Reset the Mindset

Reset the Mindset

“Over thinking, the art of creating problems that weren’t even there.”

Our biggest competitor is not the team on the other side of the field, but our own mind; our thoughts, emotions, and attitude.

When our athletes make a mistake, many of them are so incredibly competitive that they get overly emotional. This lack of control or their lack of understanding those emotions and how to use them in a more beneficial way for themselves and their team, causes everyone involved to lose focus. They lose their laser focus on what they should be doing every pitch, every situation, or where they will be throwing the ball if they become the play maker. When our athletes lose focus, they lose respect, and if they lose respect for themselves, their teammates, their coaches, and for the game, it becomes a recurring problem every time they are faced with a mistake or struggle, unless we teach them how to use their emotions, how to use their mistakes, and how to RESET their MINDSET.

Resetting the mindset isn’t easy, and it is a constant work in progress. As a coach, athlete, teammate, and parent, it is important to learn how to reset and keep working through every situation we are reckoned with. There may be bobbled ground balls, dropped fly balls, a missed sign, a bad call, an error in judgement, a strikeout in the batter’s box, and so forth, but if we can teach our athletes the value in resetting the mindset, they will be able to move forward in a positive, mature, and stronger mental state within the sport and in life on its own.

Resetting the mindset is simply said, but not easily done. Not understanding how to learn from the situation and move forward with a clean slate, not only allows negative emotions, and demeaning thoughts to take over our performance is disappointing.  It is challenging to say the least, but when we are able to explain the value and importance of resetting their mindset whenever they make an error, they will be able to not only understand how much it will help them improve, progress, reach goals, and keep striving towards their highest potential, they will be able to apply this valuable tactic in life when obstacles are placed in front of them in a multitude of situations and experiences. Curveballs may be a pitch, but life sure knows how to throw them!

As a coach myself, I am not just striving and working diligently to help my athletes thrive in the sport they love, but striving to help them thrive as a person and in life! Softball may be categorized as a sport, but it is much more than that. It is a place you learn how to create friendships, where you learn teamwork, discipline, respect, and honor. It is where you learn how to thrive under pressure, pick yourself and friends up from hard situations, and to face challenges and overcome hardships. It is a place they learn how to get back up after they are knocked down. It is a place they learn how to compete, work diligently, and to find motivation. It is a place that teaches them the importance of health, nutrition, strength and endurance training. It is a sport that teaches them that no matter who they have to face, what they have to go through, and how hard things can get, they are capable of getting past the hardships and they are never alone when doing so; they don’t just have their family at home, they have their softball family that will always be there for them, through the good times and the bad times, they will always have a cheering section that is fighting for their best!

So even though softball and life will be throwing us curve balls, learning how to reset the mindset will make an incredible difference that will keep our athletes, coaches, parents, and team striving for the best in anything and everything they do with a positive demeanor, a courageous heart, and a strong mind.

Remember, your mind is your biggest competitor, but also your strongest encourager.

Written by Nikoli Sharp