The Baseball Observer - Mental Skills Issue
MENTAL SKILLS---- ON THE FIELD
Consideration of this dimension of the framework can assist organizational leadership in making decisions about how to provide mental skills programs and services to players and coaches, so that players can become productive and consistent at the following:
• Prepare for competition so that they are mentally and emotionally ready to
compete.
• Make productive use of the present moment, from pitch to pitch, as they
compete
• Receive and use feedback about their performance, so that they can make
adjustments and development their respective game.
The professionals who function in the mental skills area typically are mental skills coaches. These individuals usually have at least a master’s degree in sport psychology and have acquired supervised training in the field of sport psychology.
The kinds of programs and services that are provided by mental skills coaches include but are not limited to ones such as the following:
• One on one education and instruction.
• Group meetings and seminars
• Consultation with the baseball manager and coaches
• Visits to the club’s minor league affiliates.
• Off-season development programs
• Consultation with front office members and scouting personnel
• Other
Figure 1 --- Relationships Between Mental Skills, Life Skills, and Mental Health
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