The Baseball Observer Nov-Dec 2015 vol 5 | Page 29

FEATURED ARTICLE

"Know yourself. Don’t accept your

dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence

that you are wonderful.” - Ann Landers

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emotional sides. This kind of discussion can emphasize the need to

become skilled at taking charge of themselves and managing their

emotions as we have been discussing during this question and answer

session.

III. Inform the player about the range of factors that can undermine their

emotions and about other factors that can facilitate the manifestation of

positive, productive emotions. These factors can include the following:

•How the player thinks about their game. Are they prepared,

confident, but humble? Or are they tense, frustrated and not sure?

•The extent to which the player can be consistent at focusing on

the process of playing the game that is how they prepare; how

they compete, pitch to pitch; and how they can productively deal

with their results and make adjustments.

•Knowing the triggers—people, situations, places and things---

that, if left unmanaged, can get the player into a less than

productive emotional state.

•Being willing to recognize that statistical outcomes are not in the

control of the player.

•Recognizing that baseball, in essence, can be viewed as a game of

failure and that failure is a part of the game which has to

recognized, respected and dealt with productively.

•Enjoying the process of playing the game.

IV. Use the VAK framework introduced above in an earlier question to help

the player to engage in the following tasks:

•Visualize themselves playing the game and competing in a state in

which they appear confident, calm, and composed

•Have the player identify a key word or phrase that they can say to

themselves when things start to get to the point where they could

become overly-emotional and unproductive

•Use deep breathing as a means to bring the player back into the

moment and centered on the task at hand.

•Accept the situations that are not in the player’s control and in so

doing focus on a commitment to the next pitch or activity.

•Recognize when the player starts to drift into an unproductive

emotional state and then use the above tasks to get back into a

state where their emotions are working for them.

•Watch themselves on video when they are competing and discuss

with the player when they are in productive and non-productive

emotional states.