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Pitching is the most important aspect of the game!
From
Baseballtips.com
A dominating pitching staff can make all the difference in determining
a team's success. Practice and mastery of the physical elements of
pitching will improve the mechanical skills, but developing the
psychological aspects of pitching can improve the overall concentration of
the pitchers. Pitcher concentration is directly related to control,
confidence and success.
The key psychological aspects of pitching include a thorough understanding
of personal pitching strengths and weaknesses, as well as the development
of the following areas:
The successful pitcher will continue to master his strengths and work on
his weaknesses in practice and during isolated drill sessions.
As a coach, become aware of what type of pitcher you are dealing with. A
power pitcher? A control pitcher? A breaking ball pitcher? Once the type
of pitcher is determined, start to work toward strengthening and improving
weak areas. For example, a pitcher throwing in the low 80's is not going
to be a power-type pitcher. He is going to have to rely on having good
control, developing a good breaking pitch, and establishing the ability to
quickly change speeds with his pitches. On the other hand, the pitcher who
throws hard (85-to-90 mph) will emphasize the use of his fastball more
often. He should also develop a breaking pitch or changeup. When behind in
the count, these pitches are used to set up his fastball or to upset the
hitter's timing.
Developing mental discipline
A pitcher must be able to control his thoughts, emotions and actions
throughout a game. Pitchers should stick with their routine no matter what
happens during the game. They cannot work on things during the game, so
they need to be under control and have a clear plan on each pitch. The
pitcher should always be in control, since the hitter can only react to
the pitch being thrown. The pitcher cannot allow a situation to become a
factor of intimidation, but rather an opportunity to pitch with
self-control and confidence. Some examples of distractions that can affect
a pitcher mentally are:
(a) environmental conditions--rain, wind, heat, etc., crowd noise, a
poorly maintained mound;
(b) game situations such as a batter calling time out, a baserunner who
may be a stealing threat, the umpire missing a few pitches, a teammate
making a costly error, a poorly-thrown pitch that results in a base hit
and/or a trip to the mound by a coach.
These situations can affect the pitcher mentally and usually will result
in loss of concentration. The pitcher who is prepared to handle these
situations has already placed himself in similar situations during
practice and masters his own mental approach. The pitcher should always be
in control, able to pitch in a variety of situations and under all
conditions.
The ability to set goals and take the necessary steps toward achieving
them
All athletes set goals for themselves, but the great ones work harder at
aspects that will assist them in reaching those goals. While practicing,
pitchers should establish specific goals that they will try to accomplish.
Pitching practice should be more than just getting a workout.
Some specific goals may be:
working on rhythm and balance
working on a routine and release
working on throwing to a target
pitching from the stretch
pitching in different situations to use a variety of pitches
working on certain drills that emphasize visualization skills such as
shadow pitching
Setting goals before practice sessions will enhance practice performance
and assist in developing good work habits in pitchers. Before games,
pitchers should also set goals to assist in maintaining concentration and
setting the tone for performance. Preparation for the game should consist
of more than just a time to get loose; it should be a time to get a feel
for accomplishing goals during the game. Setting these types of goals and
following through will eventually lead to peak performance.
The understanding and positive approach for dealing with adversity and/or
success
Most pitchers are competitive by nature and must learn to deal with
success or failure by making adjustments and taking responsibility for
their performance. When pitching in trouble, pitchers should not resort to
throwing harder, they should keep pitching with the same confidence and a
smooth, tension-free motion. Trying to throw harder tends to produce
tension, and pitchers usually lose control, lose the efficiency of their
motion, and slow down arm speed. Aiming the ball or trying to make perfect
pitches is another negative way in which pitchers may deal with adverse
conditions.
Pitchers need to be taught that they do not need to strike batters out,
but instead throw off the hitters timing to get the desired results.
Coaches need to watch for these signs and emphasize to their pitchers the
importance of making good pitches, hitting the target, and committing to
the pitch they are about to throw. Successful pitchers will not need to be
reminded of these examples; however, they will always need to be reminded
that they should never be satisfied with a performance. The successful
pitcher will always try to improve by seeking to learn more and always
looking for that better way of throwing a particular pitch.
Preparing and developing a game plan
Getting pitchers ready to pitch is an ongoing process that requires a
focused approach to their job. Pitchers should think about a game plan
before the game. Coaches should meet with pitchers to review scouting
reports, hitter tendencies, and how to pitch in a variety of situations.
