Tryout Meeting

Anyone who is planning on trying out for the softball team this year MUST attend a meeting on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 7:00 pm in the SHS Cafeteria. Parents are invited to attend as well. Information will be given about the upcoming season as well as tryout information. If you have any questions please contact Coach Thackeray.

Fundraising Dinner

Reminder to sell your tickets! Remember all money and tickets are due by Wednesday, February 5th! 

February 13th, 2015 (Finding the Zone, The Highest Level, The Power of Decision Making, Closing Remarks)-- The Fearless Mind

Only respond to the "response question(s)" in the "Comments" section of the blog! The other information included in the post (quotes, questions to think about) should help guide your answers. Included are things that stood out to me and questions that I think will help you in your process of developing a fearless mind. REMINDER: You must submit your response by Friday at 11:59 pm in order to get credit for Advanced Conditioning! 

RESPONSE QUESTION(S): 

1. What were your overall thoughts and impressions of the book The Fearless Mind as a whole?  Be honest! Be sure to explain your answer.
2. List three things you can take away from the book and how you can apply them to yourself this coming season.
3. Based on your reading and your own personal experiences, define what having "a fearless mind" means and looks like.

Finding the Zone

"We think that extremes are the answer to high performance rather than finding the right balance from one moment to the next" (151). 

"To tweak means 'to improve (a mechanism or system) by making find adjustments to it'" (151). 

"Stay attentive to how [you] felt from one moment to the next and make good decisions" (152). 

"If only they could take a step back and see that the zone is right in front of them. Just a little tweak and they would find that balance, that momentum that can take them further than they ever imagined.... We need to be careful of superstitions that prevent us from finding the zone.... Give up on superstitions and address each situation on its merits" (152).

The Highest Level

"You are only as good as the decisions you make" (153). 

"The highest level of performance occurs when we have a clear understanding of what we are trying to accomplish and have a plan of action to achieve it. We have then developed and refined the fundamental skill sets needed. We know our strengths and weaknesses and are completely comfortable with who we are and how to maximize our strengths while minimizing our weaknesses. Finally, at that point we have disciplined our minds to stay attentive to the present, providing ourselves with the capacity to process large amounts of information at incredible speeds, allowing for split-second decision-making with minimal hesitation and doubt" (153).

The Power of Decision Making

"In the long run, the sword is always beaten by the mind" (155). 


"[We must channel our] energy toward the tasks that [we] need to perform in order to improve [our] performances" (155). 

"[We must have] a specific plan that channels [our] attention to the details of what [we] want to accomplish in [our] attempt to achieve the objective" (156). 

"It doesn't matter what the physical setting is, it is our mental approach to what we do that determines how successful and happy we feel, and whether we continually learn from what we do well and what we can do better, channeling all our energy toward controlling what we do well and what we have control over. It is through taking responsibility for the decisions that we make and learning to control those aspects of our composition (spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical) that we develop a fearless mind. With a fearless mind it is only a matter of time before we find the path to what we seek. Once on the path, the joy of continual growth, of self-mastery, begins; and when it ends... I don't know. I don't know if it ever ends, and I don't care, because I love the journey" (158). 

"A great benefit to using the Mental Skills Journal is that it provides feedback on the day's performance, on the day's decisions. The greatest key to achieving your objectives is to learn from your previous performance accomplishments and make an active commitment to do something different the following day. Utilizing the journal allows you to see how your choices impact your performance" (158).

Closing Remarks

"What is past is useful only as it suggests ways and means for progress" (159). 


"High-performing individuals are motivated to perfect the task at hand, their focus is on what they need to do and not on what is wrong or what could go wrong.... They are intensely aware of what they are doing at all times, giving them a greater sense of control and confidence over their lives.... Their focus is tuned to the task at hand, their attention is consistently directed toward the present.... When the mind stays attentive to the task, the proverbial door to fear stays closed, as all fear exists only in the future" (159-160).

February 6th, 2015 (Decision Making Experiences and Leveraging Strengths and Weaknesses)-- The Fearless Mind

Only respond to the "response question(s)" in the "Comments" section of the blog! The other information included in the post (quotes, questions to think about) should help guide your answers. Included are things that stood out to me and questions that I think will help you in your process of developing a fearless mind. REMINDER: You must submit your response by Friday at 11:59 pm in order to get credit for Advanced Conditioning! 

