Mental Toughness

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After reading the book "Mind Gym" I can tell you that your new coach either has an agenda or does not understand athletes and especially female athletes. Not that I do, but I try not to make them cry too much. LOL

Something is wrong and as a parent you may request a meeting with the coach and voice your concerns. I would ask him to level with you.
 
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This dude is a whack job......no kid should have to have mind games like that played on them. If more coaches did things like that we'd have a lot less problems like this to deal with cause we would have a lot less girls playing.
 
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I'll ignore the post by Blue Ice, as my daughter wanted to leave the team several weeks ago and I made her talk to coach herself and stick it out. We have left the team and have already found aonther team with a differnt coaching philosophy.

This is the second reference I have heard of in the last two days to "Mind Gym" so amazon here I come. I will put my order in today.
 
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Ok, so she is on a new team. You have extracted yourself from this coach. In retrospect, can you think of any reason why he wanted to make your DD mentally tough? Did she have any issues with game poise last year that he might have gotten wind of through her former coach? Anything happen this fall that would make him use this strategy? Was this the coach who offered DD a spot on the roster after tryouts?
Sorry for the third degree, but Lenski's post got me thinking.
 
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Ok, so she is on a new team. You have extracted yourself from this coach. In retrospect, can you think of any reason why he wanted to make your DD mentally tough?
Trust me... I have pondered this a lot too.

Did she have any issues with game poise last year that he might have gotten wind of through her former coach?
Only one time was there an issue last year. DD got frustrated with her defense in a game and said there "was no reason to throw strikes because no one could field it anyway." With our blessing, coach benched her the next game. Other than that, no big issues. Occassional frustration at the calls she perceived she was not getting from the umpire. Previous coach (I've talked to him since this happened) seems as dumbfounded as us.

Anything happen this fall that would make him use this strategy? Was this the coach who offered DD a spot on the roster after tryouts?
She didn't have a very good first outing. Struggled a little finding her zone, and after that she was not given much of a chance. She struck out her first time at bat. Went from 5 batter to 9. Never moved back up in batting order despite having multiple base hits and drawing walks. Only struck out one more time. This was the coach who offered her the spot too.

Sorry for the third degree, but Lenski's post got me thinking.
No problem. I've been doing a lot of thinking too. I think it was the way the situation was handled. Nothing was discussed with her, no one told her why she needed to be "tougher". Until I questioned it and the coach said "just let me try it my way," we didn't know anything about this.

She does need to learn to work through tough situations, but do you do that at the expense of her self-esteem? I guess I just don't believe in this particular coaching technique and know my daughter was responding negatively to it, so parting ways was probably best for all involved. I would like to know if this technique workd for others.
 
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Not saying that I support a coach who uses the tactics you describe, but as an adult, you are well aware that there are always two sides and two distinct perspectives in every situation. I would be VERY concerned about your DD's attitude towards adverse game situations. Every pitcher gets frustrated when things don't go as planned, and is having a bad outing. Often it IS the defense behind her, but she has to remember that she has a huge responsibility in assuming the role as pitcher. The game is literally on her shoulders! Although she may be "internally frustrated", she will only make things worse by wearing her emotions and feelings on her sleeve. Aside from effective pitching prowess, her immediate second function is being captain of the ship - the very visible team leader. She will do irreparable harm to her team relationship by making negative comments about her supporting cast. Sometimes it's an impossible task, but her mindset must be to HELP her team mates instead of being an adversary. That way, when she's struggling, her team mates behind her will still "have her back". That's a VERY important concept.

Regardless of your DD's physical ability, the leadership role as a pitcher is equally important - especially at higher levels of the game. It takes practice to "ice those emotions" and focus on the big picture. One last thing - in my book, a strike-out isn't necessarily a bad at-bat. That stat is just a part of the game. How she deals with the outcome of a strike-out is another thing. How she deals with adversity in her pitching role also can have a very powerful effect on the rest of her game. Just some food for thought from an old "pitcher dad".
 
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DD's last game last summer was a semifinal game against a very good team that she and her team had beaten earlier in the day 9-1. In the rematch, her team spotted her a 7 run lead. Over the next 5-6 innings, the opposing team slowly clawed their way back and ultimately won 10-9. Lots of errors, base running mistakes, but also...walks, poorly placed pitches and an arm that finally pooped out. Through it all (including getting yanked) she never pouted, cried or yelled at her teammates. I was proud of her even though they lost.
I wanted my DD to take away one lesson from every game she pitched last year, and I think she really matured as a pitcher. What did she learn from that game? Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you just lose. She is going to a first year 16u this summer and it will be harder to "dominate" the batter, so Mental Toughness is a phrase that I'm sure she'll be hearing from her coach and her overbearing father. Good Thread SB112.
 
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I have not read the entire posting but am open to some ideas. I have thrown my hat into this crazy ring we call tournament softball. I have a group of girls who believe that they are good the way they are right now. I am trying to push them to get to a deeper level of thinking and comprehension. I do this by ensuring the little things in my drills and per-game. However, I feel like too many girls are leaving practice frustrated. Any ideas or is it normal when pushing 14 year old girls.
 
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I have not read the entire posting but am open to some ideas. I have thrown my hat into this crazy ring we call tournament softball. I have a group of girls who believe that they are good the way they are right now. I am trying to push them to get to a deeper level of thinking and comprehension. I do this by ensuring the little things in my drills and per-game. However, I feel like too many girls are leaving practice frustrated. Any ideas or is it normal when pushing 14 year old girls.

As you said you missed some in the post. That being, at your player level have them and yourself read "MIND GYM". Alot of colleges are having there players read this at the begining of there season. Its also a great book for coaches!! You'll see what i mean when you have read the book. They can handle it at that age and its a good read. Not too deep, but to the point and not as long as War and Peace.....LOL

Just don't be a fraid to challege them...... they may fail but that builds confidense when the finally over come that challege!!.....Good Luck!!..........Stay Positive!!
 
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Coach-
I like the way you have prefaced your statement by saying that "they think that they are good the way they are". You, too must think that to a degree because you have made the jump to tournament with them. That said, nothing will convince a kid that practice is important by playing in a decent tournament to gauge exactly how far you have to push them. If they hang tough, then be reasonable. If they get their b*tts whooped, then you can justify the harder attitude and practices. At 14u, these girls are jumping late just like my daughter did, and the adjustment was a tough one!
 
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DD's new coach told me that in order to make my DD "mentally tough" he was going to break her down. Make her sit out, have her play different position, use her only in relief for pitching, move her from infield to outfield, dropped to last in batting order, all so she would "want" to play more.

:( There are better ways. I would not be happy if my DD's coach played mind games like that.
 

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