Baseball is the only sport where “MAN” is the only thing that scores.
Key to all of this: ON BASE %
Source: Oregon State Baseball
It Screams!!!
Last week, A free-book was awarded for “which sport emphasizes body language the Most”. Many answers, stated, “all of them.” Well, here is a quick read on Body Language Importance for all sports.
http://blog.stack.com/2012/03/16/mental-toughness-body-language/
Dr. Rob Bell is the author of Mental Toughness Training for Golf, and an AASP certified Sport Psychology consultant. He has PGA Tour credentials and has worked with winners on the PGA Tour. He consults with athletes, coaches, and teams at all levels helping build and enhance their own mental toughness.
His website is www.drrobbell.com and you can find him on Twitter @drrobbell
Winner of Book: Mental Toughness Training for Golf: Jonathan Darling
Body language is important in nearly every sport, but it is most important in Gymnastics.
Not only are the athletes asked to execute incredible displays of athleticism, but to smile while doing it. Gymnasts have to smile after a poor routine or dismount, even though it is probably the last thing that they want to do.
“Body language doesn’t talk, it screams.”
There is a mind-body relationship. Yes, our thoughts dictate how we feel, but the opposite is also true. Our body language often dictates our thoughts and our feelings. Simply put, mental toughness requires good body language. More to come next week when the article is published….
Honorable mentions of Body Language Importance: BLI
1) Poker: Yes- 100% @phillippiansdac & @mitchpgapro. Practically the ONLY reason this was not #1 was because Gymnastics wins out on the athleticism, and injury factor, and that you can’t smoke and do it.
2) Figure Skating-Huge BLI. They often have to fake it as well with their BL if they do not stick a landing and they also have to smile during their performance as well.
3) Competitive Cheer: again, 100% on the money @bkavicky. The nod still has to go the NCAA sanctioned and Olympic sport of Gymnastics.
4) Bull-Fighting- Um, yep.
Dr. Rob Bell is the author of Mental Toughness Training for Golf, and AASP certified Sport Psychology consultant. He consults with athletes and coaches at all levels helping build and enhance their own mental toughness.
His website is www.drrobbell.com and you can find him on Twitter @drrobbell
There are two types of players; practice-day players and game-day players. Practice-day players usually have the best workouts and seemingly spend the most amount of time working on their craft. We relish in and want those who have the hardest work-ethic to be rewarded. Even hearing about how “hard” someone has worked inherently makes it seem that they have earned it.
For instance, Adrian Wilson, Pro Bowl safety for the Arizona Cardinals was on vacation with his family one month before training camp was to begin. Yet, he returned home just four days into a 17 day respite; “I cut the vacation short because I felt like I wasn’t getting any better,” Wilson says (USA Today, 2007).
On the other hand, game-day players often have the “intangibles” of raising their game to a higher level during competition (i.e., Adrian Wilson). Notwithstanding that practice is the way to improve; it should be tempered with the realization that competition is the most important aspect. If we continually struggle during game-days, then making practice competitive is key. Only through competition in practice can players simulate these feelings of excitement. Setting up practices with win/lose situations is the surest way to replicate game day while at the same time utilizing practice players’ strengths.
Martina Navratilova won 177 tournament titles, most for any male or female tennis player. She was a consummate game-day player, but it wasn’t until she joined coach Nancy Lieberman that she adopted a new mentality. Nancy Lieberman’s goal: “Navratilova would train so hard that even on her worst day, she could beat anybody.”
Ideally, the “best” players effectively combine the competitiveness along with quality practice. However, if we are the hardest worker, yet our performances are not reflective, then we must examine the quality of our preparation. Whereas, if we raise our game only during competition then we haven’t reached our true potential. Game-day players must embrace how great they can be. They should be able to transfer their game-day competitiveness into practice by setting goals that they want to achieve.
Dr. Rob Bell is the author of Mental Toughness Training for Golf, and anAASP certified Sport Psychology consultant. He has PGA Tour credentials and has worked with winners on the PGA Tour. He consults with athletes, coaches, and teams at all levels helping build and enhance their own mental toughness.
His website is www.drrobbell.com and you can find him on Twitter @drrobbell
