Sports Psychology And Pitching: 14 Tips To Be Mentally Tough On The Mound

Sports Psychology And Pitching: 14 Tips To Be Mentally Tough On The Mound
By Jay Granat

Every week, I get calls from pitchers, parents of pitchers and coaches with questions about the mental aspects of being on the mound in a pressure situation.

Pitchers at all levels of baseball can struggle with confidence, focus, relaxation and negative self-talk. This can happen to little leaguers and to major leaguers.

When a pitcher loses his ability to stay mentally tough, his mechanics, his velocity, his ball movement and his command of the strike zone can all deteriorate.

Here are a few tips to help parents of baseball players, pitchers and pitching coaches with some of the mental aspects of the pitching in a baseball game.
1. Remember that pitchers prevail over hitters seventy five to eighty per cent of the time. So, pitchers have a nice edge to begin with.
2. If you throw your first pitch as a, strike your edge goes up a bit more.
3. The most important pitch is the next pitch you throw. You have to stay in the present.
You must train your mind to remain in the here and now.
4. When you pitch, you need to have either one thought or what might be thought of as an empty mind.
5. Develop a mantra when you are about to throw to a batter. Here are a few suggestions: Throw a strike. Throw inside. Let it go. Grip it and rip it. I'm the boss. Eyes on the target. I love this game. Throw it past him. Control the plate.
6. Your relationship with your coaches and your catchers are crucial. Do what you can on and off the field to build strong connections with these people.
7. Study hitters carefully and keep accurate records on what works and what does not work against players who you face multiple times.
8. Understand and accept what you can control and what you can not control.
9. You don't have to be perfect. You have to throw strikes twice as often as you throw balls.
10. Always be developing another pitch. If you master five pitches, hitters have a tough time guessing right as to what is coming.
11. Never engage in negative thoughts on the mound. If you are not feeling confident, relaxed, focused and ready, step off the mound and gather yourself.
12. Know your strengths and your weaknesses.
13. Have a purpose with every pitch.
14. Learn how to use self-hypnosis, visualization and meditation to get yourself into your ideal performance state of mind.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist and the founder of http://www.stayinthezone.com. He has written several books and developed several programs to help people perform to their fullest potential at sports, at work and at school. Dr. Granat, a former university professor, has appeared in The New York Times, Good Morning America, AP, ESPN, Golf Digest, The BBC and The CBC. He can be reached at info@stayinthezone.com. or at 888 580-ZONE.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Granat

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Baseball Pitching Tips - How to Hide Your Grip is Critical!

By Larry Cicchiello

For something that's very important, I'm quite surprised hiding your grip isn't talked about or taught more. How many things can be more detrimental for a pitcher than tipping off his pitches to opposing players and their coaches? Trust me, players, coaches and managers will look for opposing pitchers that tip off their pitches!

For decades, I have heard several times of a pitcher who has been very successful and all of a sudden he is hit very hard for four or five straight outings. Then he gets back on the right track and you hear he was tipping off his pitches and that's why he was getting hit hard. And some of these pitchers were outstanding professional pitchers so that shows what a common problem it is.

He can be tipping the pitches off in several ways and quite often it's because he is not hiding his grip on the ball for his different pitches. If you are using the full windup, make sure that even when you are raising your hands and pivoting on the rubber, you keep the inside of your glove facing your chest! If you are pitching from the stretch position, make sure that when you come set, you keep the inside of your glove facing your chest.

It's when raising the hands and pivoting on the rubber that alot of pitchers have a tendency to open up the glove and that is advertising your grip.

Some pitchers start with a fancy grip before every pitch and then sometimes switch to another grip at the last moment. An example would be starting with a circle changeup grip every single pitch and then changing the grip at the last second to the one you really want to use.

You can play some "mind games" with the batter also. If the batter knows that you have a very good changeup, you can move your hand around on the ball for a second or two, and lead him to believe that you might be going to your circle change grip. Then you can surprise him with a good, old fashioned four-seamer in on his hands.

One pitch later, you can move your hand on the ball again and this time you do throw the changeup. I'm not saying to do this on every pitch, but on occasion, it will work well for you and annoy the batter. Why not give the batter a little more to think about? He may start over thinking, outthink himself and become annoyed.

