Core Training

3 Ways to Handle Game Day Emotions

Softball players are competitive by nature. In a sport where emotions run high, and there are many factors in play that are out of the athlete’s control, it can be challenging to handle emotions. Softball players experience a handful of emotions on game days. There are moments of excitement when things are going well, adrenaline spikes before or after making a great play, moments of frustration when things aren’t going your way, disappointment after a loss, or a feeling of pride after a win. You may experience all of these emotions in one game.

It’s vital that softball players remain balanced in their emotions on game days. Balance means that they are never too high and never too low on the emotional scale. When emotions get out of the player’s control, they will be unable to complete the task at hand. This even occurs when positive emotions take over. Often the negative emotions are what coaches pay attention to, but it’s important to be mindful of the positive emotions as well.

Below are three ways to handle and manage game-day emotions.

Focus on Routines: One way to keep a player mentally and physically checked in to the game is by focusing on their routines. Softball is a sport that is dominated by habits and superstitions. Players are bound to find themselves in high-pressure situations. Imagine stepping up to the plate with two outs, the bases loaded, and the game is on the line. You may start to feel your nerves creeping in, or you may find yourself feeling overly-excited. What you can’t do it let the nerves or excitement consume you. Acknowledge that the emotions are there, take a deep breath before stepping in the box, and then shift the focus to your pre-at-bat routine. This will help move the players focus from feeling emotion to mentally re-checking in.

Talk to a Teammate: If you find yourself nervous or excited for a big game or even your first game, don’t be afraid to confide in a teammate. That’s what teammates are there for; they are supposed to have your back no matter what. There is also a good chance they are nervous or excited at that same moment too. Teams win and lose together. There is never a game won or lost because of one player. Often, players become nervous because they are afraid they are going to be the one who will make a mistake. Mistakes are going to happen in softball. A ground ball could take a bad hop even if the player is positioned to field it perfectly. Teams who stick together through the highs and lows of the season are the ones who will come out on top.

Run it Off: Running down to the fence and back in between innings is a great way to escape some of the game day emotions. If you pay attention to a softball game, you may even notice some of the starting players participating in this tactic. Running is an excellent way for athletes, in general, to clear their minds because the movement releases endorphins in the brain. Running down to the fence and back in the middle of a game can serve as a mental reset button. It shifts the player’s mental focus during the run, and they will feel a sense of relief afterward. Sprinting on and off the field accomplishes the same thing. If you find yourself overcome with emotion before, during, or after a game, try running it off, you may even like it.

To Top