RESPONSE QUESTION(S): 

1. How does the following quote about tennis apply to softball? "The worst hit shot to the right spot is better than the best hit shot to the wrong place" (139). 
2. So many great quotes in each of these sections! :) Choose your favorite quote from the Decision Making Experiences section. Write the quote and explain how it applies to you and why you like it. 
3. Think about your strengths and weaknesses as a softball player. How can you "leverage" these strengths and weaknesses to help you improve as a softball player and in life in general? Explain. 

Decision Making Experiences

"The worst hit shot to the right spot is better than the best hit shot to the wrong place" (139). 

"I realized this guy looked like a million dollars in practice but didn't know how to keep more than two or three balls in the court under pressure" (140). 

"It wasn't losing the match that bothered me, but rather how we lost it. Our efforts and attitudes were appalling" (141). 

"The players needed to take responsibility for their state of mind and not blame others or make lame excuses or try to sugarcoat things" (141). 

"Overarousal can lead to poor concentration, making good decision making difficult" (142). 

"The key to maintaining high levels of performance is maintaining self-discipline, staying focused on good decision making, and not letting our egos get in the way" (143). 

"The choice to take the quick and easy path appears on the surface to make life easier, but really it only exposes us to more problems than we realize. The choice to take the sure road appears tough and a lot of work but doesn't expose us to unnecessary challenges" (144). 

"Refocus on what to do instead of focusing on what not to do" (144). 

"At high levels of performance, we may only get one chance, and if we are not ready for these moments, they may pass us by" (144). 

"The greater the sacrifice, the greater the joy" (146). 

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: How can we learn from the experiences of others? Why is it important to focus on the things that we can do? 

Leveraging Strengths and Weaknesses

"As we become confident and competent at executing fundamentals, the next level of performance involves molding our strengths and weaknesses into our strategic plan. This involves tweaking our plan of action around our greatest strengths while minimizing (hiding) our weaknesses. As has been mentioned, growth is accelerated when we learn from the things we do well. While it is important to learn from our weaknesses and make them stronger, it is not always wise to think that our weaknesses will become our greatest strengths" (149). 

"Find ways to fine-tune the engine to get every last bit of efficiency from it.... Find [your] greatest strengths, tweaking [your] strategic plan around [your] strengths and taking [your] level of performance to greater heights.... Most would think that such an adjustment would be trivial, but at high levels of performance, a small tweak can mean the difference between good and great" (149-150). 

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: Why is it important to always have a plan? How can you use the goals and objectives you set each day with your Mental Skills Journal to help leverage your strengths and weaknesses as an athlete? 

January 30th, 2015 (The Answer and Why is Decision Making so Important)-- The Fearless Mind

Only respond to the "response question(s)" in the "Comments" section of the blog! The other information included in the post (quotes, questions to think about) should help guide your answers. Included are things that stood out to me and questions that I think will help you in your process of developing a fearless mind. REMINDER: You must submit your response by Friday at 11:59 pm in order to get credit for Advanced Conditioning! 

RESPONSE QUESTION(S): 

1. What do you think are the benefits of random training? 
2. How can visualization benefit you as a softball player? 
3. Why do you think decision making is so important? 
4. Explain the following quote (tell me what you think it means, how you feel about it, and how you apply it to yourself as a softball player): 

"Individuals who don't beat themselves up tend to regain their confidence more rapidly. When we make good decisions, we make fewer mistakes, and when we make fewer mistakes, we are more likely to perform more assertively-- resulting in enhanced performance. When overall performance is enhanced for extended periods of time, the law of averages tells us we will eventually win. The more we win, the greater our confidence and the more likely we will relax and not rush, further enhancing good decision making" (138). 

The Answer

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear" (131). 

"All the physical skills in the world are useless if we don't know what to do with them" (133). 

"When we are always striving to improve, it is important to remember the foundation on which our system is built" (134). 

"Only those willing to take risks learn new skills sets that can be the difference between being really good and being great" (135).
 
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: Consider the benefits of blocked training and random practice. Is one more beneficial than the other? Which would you choose? Why? 

