Category: Coaching (Page 2 of 9)

As you probably know, one of my favorite athletic mental coaches is Dr. Patrick Cohn of Peak Sports Performance. Dr. Cohn is a sports psychologist out of Orlando Florida.

He’s always preaching about mental toughness – as well as the techniques athletes can use to grasp it.

He sent out an e-mail blast recently that I’ve posted below regarding achieving next-level performance…

How do you go from good to great as a ballplayer? Many players “want” to be better, but their “want” doesn’t lead to action.

You could have the best coach in the world, surrounded by talented teammates, work out with the latest equipment, and dream big dreams, but mere desire never yields positive results alone.

You, of course, need some level of ability. Desire is also important; you need to be passionate about lifting your game. However, raising your game requires instruction, direction, action, and evaluation.

Unfortunately, many players stop at the “desire” stage. Words without actions keep you stuck in a rut.

The 6 Stages of Next Level Performance

1. Passion – When you are passionate about becoming a better pitcher, making a college team, breaking into the starting lineup, or raising your batting average, you can stay motivated to see yourself through the ups and downs.

2. Goal – Passion is desire. However, a goal is a target, something specific you want to achieve. When your goal is clear and specific, you can determine if your plan or actions are on track for achieving your objective.

3. Instruction – You should have someone knowledgeable you can rely on for teaching, coaching, or advising you, such as a coach, elite player, or mental game coach.

4. Direction – You need a plan, plain and simple. A plan is a roadmap that directs you towards your goal.

5. Action – You must act on your plan, not just once in a while or when you feel like working. You must put into action your plan each day.

6. Evaluation – This step is often neglected. Some players give up before evaluating or adjusting their plans when necessary. When you objectively assess your progress, you are more apt to push through the struggle during the season.

When you put into play these six steps, you will accomplish more as an athlete.

You can find out more about Dr. Cohn here – and his blog is here.  I’d encourage you to visit his site and read more!

Harvey Dorfman’s book – The Mental ABCs of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement – is a “must read” for pitchers. It’s simply a classic.

My friend Jordan Zimmerman (ZB Velocity) turned me on to Dorfman’s book, as he said it helped him become a mentally strong pitcher and was crucial to his success as a professional pitcher.

Zimmerman still uses it today in his teaching…he told me he keeps going back to his highlighted and dog-eared copy.

Here’s the Amazon link, and I highly recommend that pitchers pick up a copy!

Harvey Dorfman – a Brief Biography

Dorfman was best known as an mental skills/sports psychology coach who worked in education and psychology as a teacher, counselor, coach, and consultant. Prior to starting a business as a mental skills coach. he also wrote for a local paper, taught English, and coached basketball at Burr and Burton Academy in Vermont.

He earned World Series Championship rings by serving as a mental skills coach for the 1989 Oakland A’s and the 1997 Florida Marlins. In 1999, Dorfman became a full-time consultant teaching the skills of sport psychology and staff development for the Scott Boras Corporation, an agency that represents professional baseball players.

Through his books and his teaching experience, he helped thousands of people get more of what they wanted from life through his tough love and clear insight. Some baseball greats give him credit for their success in life as well as in baseball.

Editorial Reviews

When Harvey left our organization to go work for Florida, we didn’t even try to replace him because, quite frankly, his legacy was already throughout our system. All of the players and coaches and staff he touched over the years… had become imbued with his philosophy and approach to the game. They have become Harvey’s disciples.

-SANDY ANDERSON, former President and General Manager, Oakland Athletics, former Executive Vice President, Office of Major League Baseball, currently General Manager, New York Mets.

When you talk to Harv, you get the truth from him, whether you like it or not. He always says, ‘I don’t care about your feelings. I care about your actions.’

-TIM BELCHER, former Major League Pitcher and Pitching Coach.

He’s truly amazing. It’s clear most people don’t want to hear the truth about themselves, but Harv gets in your face, uses a few choice words to get your attention, and he’s got you.

-AL LEITER, former Major League Pitcher, currently Studio Analyst and Commentator.

Harv is absolutely unique. He’s for real – a straight shooter. He gives it to you right on the line, whether you like it or not. Not many people can – or will – do that.

-WALT WEISS, former Major League All-Star Shortstop, currently manager of the Colorado Rockies.

I’m linking today to an article by Jack Perconte that’s designed specifically for parents of athletes. 

It’s absolutely true that parents have the best intentions for their kids. They look for ways to help their young ones reach their full potential with what they believe to be solid advice for their athletes.

However, without realizing it, parents can sometimes use words and actions that hinder their child’s development.

Jack Perconte

After playing major league baseball, Jack Perconte has taught baseball and softball since 1988 and has offered valuable coaching training. He has helped numerous youth players reach their potential, as well as having helped parents and coaches navigate their way through the challenging world of youth sports. Jack is one of the leading authorities in the areas of youth baseball training and coaching training advice.

The Article

Here’s the link to Jack’s article – and for parents of athletes, I highly recommend that you read the entire piece.

A few key takeaways…

Ensure the physical and emotional health of the child is a top priority

• Realize that sports are only games and one aspect of many aspects of a child’s life, and not the most important one

• Always remember that it is the player’s, not the parents’ career

• After a tough game, say, “Hang in there, we’ll figure it out.” We is a powerful word that will let your child know you are there to help, and they do not have to figure out the lack of success on their own.

• Always point out little signs of improvement, even if it is not showing up in game results.

More Athlete parenting tips

• Give the player a little time to sulk after the game, but do not allow throwing things, swearing or negative comments about themselves or others. Most players will come around after a short time and a good meal. Try to get the player’s mind off his or her performance as soon as possible, and only return to it later if the player brings it up.

• Tell the player you believe in them, and they should believe in themselves. Stay positive with the player and have patience. However, do not overdo the praise. They will recognize false praise and tune it out or get upset.

• Watch for exhausted players. Players who play too many games in a day or week become physically and emotionally drained. Overdoing it is more common these days because of the greater emphasis on travel teams. Give the players a few days away from the game to rest and clear their minds.

In Conclusion

There’s so much more in Jack’s article, so please do read it in it’s entirety.