on the field.
Orimoloye was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft. Three years later, Orimoloye was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. Orimoloye has yet to play in the big leagues but his circumstances have not deterred Orimoloye from putting in the work to become a consistent performer.
ORIMOLOYE: “There are obviously certain goals and numbers I’d like to hit but for me it’s getting better every day to be the most consistent player I can be. When I get to that point, all the numbers will fall into place. Performing consistently every game for a whole season, not just for a month, then being cold for a week. Being able to produce consistently, is the difference between guys who are in double-A and triple-A versus everyday big-leaguers. It’s the same talent level, same pool, but the guys in the big leagues have more consistency. I’m going to keep working.”
Consistency on the field requires consistency in how you prepare, consistency in how you practice, and consistency in how you approach the game.
How to Improve Your Consistency:
To be consistent, you need to be consistent in your approach day in and day out. Instead of judging your consistency by the numbers, focus on making each practice and training session count.
In addition, consistent performance flows from consistent mental preparation. Be sure to manage your intensity level, focus, and confidence level for each game. When you come to the game feeling fully prepared, you’ll feel more confident.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How Successful Softball and Baseball Teams Deal with Key Injuries
- How to Best Focus to Help Your Team Win
- How to Contribute to a Positive Team Mindset
*Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes
*Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify
Instilling Confidence in Baseball And Softball Players
Confidence, more than any other mental game attribute, is vital for your team’s success. If your players have it and know how to keep it, they maximize their success. Your team cannot reach their full potential unless each player can harness the power of stable and enduring self-confidence–so your team can perform as a confident team.
Your players might possess a ton of physical talent, have great coaching, and train harder or practice more than anyone else in your league, but if they do not have the self-confidence to match, your team can’t utilize this talent.
“Instilling Confidence in Baseball and Softball Players” program consists of one 72-minute audio CD that includes 7 days of confidence-fueling exercises. You’ll also receive a simple-to-follow 74-page coaches’ manual that guides you through the 7 team session you’ll conduct!