Why Is Decision Making So Important

"Ninety-five percent of performance is physical, five percent is mental. However, the five percent that is mental rules the other ninety-five percent" (137). 

"When athletes are confident, they tend to make good decisions" (137). 

"We are only as good as the decisions that we make" (138). 

"Individuals who don't beat themselves up tend to regain their confidence more rapidly. When we make good decisions, we make fewer mistakes, and when we make fewer mistakes, we are more likely to perform more assertively-- resulting in enhanced performance. When overall performance is enhanced for extended periods of time, the law of averages tells us we will eventually win. The more we win, the greater our confidence and the more likely we will relax and not rush, further enhancing good decision making" (138). 
 
QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: Why is it important to be confident? Why is making good decisions important? How can being assertive result in enhanced performance? 

November 21st, 2014 (Deliberate Practice Defined and 4 Components of Our Composition)-- The Fearless Mind

REMINDER: This is the LAST week of "Required Responses" as moratorium begins next week. If you want ANY points made up for Term 3, you have until FRIDAY to make these up! We will begin "Required Responses" again in January. 

Only respond to the "response question" in the "Comments" section of the blog! The other information included in the post (quotes, questions to think about) should help guide your answers. Included are things that stood out to me and questions that I think will help you in your process of developing a fearless mind. 

RESPONSE QUESTIONS: 

1. What might a deliberate practice look like? What efforts can you make to help ensure that we have deliberate practices?
2. Using the following quote, explain the quote's meaning as well as the importance of the meaning: "Once a clear objective is determined, the negative, self-destructive cycle is quickly broken, and the result is lowered anxiety, greater focus, confidence, and better decision making" (17-18).
3. What was one quote you liked and one thing you learned from the chapter, 4 Components of our Composition? 

Deliberate Practice Defined

"Deliberate practice is activity that does the following: 1) Is explicitly intended to improve performance 2) Reaches for objectives just beyond one's level of competence 3) Provides feedback on results 4) Involves high levels of repetition"  (13).

"Channel our mental energies toward objectives that we have direct control over, which in turn builds confidence and feelings of empowerment"  (13).

"We are always striving to get better, to grow.... Providing feedback allows people to take responsibility for their own growth. Feedback is used to evaluate which skill sets are contributing to improved performance and what skill sets need to be isolated for continued improvement" (14).

"When we channel our energy in a deliberate way, it is possible to achieve almost anything.... Continually observing results and making appropriate adjustments, and doing that daily-- that's deliberate practice" (14).

"The structured Mental Skills Journal that I require my clients to use forces them to write down three things they did well in short, concise detail. By doing this, they are attending to the details of their accomplishments" (15).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: We always set goals/objectives before games. Why is it important to set objectives before practicing? How might incorporating a Mental Skills Journal be of use to you as a softball player?
  
4 Components of Our Composition

*** I LOVE THIS CHAPTER! Thus, so many quotes! :)***

"Once a clear objective is determined, the negative, self-destructive cycle is quickly broken, and the result is lowered anxiety, greater focus, confidence, and better decision making" (17-18).

"If we don't have a direction to channel our energy toward, it is easy to focus too much on what is wrong-- what is wrong with ourselves or what is wrong with the world.... The emotional side consists of our passions and desires that give us the energy to go after our objectives" (18).

"When our emotions are channeled in constructive ways, we become formidable at achieving whatever skill sets we focus on. Controlling emotions provides an individual with the ability to think rationally and reasonably, increasing the ability to learn from live events and perpetuate growth; hence, emotional energy is needed to get things done. However, when there is an overabundance of emotional energy, it can cause destructive behavior as well" (19).

"When we lose control of our emotions we aren't thinking anymore; we are worrying. When we worry, our minds race, attending to events that occured in the past and then jumping to events that might occur in the future. When we allow our minds to do this, we unwittingly perpetuate feelings of guilt and fear that inhibit our thought processes and restrict our decision making abilities" (19).

"Guilt and fear don't exist in reality; they are created in our minds and exist in the abstract" (19). 

"When we worry, our minds are not paying attention to the reality of the moment, and making good decisions can be very difficult, since important information is not being recognized and considered within our thought processes. When we are in the present important information is recognized and processed-- we call this thinking. Controlling our emotions perpetuates thinking and lessens worrying" (19).

