The Baseball Observer - May/ June 2016
28
The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the mental domain of focus and how that domain is important to the baseball player at many different times, before during, and following game competition.
The information which is provided in this article is based not only on research about focus and attention but, most importantly, on the viewpoints of major league baseball players--- both pitchers and position players – based on my work with them in professional baseball over a thirty year period.
It is my intention that, through the information provided below, players and others will recognize that being in the moment and focusing on the immediate task at hand needs to be an integral part of their process for playing the game.
A MOMENT IN BASEBALL AND WHY IT MATTERS
Baseball has been considered to be many things over the years. For example, baseball has been described as a game, the national past time, someone’s profession and career, entertainment and other things.
Most importantly, though, baseball also is a process, one that has many moments to it. These moments occur continuously, one at a time, before the game, during the game, and after the game. They occur on the field as well as off it.
How the baseball player handles each moment of the process of playing baseball and where the player’s focus of attention is at any particular moment--- before, during, and after competition-- will largely dictate what happens in the next moment for the player as well as with respect to their teammates and coaches.
In essence, each present moment of the game is all that the player has going for themselves: Past moments have gone by and cannot happen again, while future ones are not yet present. Each moment has its own value and importance, for something, for better or worse.
Just how a baseball player handles each moment---what they think about, feel, and do--- at any particular instance and not just between pitches --- can be a difference maker not only in the player’s overall game but also affect the course of their season and career.
Paying attention to what matters in the moment and how the baseball player manages each moment as they occur --- before, during, and after a game--- is what the mental domain of focus is all about.