How to handle "NERVES" during playoffs

As teams are entering their playoffs, the tension ramps up and players may experience "nerves" and "game slippage". See if any of these tips help. http://armorypitching.com/nerve-thoughts-for-managing-performance-anxiety/

It's a blog I enjoyed from a friend and former teammate. He was a 3 sport athlete in HS (QB, Pointguard, Shortstop), played baseball at Citadel, coaches for Chet Lemon's Juice, has a physical therapy business, and develops pitchers at a place he founded called the ARMory.

 

"NERVES" not an issue...............

Hello post15fan, do you have a link for dealing with nerves for parents? My observation at high school games is that there are many more nervous parents in the stands than kids on the field!!

 

Try this.....

www.vodka.com

 

so for the umpires it's vodka.........that explains a lot.

 

LOL

Some nights that is so true!

 

for Braves it's always been TBR Swamp Juice

 

Not a clue

I'm no good for giving outside-the-fence advice. Against Comm. House this week, I told my wife that my son's oppo-gap "double" was not a double, because it tipped the CF's glove, then found the fence. ( a SAC fly, and hit well, but not a double). When I got up to get a drink...she moved my chair 20 feet further away.

 

Seriously...

On the mound. I like the green/yellow/red light concept. Green is you in the zone. Yellow is when your team makes errors, ump squeezes you, thoughts distracting you, etc. Red is when you've lost it. The idea is to "recognize yellow and get back to green". Get off the mound. Squeeze some dirt, throw it away. Breathe. Not getting on the mound before you are clear again. Breathe. Focusing on small object (like a tiny rock). Then focus on the catchers mitt. One pitch at a time. Simple thoughts. My cue is "breathe on a rock". But I like the idea of shaking out your hands and feet in the article. Ever watch Papelbon look down then at the mitt and exhale? Ever see Big Papi clap his hands?

Too many bullpens are bland, stale, and without purpose. Simulate stress and practice counteracting it during bullpens before needing it in a game. Ever have your pitchers throw a bullpen with people yelling at them, making noise, or heckling? If you haven't and you are approaching the playoffs....you better think about trying it. They'll be better prepared.

 

Parents have a tendency to take things way more seriously than the players actually do. It's natural to get nervous when your kid is batting, or pitching. No links or cures for that. (a Bud Light between innings might help, but can't hang with the vodka)

 

Whistle

It may sound crazy but I promise it works. Just whistle. If you are nervous you get tense. If you get tense you cannot perform very well athletically. It is virtually impossible to whistle if you are tense. SO, if you are walking to the plate or standing over a 3 foot putt and you have to be loose, start whistling. You will be amazed how relaxed you you will feel.