"Here is an example of how not controlling our emotions may play out. Say an individual makes a mental mistake-- as we all do every day at some point. It's not a big deal the majority of the time. However, many of us become irritated by our mistakes and let our emotions spiral out of control, allowing that irritation to turn into frustration or even anger. Once we are in the anger stage of a self-destructive cycle, we are more likely to make numerous mistakes, compounding the mental mistake and digging a hole for ourselves that didn't have to be anywhere near as deep as it is" (19).

"Just as it takes hard work and a lot of practice to develop the muscle memory to execute a certain skill, it takes hard work and a lot of practice to learn how to think in an effective, productive, fearless way" (20). 

"The physical side does what the mind tells it to do. The more consistent and efficient our commands are, the swifter and more automatically the physical side reacts to mental commands" (21).

"We reach our greatest potential [when] motivation is high, anxiety is low, concentration is enhanced, confidence is heightened, and decision-making is improved" (21). 

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: Why is developing a proper mentality crucial to being successful? Is "not controlling our emotions" a productive pattern? Why do we let our mistakes and emotions spiral out of control? How can we eliminate this from happening? 

November 14th, 2014 (A Fearless Mind and High Performance)-- The Fearless Mind

REMINDER: You must respond by FRIDAY in order to get credit for Advanced Conditioning! 

Only respond to the "response question" in the "Comments" section of the blog! The other information included in the post (quotes, questions to think about) should help guide your answers. Included are things that stood out to me and questions that I think will help you in your process of developing a fearless mind.

RESPONSE QUESTION(S): 
1) Based on your reading, explain what you think it means to have a fearless mind? 
2) What is something that you took away/learned from this reading assignment? 
3) What was your favorite quote from the two sections you read? Why?

A Fearless Mind

"What if we knew exactly what we wanted to achieve, had a plan to achieve it, and never allowed any negative emotions or self-defeating thoughts to inhibit us, allowing us to execute what needs to be done to achieve our objectives" (4)?

"When we learn how to cultivate a fearless mind, we can achieve whatever we set out to accomplish. A fearless mind is achieved when we have cleansed ourselves of the barriers that prevent us from reaching our greatest potential. We do this by learning to accept what we have control over and what we don't" (4).

"The two most prominent areas of wasted energy are guilt and fear.... The error many people make is consistently allowing their attention to dwell on the mistakes of the past.... Move on.... When we attend to what may or may not happen in the future, we open the door to fear" (5). 

"We are setting ourselves up for failure when we expect outcomes that are not within our direct control" (5). 

"We are responsible for the expressions we carry on our faces.... We should be held accountable for those aspects of our lives over which we have control" (7). 

"[The mental skills] journal gives individuals the opportunity to take responsibility for their lives and for their performances" (7).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: How might using a mental skills journal daily benefit you as a softball player? What are some things that you have direct control over in your own life? What are some things that you do not have direct control over in your own life?

High Performance

“High performance also occurs when everything around us seems out of control, when people around us are losing control of their emotions, becoming irritated, frustrated, and angry, at times even with us. Despite all these outside challenges, we maintain control of our minds and, indirectly, our emotions. Maintaining focus on what needs to be done-- increasing confidence and one’s ability to make good decisions-- results in high performance” (10). 

"Every day I seek to perform better than the day before. It doesn't matter what the day holds for me, I just want to leave this mortal existence knowing I didn't waste a moment, that I gave my very best effort each and every day" (11). 

"Deliberate practice.... Paying attention to the details" (11). 

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: How can you exhibit a "high performance" while playing softball? What are some ways that you can "give your very best effort each and every day"?

November 7th, 2014 (Introduction, The Dream)-- The Fearless Mind

Only respond to the "response question" in the "Comments" section of the blog! The other information included in the post (quotes, questions to think about) should help guide your answers. Included are things that stood out to me and questions that I think will help you in your process of developing a fearless mind.

RESPONSE QUESTION(S): Based on your reading, why is it important to focus on the mental aspect of sports? What are some reasons we might be reading this book before the season? How can developing a fearless mind help you accomplish your dreams?

