This component to game day requires you to embrace the opportunity to compete.
We want to be mentally tough. Toughness often represents, for some, a physical struggle. In part, we are engaged in a physical combat. Along with the physical challenge we must meet the mental challenge that has threatened and overcome our team for years.
You must make your opponent respect you. Once your opponent respects you they are no longer as confident as they imagine they were. More than likely your opponent has years of reasons not to respect you and your teammates. Toughness, in this case, means that we have to be mentally and emotionally stronger than we have displayed. Regardless of your position every player has a checklist that they must execute during games.
Defensive Checklist:
Defensively every player should be moving on every pitch. When the bases are empty each player’s responsibilities are simplified. Each player must hit leather (their glove) and get in the ready position to field the ball anticipating that the ball will indeed come to her.
We have been overcome, most significantly in preseason, when runners are on base due to the fact that too many teammates are not prepared to play their position. Your responsibilities now include:
1. Consider, before each pitch, all the possibilities that are included if the ball is hit to your position.
2. Leather on the rise along with your left-right-left step (hit leather and get in the ready position)
3. Move to a backup position in order to support your teammate, every single pitch.
4. Be certain that you will make the play; affirm each pitch that the ball is coming to me.
Executing this preparation each pitch makes us a decidedly tougher team. Our opponents will have to respect this capacity of our preparation.
Offensive Checklist:
1. Generally our hitting plan is predicated by identifying the pitcher’s and umpire’s strike zone early in the game and attacking pitches in that defined zone. We have experienced significant improvement recently by confidently attacking the ball in the strike zone as opposed to prior games where we were indecisive searching for the perfect pitch. Locate a pitch in your hitter’s zone and confidently attack the pitch relying on your superior athleticism.
2. Be disciplined to lay off of high pitches. Attack pitches in the mid-to-low strike zone. Look for down strikes. If you fall behind in the strike zone expand your hitter’s zone without sacrificing confidence and continue to apply the mindset that you will scorch the ball. Indecision in a hitter’s visualization devastates her ability to have successful at-bats.