I reinvented my program from the inside out, starting with me, and the winning showed up.
Some are, for sure.
However, below the highest level of play in softball you’ll find many LHB who are fast, but not fast-fast.
Keep your head, keep your feet and make the play. The pressure of speed can work even if the speed is not exceptional…if you let it rattle you.
Remember that time…? It seems like it was easy, right? You showed up and got it right.
Probably not.
Your successes are likely more complex than you remember them.
You worked hard, you considered options that ended up on the cutting room floor that you don’t even recall now.
Sometimes we think our former selves had it easier, or the competition wasn’t as tough as it actually was, or we were just better then…
Give yourself credit and get to work on the complex concern in front of you now.
Safety nets, guide wires, bumpers, reasons to be fearless without repercussion.
Is that what’s really good for us?
Do we need to be sure to have a “feel good” practice before a big game? Do you know for sure that’s the best thing for you or your team or do you just think it is?
What happens if she fails for real? Throws a gutter ball or falls on her face, even literally?
I think that the toughness comes from getting up and dusting oneself off.
Allowing failure to occur is not the same as encouraging it.
I’ve read lots about the power of positive thinking. I consider myself a real optimist.
There’s lots of doubt in all of us, however. Even after 27 plus years of coaching at the college level I’m often found wondering how big my next failure is going to be. There is so much that can go wrong.
Our players have plenty of doubts as well. We encourage them to “stop thinking” we tell them all about strategies that allow them to consider the positive outcomes…
One of the simplest ideas is that of replacement thoughts. Don’t fight the negativity with more negativity (“stop being negative!”), simply replace that with something else.
The replacement thoughts don’t need to be the inverse of the negative, just something different. Choose your thoughts. Be in control.
Coaching Made Easier 