Baseball Is 90% Mental

“Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them — a desire, a dream, a vision” Muhammad Ali Yogi Berra was once quoted saying “Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical”! The numbers may not add up, but Yogi was definitely on to something. The mind plays an extremely important role in whether a baseball player will be successful or not. The player’s mindset and mental preparation can be the difference between a good or poor performance. The skill of winning involves the right attitude, quality performance, teamwork, a sense of competitiveness, a feeling of accountability to someone besides yourself - your coaches and teammates for example. You must lose any self-centered attitudes and become team-minded, playing not as an individual but as a unit. Being a part of a team is a privilege not a right, you must have respect for your sport and be committed to preparing to the best of your ability. Yogi is not alone, coaches and players at all levels that sports is 90-96% mental yet athletes spend hour upon hour preparing physically, but hardly anytime is spent practicing the mental side of their game. Most athletes fatigue mentally long before they fatigue physically because their mind is not in as good of shape as their body! Gary Ward, one college baseball’s foremost hitting instructors says, “ A mentally tough player is a self-motivated player with the desire to succeed as his main focus”. Mental toughness is a skill that can be acquired by being committed to your practice and preparation. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Mental preparation includes: Having a Mission Statement – your reason for playing the game; Goal Setting and knowing the difference between outcome and performance goals; Proper Breathing Techniques; Imagery and Visualization; Positive Affirmations and Self Confidence and Self Esteem. Excellent sources to learn more about the Mental Aspects of Sports include: The Mental Game of Baseball: A Guide to Peak Performance by H. A. Dorfman The Mental Keys to Hitting: A Handbook of Strategies for Performance Enhancement by H. A. Dorfman The Mental ABC's of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement by H. A. Dorfman