Mental Discipline

Our PC takes the opposite approach of yelling mean things. I could see how that might work with some personalities but could be kind of disastrous with others. Ours is big into building them up.

I asked my DD what she feels when the other team is doing some heckling. We're 10U and it has never gotten nasty, just the usual chants and things. I don't know what it will be like as they get older but right now, she said she doesn't hear them. I don't think it's that she's consciously tuning anything out, she's just really focused. However, I have also asked her what she thinks about the long post-game talks the coach gives and she doesn't hear those either...

My DD 16u is loud, in the middle of every conversation, etc. In the circle my ears finally get a rest. On occasion I see an eye roll or cringe from a call she considers missed by blue. She never has broke down or let it get to her. When she is stinking it up she stays straight faced for long time trying to keep it together and make adjustments. When I see the frustration face unique to her I know it's time to pull her. After the game or so yes she will complain about his zone to which I reply u have to adjust.

Thanks for the suggestions Sluggers and Cannonball! Those sound like very effective drills. If they can't handle that they might not be pitching material.

I forgot to mention that when I have the pitchers throw live to hitters in game situations, that our bullpen is just behind the dugout. So, the other pitcher/s are there throwing to be ready to run onto the field for their situations. I might have given the impression that the pitcher ran on cold or we had to wait for them to loosen up before they threw to hitters. We are a lot more efficient that that. LOL

The sooner the pitcher figures out what she can and can't control, the better off she will be. It sounds simple, but this is a big part of the mental game. The pitcher can't control how the defense plays, the umpire's strike zone, the weather, or even field conditions. But she can control her pitches.

My DD is 16u now, but I remember those 12u and 14u games where the defense would makes mistakes and errors, then my DD's pitching would fall apart. Right know, I've see the defense make two errors in a row, and the demeanor and expression of my DD does not change. She knows she did her job, and that's what she can control. After the play is over no matter what happens, she goes through the same routine. She turns her back, collects her thoughts and "breathes', comes back to the mound and does her thing.

Also, I recall those younger days when the umpire zone would be tight. That's tough on a young pitcher, and even on parents. Used to be, you'd throw that good pitch on the corner and would not get the call, disappointment was on her face, shoulders would slump. Again, her pitching effectiveness would decrease as a result. Know I see my DD hit her spots, but the ump doesn't give it to her. You would never know just by looking at her demeanor. Its the same routine. As she's gotten older, her control has improved significantly. She knows that she has to bring it into the zone closer with the small zone ump, and advantage to the hitter, but she's not going to give the easy pass. But she's also smarter to know not to show up umps. I also don't make comments from the peanut gallery about calls. Umps are human and do not like to be criticized, it does not help to criticize them. Accept the fact that all umpires zones are different. I saw a game this year against a good team where "Blue" was giving my DD 6 inches off the plate, and my DD kept going to the well. I think the zones even themselves out.

It's been my experience that a pitcher's anxiety level is directly proportional the amount of stress displayed by the parent on the sideline in many cases. I've seen parents pacing up and down the fence line like a caged cougar. Literally, kicking up the dust. The pitcher's watching them between each pitch and growing ever more anxious till is shows up in her mechanics. The best is the "Yeller" who is trying to give a pitching lesson in the middle of the game. For some reason... That seems to be girl who falls apart the quickest.

I Used to sit in my lawn chair when DD was pitching and not say a word. Or, I would have my camera out taking pictures of all the players on the team. Especially in college. The new parents on the team would always ask me how can I just "Sit There" and do nothing in the middle of a tense situation. I would tell them it does absolutely NOTHING to help my DD's performance on the field by me pacing back and forth like a duck in a shooting gallery.

As mentioned earlier. The "Clear The Mechanism" scene from For The Love of The Game is about as perfect a visual representation of a pitcher dropping into the "Zone" when they are ready to deliver a pitch. The DD drove her HS coach nuts. She'd "drop in" and the coach would pick that time to try and yell something to her. She never heard the coach. After a while the coach figured it out and stopped it.

Sparky Guy said:

It's been my experience that a pitcher's anxiety level is directly proportional the amount of stress displayed by the parent on the sideline in many cases. I've seen parents pacing up and down the fence line like a caged cougar. Literally, kicking up the dust. The pitcher's watching them between each pitch and growing ever more anxious till is shows up in her mechanics. The best is the "Yeller" who is trying to give a pitching lesson in the middle of the game. For some reason... That seems to be girl who falls apart the quickest.

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So true! I took up score keeping when we moved up to 10U. I was afraid I'd be a nervous wreck and do all those things you mentioned. Score keeping keeps me focused and mostly non-stressed.

My DD is like pitcher A, nothing seems to bother her. She has had a long time to develop. Started pitching at age 5. I'm not sure if pitching created the self confidence or the self confidence created the pitcher? DD isn't afraid to try new things!

Sparky Guy said:

It's been my experience that a pitcher's anxiety level is directly proportional the amount of stress displayed by the parent on the sideline in many cases. I've seen parents pacing up and down the fence line like a caged cougar. Literally, kicking up the dust. The pitcher's watching them between each pitch and growing ever more anxious till is shows up in her mechanics. The best is the "Yeller" who is trying to give a pitching lesson in the middle of the game. For some reason... That seems to be girl who falls apart the quickest.

I Used to sit in my lawn chair when DD was pitching and not say a word. Or, I would have my camera out taking pictures of all the players on the team. Especially in college. The new parents on the team would always ask me how can I just "Sit There" and do nothing in the middle of a tense situation. I would tell them it does absolutely NOTHING to help my DD's performance on the field by me pacing back and forth like a duck in a shooting gallery.

As mentioned earlier. The "Clear The Mechanism" scene from For The Love of The Game is about as perfect a visual representation of a pitcher dropping into the "Zone" when they are ready to deliver a pitch. The DD drove her HS coach nuts. She'd "drop in" and the coach would pick that time to try and yell something to her. She never heard the coach. After a while the coach figured it out and stopped it.

Click to expand...

I was wondering when the word "coach" was going to be mentioned. I'm no javasource and don't even pretend to be but I have learned to be pretty good at getting inside their ears and talking to them, staying calm in the dugout and helping them focus. Focusing is the key, imho. Once it's clear they can no longer focus, take her out and have a confidence chat with her.