Posted by: Torque (roscoethewestie@comcast.net) on Thu Jun 11 03:43:37 2009

> So over my high school season, I did very well. I was called up as a sophomore to start at
> shortstop and bat leadoff for my high school varsity squad.
>
> My fielding, which was the reason I was called up, wasn't up to par, at least to me, but my
> hitting was very good. I was actually impressed with myself and my ability to adjust to 17
> and 18 year old pitchers.
>
> However, I'm starting travel season in a few days, and I get REAL coaching there. I play in
> Chicago so the high school programs aren't out of this world, and my coach in summer
> really doesn't like my swing and is always adjusting and giving constructive (which is fine
> because I love being coached and always want to learn to be better), but other guys on the
> team have such more refined swings, that I feel once this season will start, I'll be playing
> like a joke. I also worry that this confidence problem will take out any chance of me being
> a successful hitter this summer.
>
> Are there any special tricks that I can use to stay positive on myself? I'm usually very hard
> on myself and often joke about not belonging on the team. I literally feel like I've lost all
> confidence just because I'm not satisfied with myself as a player.
>
> P.S. I don't want to come across as rattled or emotionally and mentally weak, because I use
> this to work harder during practice as well as the offseason, and I believe it's good to be
> hard on yourself somewhat, but not to the extent I am.

I'd focus on hitting hard, throwing hard,running fast, and being healthy. These are really the important things. Being too hard on yourself mentally can be counterproductive. Instead of focusing on what may or may not be going right focus on how you are very slowly getting better. Successful people work at getting just a tiny bit better every time and this eventually adds up. Face it, after the initial larger gains in performance the gains start coming slowly and this is where you have to have the mental makeup to be patient and persevere while maintaining a very strong desire to improve slowly. This takes planning and a lot of work. It doesn't mean you won't have days where you are hard on yourself but you have to get beyond that and improve very slowly. Critics including being your own critic are a dime a dozen. Spend your time making it happen and be motivated by positive change and work as opposed to simply being hard on yourself. Have fun and work hard on the journey to becoming a better ball player. Confidence is fickle. It comes and it goes. Warns and rewards. Manny, though not the most popular name, is a player that supposedly isn't confident but he works hard and is well prepared at the plate.