Introduction

"Evaluating our own performance and trying to make it better feels good; it feels right. Our team went from a totally physical, almost mindless machine that would at times just go through the motions, to this highly alert, attuned to the reality of the moment group of individuals working toward individual perfection, united with a common purpose" (xiii). 

"Playing the game at the highest levels of our ability comes down to how well we have learned to control our minds, to rid ourselves of any and all interference, and to stay focused on what needs to be done. If we allow interference into our psyche, it doesn't matter how much potential we have or how hard we train; we will not be able to make our dreams come true" (xiv). 

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: How can controlling your mind help you become a better person and a better softball player?

The Dream

"No matter how impossible it all may seem... Never underestimate the power of a dream" (1). 

"Our dreams need to remain exactly that-- ours. If we truly follow what we love and not what we like, what is safe and easy, or what someone else wants us to do, we will have more passion and energy; we will achieve higher levels of performance; and we will find greater joy" (2). 


"Our actions define us. At the 'great end,' what do we want to look back on and remember-- a fearless life really lived, or a fearful life? When all is said and done, we are responsible for what we did with the time that was given to us" (2).

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT: What "dreams" do you have for your own life? What "dreams" do you have for the upcoming season? What objectives can you set to help achieve these dreams?

The Fearless Mind

The Fearless Mind

By: Craig Manning

Ever strike out with the bases loaded and runners on in a clutch part of the game because you were trying too hard to get a hit? Have you ever gotten caught in the nasty clutches of a hitting or fielding slump? Ever choke before or been too psyched-out or intimidated to play at your best? Or maybe you've been on a team that always seems to lose games to weaker opponents. How about not being able to hit a certain pitcher even though you know she's not that good?

Each of these examples clearly highlights the importance of the mental part of softball. You can't reach your softball dreams without learning to develop mental toughness. That is, you have to learn how to stay calm under pressure, bounce back quickly from errors and bad at-bats, concentrate on what's important and block out everything else, use failures as a source of motivation and positive feedback, believe in yourself, stay motivated to work towards your goals, avoid psych-outs and intimidation and mentally prepare for those big games. These are just some of the mental skills needed to play good softball.

Life is a performance whether you’re on the field, in the courtroom, or running a household. But many of us, when asked to perform, are overcome by fear. We lose our confidence and allow our insecurities to hinder us. In The Fearless Mind, sports psychologist Craig Manning teaches you how to beat mediocrity and embrace greatness. With many years of experience as a pro tennis player, collegiate tennis coach, and doctor of philosophy, Dr. Manning will help you overcome your fears, expel anxiety, build confidence, and become a high-performing individual no matter what your field. Learn how to unlock your mind and reach your greatest dreams. There are many mental pathways to performance, but there is only one pathway to true success having a fearless mind.

The Fearless Mind methodology unlocks the power of the mind needed to achieve elite performance. Too often we think of being mentally tough as the absence of doubt and fear, not true. The best athletes in the world still have doubts and fears that interfere with their performance. The difference is, elite athletes utilize mental skills to overcome these interfering thoughts and achieve amazing levels of human performance. These mental skills are neither complex nor very difficult but without them mediocrity is almost inevitable. Imagine what we could achieve with a fearless mind?

Testimonials: http://thefearlessmind.com/athletics/

Each of you will be given a copy of The Fearless Mind to read. The hope is that you will apply the mental principles taught throughout this book to help you become a better softball player as well as a better person. We will reference a lot of different strategies and points that Craig Manning addresses throughout the upcoming season.  It is important that you are completing the reading assignments. As you read, think about how this applies to you as a softball player as well as how it applies to your daily life. Dr. Manning provides many analogies to tennis. You can easily apply them to softball as well.

Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors: The reading “assignments” will be a part of your Advanced Conditioning grade. Each week I will post a blog post on http://springvillesoftball.blogspot.com. There will be questions that you will need to “respond” to in the comments section of the blog post. Responses will be required in November, January, and February and will count towards your grade. Because of Moratorium, you will not be required to respond in December.  Please do not be overwhelmed by this. Responses do not need to be super long. They need to be thoughtful and answer the question(s). The purpose is to help you reflect and to help you improve your mental toughness.  

Freshmen: You are obviously not required to complete this portion. But please know that you are welcome to participate in the blog post discussions as well. I would love to hear what you have to say.