Baseball is the most negative game to be played. A 25% success rate has been accepted as an offensive norm, which means that a player can contribute to his team’s success by failing 75% of the time. In no other sport is this acceptable. Therefore, it is imperative that young players be given methods to combat the negativism that baseball can generate. Because of the negative aspect of the game, coaches should always look to find something positive to tell their players about an unsuccessful situation. For instance, a hitter that hits a high pop-up to the infield with the bases loaded, in reality, just missed by fractions of an inch, hitting the ball on the sweet spot. In consoling the player, who obviously is very disappointed and distraught, the coach should point this out to him. It may not make him happy at the time, but it will make him think that, "yeah, I just missed," and he will be more eager to grab his bat to hit the next time up. The game has enough negativism, so that a coach or teammates should not bring more to it. Positive reinforcement will help keep the young player in the game. It will help him to want to learn or work hard to get better.

THE PERSONAL BATTING AVERAGE: Most players use the offensive statistic of the batting average as the rule of thumb for success or failure. So we will begin here. The batting average does serve as an indicator to success, however it can be, at times, misleading. When a hitter hits a line drive for an out, or grounds out hard to an infielder, or is out on a great play by the defense, this lowers his "on-paper" batting average. However, if he keeps his Personal Batting Average, he will count this as a success, and it will raise his average. This is not a false statistic. Hitting the ball hard is all the batter can really hope for, and if he is hitting it hard, it will not be counted against him on his "PBA." By keeping this "PBA" the player can combat feelings of failure at the plate in individual situations. He can also combat real frustrations during streaks where he has hit the ball well several times but has not been credited with a base hit. These times will occur during the season and every hitter has suffered through them. In arguing that the line drive outs are balanced by the squib hits, it must be remembered that we are trying to be positive here.

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND VISUALIZE: Visualizing is another method of combating the negative aspect of the game. After the player has had a successful at bat, or made a great play, or pitch, he should close his eyes and see that hit, or play a second time. Record it in his memory bank, to withdraw it during the times when things may be going tough. "You have been successful, so be able to see that success again before you go to the plate or take the field." This is positive reinforcement from within and it will be needed in the future. In some instances, visualizing a mistake or poor execution can help to make sure that it will not happen again. As an example, a pitcher may get away with a bad pitch, putting it in the hitter’s zone, but getting an out with it. He will not want to make that pitch again, and visualizing this mistake will help him to not repeat it. Visualizing can be a very important tool used while in the on-deck circle, or as one steps up to the plate. It does not take much time, and can act as subliminal reinforcement before the actual act.

PICKING UP YOUR TEAMMATE: Every coach should not only encourage his players to pick up a teammate after he has had a negative success, but he should demand it. (Hitting a rocket for an out is a negative success.) The player’s teammates should greet him with a handshake or pat on the back, giving positive feedback. This positive encouragement should occur even after a strike out or other not-so-glorious at bat. Teammates should continually encourage each other as it can only help keep the spirit of the team up. Each player will go through difficult times during the game, season, career. To get through these times, the player will need the help of his teammates.

FUNK VS. SLUMP: Avoid using the word slump, as it has earned a too negative meaning of continued failure. Rather, use the word funk because, as every player has had negative periods, they have also gone through great positive times. A player in a slump seems to dwell on the negative of "I can’t," period; whereas, a player in a funk, has done it before, so he knows he can do it again. This may be a play on words, but the mind can be effected by the interpretations of these terms. And the mind is what we are mainly dealing with.

WATCH THE OTHER GUYS: The biggest tool in learning how to play is to watch the major leaguers- the cream of the crop. When a player watches a game, he will invariably watch hitters and players at his position. Many times he will imitate what he sees. This is good, for it is how he learns. But, how many times has a coach or player groaned about the execution of a certain play, at bat, or pitch that he or his team has made in a game? And how many times has the player or coach gone home and turned on a major league game on television, and seen the major leaguers do virtually the same thing. It happens all the time. Major leaguers are not perfect, they are just better, or some even the best, at what they do. But no one has ever turned in a 1.000 batting average or 1.000 fielding average. Hard work has gotten the big leaguer where he is. Positive feelings about their ability has helped raise them to a high level. On the youth level, the same thing is true. The player should approach the game with the attitude that, I know I will not be perfect 100% of the time, but my job is to work hard and improve my percentages.

THE GRAY MATTER FACTOR: A hard ground ball is hit to the shortstop for an apparent easy double play, but he boots it. How he immediately reacts to this misplay is key to what can happen later. "Someone with good self-confidence knows it’s part of the game and, at some level, accepts it." "Great athletes have short memories." They can forget their mistakes, and even the emotion of their successes, to focus on the immediate moment. This is not to say they are not concerned with making the error, but it allows them to immediately continue without emotional hindrance. This is mental control and it comes with maturity. But maturity is not measured in age. It is developed. The coach is in a profession that is constantly filled with tension and stress. By showing a calm outer face, the coach can help the young athlete realize the importance of this control, and create an atmosphere of confidence. The coach can teach that muscles and brain work together to affect a positive result. A disciplined coach can create a disciplined ball player, which in turn, will help develop a far more disciplined team.

SELF-TALK: Inner conversations with oneself can be a valuable tool to motivate and relax the athlete in tense filled moments. He can create a state of well being by playing a "tape recording" of positive thoughts throughout these testing times. As a result, self talk becomes a key factor in the athletes approach to the situation at hand. Also, many athletes inscribe positive messages inside their caps. Why do they do this? Obviously it is another method of communicating to oneself. In tough situations, he can easily take off his cap and re-read the written message. After all, no message would be written if the player did not believe in it, or the event referred to, did not happen. This goes back to the text on visualizing. A combination of "re-seeing" a positive consequence, and of referring to positive thoughts before an actual event occurs, can give the athlete a more confident controlled approach to what is due to happen.

THE POSITIVE RECTANGLE: Confidence is the key to success for the young ball player. But confidence is continually fighting off the challenges of that great intimidator…fear! Fear can show up almost anytime, and especially when a struggling hitter faces a pitcher that he rates as superior. Here, the hitter can use the batters box as his sanctum from fear. When he steps into the batters box, he must shed any feelings of fear from an overpowering pitcher. He must realize that he is in that box because he earned it, that he has been successful in the past and will be successful again. If he has any inclinations of fear, he must step out of the box, gather himself, and step back in only when he sheds the negative emotion. Inside the batters box there can be no fear. It is replaced by respect, of course, but in the box it is fearless. The pitcher can use this same tactic when on the mound. He does not step onto the rubber- his positive rectangle- until he has cleared his thoughts of any negativity.

The most important factor in helping the athlete to perform at a high efficient level is to create a positive atmosphere around him. There is enough negative, in the sport of baseball, that it makes the development of a good atmosphere, a constant project for the individual, his teammates, and the coaching staff.

Happy Baseballing!