~ Baseball Self Talk: "One Comes To Believe Whatever One Repeats To Oneself Sufficiently Often, Whether The Statement Be True Or False"! ~

The section on baseball self talk is taken from the book, MENTAL TRAINING FOR SOFTBALL, by Jeff Janssen and Mike Candrea. I hope that you will find some information within to help you reach your mission and goals. It has certainly been of benefit to me and my players over the years.

Self Talk Tips ~ From the Dugout

Whether or not they will admit it, everyone talks to themselves.

Right now some of you are talking to yourself and saying, yes, I do talk to myself. Others are saying, "no way". Some are wondering, do I talk to myself? I don't think so; but maybe I do.

Self talk is the internal dialogue we carry on with ourselves each day of our lives.

Everyone talks to themselves to some extent, some having an ongoing play by play, while others have only brief words, phrases or sentences.

Quantity varies; but most athletes report a minimal amount of self talk occurring during highly successful performances. Baseball self talk is usually non-stop during poor performances.

There Are Two Types Of Baseball Self Talk

1. Positive ~ Self promoting, builds confidence, optomistic, constructive, motivating, focused, optimal muscle tension and performance enhancing.



2. Negative ~ Self defeating, creates anxiety, pessimistic, destructive, unmotivating, distracting, excess muscle tension and performance destroying.

Be your own best friend. Imagine yourself playing catch with a younger brother or sister, or a friend's brother or sister, and they are having trouble throwing and catching the baseball. You can see they are discouraged and frustrated.

What Might You Say To Them?

• Is it positive and supportive, or negative and critical?



• What effect might your words have on them?

Now, Think About What You Say To Yourself When You Are Struggling

• How supportive or critical are you?



• What effect does it have on you?

Most people are unaware of the quantity or quality of their baseball self talk. Quite often they are surprised at how negative they are with themselves, and sometimes others.

Let's Look Inside One Of Those Situations In Baseball That We All Dream About, That Make This Game So Special

1. Bases loaded, two outs.



2. Bottom of the last inning.



3. Behind by one run.



4. The crowd and both dugouts are on their feet in anticipation, as you step out of the on deck circle and walk towards the plate.

What Is Going Through Your Mind?

Positive baseball self talk says ~ I am excited about this challenge, this is an opportunity for me to contribute to my team.

I am a good contact hitter. I want to see the ball well, put a good swing on it and drive it hard. I know I can do that!

I have been working hard all year in practice. My heart is pounding, it must mean that I am pumped and ready for this challenge.

What are your chances of getting a hit?

Negative self talk says ~ Why do I have to be up now? I could lose the game for the whole team and everyone would hate me.

Just don't strike out, that would be the worst. Wow, I am really stressed out, my heart feels like it is going to burst out of mt chest.

What are your chances of getting a hit?

Both are possible reactions to the exact situation. Thus, it is not so much the situation that causes stress and anxiety; but our thoughts about the situation.

Click here for more ideas on controlling your attitude through your self talk, click here for ways to identify unproductive behavior.

Additional Topics: A Road Map To Increasing Mental Toughness