As a pitcher, I most certainly want to annoy a batter in any way I can.

Larry Cicchiello is the successful author of several very user friendly eBooks covering 320 topics on playing or coaching excellent baseball. ANY player, coach or parent who wants to help their child will be fully equipped! Check out some FREE baseball tips on hitting and FREE baseball pitching tips at LarryBaseball.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello


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Baseball Pitching Tips - Checkpoints Are Mandatory For All Pitchers!

By Larry Cicchiello

Checkpoints are something that every baseball pitcher should do before every pitch in order for him to be the most effective!

Usually, baseball pitchers have about three or four. They will vary from pitcher to pitcher. Checkpoints are very simply mental reminders that a pitcher gives to himself before every pitch.

Some Common Checkpoints That Pitchers Use:


Step toward your catcher's target.
Keep the front shoulder closed when driving toward the plate so you don't "fly open."
Throw the ball and don't overthrow the ball.
Don't rock left and right and keep everything straight during the windup and delivery of the pitch.
Remember not to tilt the head and to keep it straight.
Remember to "stay back on the rubber" if you have a tendency to get your body ahead of your throwing arm and it causes you to rush when throwing.
Keep the windup slow if you have a tendency to rush and it causes pitching problems for you.
Get the legs involved in the pitch to share the work load.
Stay "on top" of your pitches or they will flatten out and be much more hittable.
Turn the hip enough when pivoting.
Raise the throwing elbow up to shoulder height or you will "push" the ball and not throw it.
Break the hands apart early so you don't have to rush the throwing arm.
Raise the front knee to at least waist height.
The list can go on and on. (And it almost did.)

As an individual baseball pitcher, you have to decide what the three or four things are that should be your personal checkpoints. Only you will know what these things are that you should do, or should not do to pitch the most effectively.

Think of them before you throw every pitch!

It's not nearly as complicated as one might think. Simply think of an abbreviated form because it is not like you have to think of thirty, forty or fifty words before every pitch.

A typical checkpoint list may be staying back on the rubber, front shoulder closed and point the landing foot to the catcher's target. A more logical and abbreviated version would be "stay back, closed and foot." It takes about one second at the most.

Spending this valuable one second will help you tremendously as a baseball pitcher!

Larry is the president of Larwenty Online Enterprises Inc. He is also the author of "Excellent Baseball Coaching: 30 Seconds Away." If you are a baseball player or baseball coach at any level of play, or a parent who wants to help your child improve, you will be fully equipped! His baseball website offers several FREE baseball tips from his very informative and very fairly priced eBooks.

Larry's baseball website is http://www.larrybaseball.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Cicchiello

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Tips on Baseball Pitching Mechanics

www.HandsBackHitter.com

By Alan Karpuch

It is a known fact that it is hard for any pitcher to have three innings. A pitcher needs to give up hits and walks, as well as work with fielders who make errors. If you are a pitcher and wants to improve your skill, it is recommended to ask advice on pitching mechanics. Remember that a lot of problems in pitching are due to poor mechanics.

Pitching mechanics can be hard for a coach to analyze at full velocity. If the basic structure is inconsistent, remember that even if you change one feature, the problem is still there. One of the most important things you need to know which motion is wrong and it is essential to solve the trouble in lack of control.

Every pitcher is required to practice everyday and remember that it is impossible to perfect the skill in just one day. Pitching is like any other sport - it requires practice to be good at it.

It is a fact that it is hard to find a new pitcher that has good pitching mechanics. Pitching needs dedication and hard work and you must take care of yourself completely. It is essential to be in perfect shape and pay attention on your arm and you must work on the right pitching mechanics in order to lessen the risk of arm injury. If you are just starting out, make sure to do a lot of throwing in order to develop arm strength.

Aside from physical strength, you must also develop your mental element of pitching. You must also be tough mentally in order to be a skilled pitcher. This element can be developed eventually and it is necessary to examine your performance every game in order to improve more. Always focus on the game especially on the hitter and face any problem appropriately. Remember that with good pitching mechanics, you can ensure your good health and success.

Alan provides information about Pitching Workouts through his website on Baseball Pitching Mechanics

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Karpuch
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