Reviewing specific defenses and pickoff plays will also assist in this
preparation.
While in the bullpen, the pitcher should go through his pregame routine by
preparing the body to throw--warming up, stretching and short distance
drills. Pitchers should also use this time to practice what they are going
to do on the mound--getting used to their pitches, finding a comfort zone,
concentrating on staying back, using a good explosion and following
through.
This routine is further accomplished by insuring that the last few pitches
of the warm-up are thrown at game speed or similar to the first few
pitches of the first inning. Visualizing mechanics and release point will
further assist in the preparation and reinforce total concentration on the
pitching process.
Develop a confident approach to pitching
This approach is accomplished by concentrating on the execution rather
than on the results. A positive approach to pitching is essential to any
good performance. Being able to take it from the bullpen to the game is
one of the biggest factors to a pitcher's success. A successtul pitcher
will be able to take his best stuff out to the mound and pitch with
confidence. He should not have any doubt, tension or fear. This approach
is accomplished by being totally confident in all of his pitches and his
ability to win the battle. A pitcher should believe that he has warmed-up
properly and has had ample opportunity to prepare mentally for the
delivery of the first pitch. Pitchers do not always need their best stuff
to be successful. In fact, most pitchers can get hitters out with poor
pitches, since most hitters go up to the plate overly aggressive and
swinging at the first pitch. The key, as discussed earlier, is being under
control and pitching with confidence.
Be aware of the pitcher's rhythm
Rhythm is a primary objective when trying to develop consistency in a
pitcher's timing, balance and control. Most pitchers will get into trouble
when they begin to work too fast or start to allow situations to bother
them. Once a coach senses a loss of rhythm, it is time for a trip to the
mound or time to get a reliever loose. Losing rhythm is usually the first
sign of trouble.
The use of visualization skills
To be successful, pitchers should learn to visualize their mechanics,
rhythm and control. Visualizing before throwing each pitch is an important
step for all successful pitchers. They have to be able to see themselves
throwing the pitch before they actually throw it! Pitchers have to learn
to make visualization a part ot their routine, so it needs to be developed
and mastered during practice. This skill can be accomplished in a variety
of ways. Bullpen work is an excellent time to work on visualization
skills. The coach can ask the pitcher about pitch selection, location and
target for each pitch being thrown. This response will give the coach some
clues about whether the pitcher is developing the necessary visualization
skills.
Development and use of relaxation techniques
Relaxation techniques improve performance, concentration and confidence.
Learning to relax is a useful tool in the pitching process that
facilitates necessary adjustments needed throughout a ballgame. Using
controlled breathing, stretching, or just taking time out to gather
thoughts are techniques that will assist in the relaxation process. Key
words or phrases used by the coach are valuable starters for a pitcher to
begin using relaxation techniques while pitching. "One pitch at a time ,"
"smooth and easy," "nice and loose," "stay within yourself," "just let it
happen," "see the target and let it go," are some suggested phrases that
have been used by coaches. These phrases are also repeated by the pitcher
as a means of relaxation, further facilitating the process and assisting
the pitcher in gaining control of himself.
Develop a technique for evaluating performance
This aspect will assist in teaching pitchers to constructively evaluate
what they are doing, either in practice or during games. Most pitchers
have a difficult time evaluating their personal performances in a way that
will assist them in improving their game. It is not uncommon for pitchers
to only see the good things and the results, such as ERA, hits given up,
walks and number of strikeouts. These results do not give a clear picture
of what happened during the actual outing and the events that transpired
leading to these results.
Most pitchers see themselves as pitching well and the "rest" of the team
making mistakes, errors or not scoring runs as the primary reason for
their lack of success. Coaches should be aware of these situations and
plan a visit or sit down with the pitcher between innings to discuss what
they want to occur rather than what has been happening. A good pitcher
will be able to evaluate all these things and gain control of his emotions
once he has developed a plan of learning to make adjustments.
Pitching is a difficult task, and learning to pitch with a positive
attitude and well-established pitching psychology are important factors in
predicting success. These key areas will enable the coach to develop
practice situations to gain the desired outcomes during a contest and
assist in recognizing certain points of emphasis that can assist in this
success. Coaching pitchers on the psychological aspects will greatly
enhance development and peak performance. |
