Use Visualization to Practice Skills
For almost two months, the shutdown has kept baseball and softball players off the field and away from their teammates.
Without having access to baseball facilities, many players are having difficulty staying actively engaged in baseball or softball.
It’s not so easy to work on throwing strikes without the ability to stand on the mound and throw to a catcher. And you can’t work on your fielding without another person throwing you ground balls or hitting balls in your direction.
You may feel helpless and uneasy being forced to stay at home without the ability practice in the same manner as before the coronavirus.
When you feel trapped at home without proper facilities or equipment, you may see no way to further hone your baseball or softball skills without being on the practice field.
During this shutdown, you may be limited in terms of physical practice but the door to mental practice is wide open. One of the most effective mental strategies to simulate game conditions is visualization.
Visualization is an effective strategy to experience successful scenarios in your mind and stay in peak condition mentally.
If you are a pitcher, you can visualize:
- Pitching with proper mechanics
- Being confident on the mound
- Throwing with accuracy using your entire arsenal of pitches
- Being effective in pressure situations such as, seeing yourself pitching your way out of a jam in the later innings of a game
As a hitter, you can visualize:
- Making solid contact when facing a dominant power pitcher
- Breaking out of a slump
- Being relaxed and confident in the batter’s box
- Hitting a walk-off single when the game is on the line
In the field, you can visualize:
- Re-focusing after an error
- Throwing out a speedy runner with a strong, accurate throw
- Feeling calm and focused late in the game
- Experiencing positive emotions after making a spectacular play
As the shutdown continues, working on your mental game will help you stay engaged in the game and develop the confidence necessary to play your best ball.
Staying mentally in shape is the focus of 18-year-old pitching prospect Alex Santos as the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft approaches. Listed as the No. 56 draft prospect by MLB.com, Santos is staying strong mentally and physically.
SANTOS: “I like to model the mental part of the game on Max Scherzer and Marcus Stroman. I believe they have an aggressive attitude once they get on the mound. Like those guys, I feel like I am untouchable when I go out there.”
Working on your mental game helps to keep you in peak mental shape and builds strong confidence to be on top of your game when play resumes.
Getting into Mental Game Shape
Do 15 minutes of visualization per day. Pick one part of your baseball or softball game and focus your attention on that part of your game for 3-4 days.
Along with your images, sensations, and feelings, feel the emotion of the situation. The more time you dedicate to visualization, the quicker you will get mentally in shape.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- Integrating Mental Training Into Practice
- Taking Practice Confidence To Games
- How to Keep Practice Exciting
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Mental toughness coaching helps serious athletes like you uncover the beliefs and attitudes that keep you from performing to your potential. You’ll learn mental game strategies to perform confidently in competition and how to overcome performance barriers.
You can improve your mental game with Mental Game Coaches, Dr. Patrick Cohn and Jaclyn Ellis, M.S. You can opt for one-on-one sessions with Dr. Cohn in Orlando, Florida, or you can stay where you are and get coaching from anywhere in the world via telephone, Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime.
One-on-one mental coaching is the fastest and most effective method to improve your mental game, boost your performance, and make lasting changes. We have a variety of mental coaching programs to choose from.
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