Softball Fielding Tips - A Mental Routine To Stay Focused

Have you ever noticed that we do the same things the same way most of time? We have routines and specific ways of doing things.

For example, I do pretty much the same thing every morning.

6:00 am - Alarm goes off / turn on TV or press snooze!
6:10 am - Get up and stretch
6:15 am - Drink 2 glasses of water
6:20 am - Preparation to go workout
6:30 am - Workout
7:25 am - Post-workout shake and shower
7:50 am - Breakfast
8:00 am - Turn on computer and start my day

I bet you do as well. I bet you can easily write down exactly what you do in which order every morning.

Why is that?

You see, humans are creatures of habits. They find comfort in establishing routines.

Elite softball palyers and coaches do it all the time. The use of routine is one of the most widespread practices among elite softball players and coaches.

Performing routines gives them confidence and helps them focus and get in the zone so that they can outperform their opponents on the field.

They perform routines before games, between innings and between pitches at the plate and on the field.

A routine integrates both the mental and the physical aspects. It is a specific way of doing things to stay focus, block distraction and put you in the ideal mindset. Routines are powerful and you should definitely use them.

Here is a sample routine between pitches that you can use between pitches if you are a position player.

The 4 "R" Routine

- Relax
- Read
- Rehearse
- Ready & React

Relax - after the pitch or the play, take a few steps back, empty your mind from negative thoughts, take a deep breath and exhale slowly, block distractions, stay positive, etc.

Read - what is the situation? how many outs? where are the runners? who's hitting? What is the count?

Rehearse - What do I need to do if I get the ball? Rehearse the play to do in your head. Visualize a perfect execution.
 
Ready & React - Take a few steps forward. Creep into position as the pitcher delivers the pitch and react to it with the appropriate play.

Performing this kind of routine is extremely helpful to stay relaxed and focused, block distraction, control the thoughts and the little voice in your head and give you confidence.

Go ahead and develop performance routines for yourself just like top athletes and coaches do - you will thank me later!

Who loves ya?

Marc

"Your Softball Peak Performance Coach"

P.S. Need to boost your game? Are you underperforming?

Add a short 30-minute softball conditioning workout to your daily routine and watch your game transform within 3 weeks! No kidding!