Mental Game

Questions to think about and know.

Knowing Yourself

Catcher Inventory

Builders and Cutters

Anticipation:

• The thrill of moment in competition
• What will be next

Taking Charge of the game:

• Know the physical conditions
• Know the game situation (score, outs, position of other fielders, identity and tendencies of hitter, count, type of pitch to be thrown, etc)
• Know what you want to do with the ball if it is hit to you. Anticipate what a base runner might do. Know what alternatives exist for making a specific play.
• Follow the routine you have developed for readying yourself before each pitch. Include a breathing pattern (slow exhale) a key for getting your attention focused, a set time to get your eyes to the ball, a physical stance or presence, an anticipated movement.
• Be soft, be easy, be ready, be quick, be aggressive
• Simple is not always easy
• Always control the situation even if it is not the most popular thing to do

Throwing accurately in infield practice:

• Visualize your throw before it happens
• Treat every throw as it is game like

Setting up and giving targets:

• Calm and Quiet
• Same way every time
• Late as possible

         

Receiving:

• Soft but Firm
• Keep Strikes Strikes
• Let Balls be Balls
• Steal Borderline Pitches

 Blocking:

• Know pitch spins
• Know where ball will go
• Look for next play

Throwing:

• Get rid of ball
• Throwing strikes

Pop ups:

• Which side to turn
• Know distance and surroundings

Tag plays:

• Know where the runner will go
• Look for the next play

Pitch Selection:

• Getting ahead
• Getting outs early in count

Communicating with Pitcher:

• Knowing his abilities, tendencies, and needs
• Before game
• During game
• Builders and Cutters
• Fake Emotion
• Fake the pitchers stuff with energy
• After game

Tempo:

• Keep pace of the game going
• Get the ball back to the pitcher in 1.5 seconds or less
• 12 seconds between pitches
• Throw ball back
• Get sign from coach
• Put sign down
• Wait for next pitch
• Know how to be firm but in control
• Sprint back to home plate after backing up 1B for an out
• Spike the ball on a strike out that is the third out of an inning

Concentration / Alertness:

• Knowing game situation
• Knowing batters strength/weakness/previous at bats
• Knowing batters/ runners speed

Visualization:

• Use Imagery work to build confidence as to what will happen
• Visualize each pitch before it happens
• Visualize what could happen after each pitch is thrown

Breathing:

• Deep breath in through your stomach and out through your nose before each pitch
• Relax your body
• Be quiet with all movement

Fine Focus:

• Mask off and take a deep breath with fine focus onto a spot on your mask to flush your thoughts and to get back to green signal lights and be locked in
• Mask back on to be in the moment of the game or pitch