Positive Mental Training Tips to Create Advanced Baseball Players

Necessity of Mental Training Tips

At the young ages of baseball, it is best to keep the game as simple as possible and mostly about enjoyment of the game. As kids progress up the baseball ladder, mental training for baseball becomes important, as mental training is often the difference between success and failure, when it comes to equally talented players. The good news is that all players can improve their mental training for baseball, with good guidance from coaches and parents.

Mental training for advanced players has to do with preparing the mind in such a way that they can get "in the zone" and ways to stay in that zone as long as possible. Some players naturally have better focus than others do, but all can improve their mental training for baseball, so they can have the game, "slowdown in their mind." Following are some ways that the best athletes mentally prepare to get in the zone and slow down the game.

Mental Training for Baseball Success

Players should practice:

1. Breathing normally through thick and thin

Players, who can keep their breathing patterns the same in tense situations as in normal ones, rise to the occasion more often than not. Players can learn and practice their breathing patterns before games and in practice, so they are mentally prepared for the tight game situations.

2. Learn to visualize

Positive visualization mental training for baseball is crucial. Reviewing positive plays in the mind before, during and after games helps players perform effectively.

3. Develop short keyword phrases that help players remain positive and focused. One of my favorites from my playing days was a baseball term, RBI - "Relax, Believe, Improve." There are many keyword phrases and players should find one they are comfortable with using, especially in tight game situations.

4. Stay in the moment by forgetting the past and not worrying about the future. Once players think of negative past situations or negative possible future results, they have less chance of success in the present.

5. Stay positive, but do not expect everything to go smooth all the time. Players have a better chance at dealing with adversity knowing it is possible, feeling as they have been in those situations before. There is no substitute for experience, of course.

6. Stay on an even keel players, who beat themselves up over bad games, have little chance of long-range success.

Coaches and parents can help players develop these mental training tips by displaying the same mental training in their lives.