Core Training

3 Ways to Handle Game Day Frustrations in Softball

There will come a time in every softball player, coach, or parent fan career when game day frustrations manifest and take over. No matter how many positive self-talks you give or receive from an outside party, the negative emotions will win. Softball players, coaches, and parents are competitive by nature. This sport is driven by passion and when we are passionate about something, we hold it near and dear to us.

It is impossible for everything to go the way we want it to in softball. There are just too many uncontrollable outside factors. Even if a hitter executes a perfect swing, the pitcher may deliver the pitch just out of reach to where the hitter can’t make complete contact. On the opposite side, a pitcher may deliver a near-perfect pitch and the hitter gets lucky. Then there are the umpires who are just as human and will make game-changing calls, not in your team’s favor.

Failure is going to happen in the sport of softball, and it’s important that players, coaches, and parents understand that. Hitting slumps will happen, base running mistakes will be made, signs will be missed, pitchers will miss the intended spot, etc. In a sport where there is a team on the losing end every single time you step on the field, disappointment and failure will occur. Players, coaches, and parents will make mistakes, but it’s important to acknowledge them and make it a learning experience that everyone can benefit from.

Below are three ways to handle game day frustrations positively and respectfully.

Take a Walk: Sometimes the best way to handle a frustrating situation is by removing yourself from it altogether. Instead of voicing your frustrations and losing control of your body language, get away from it. Players can sprint to the fence down and back in between innings or out to their position. The sprint will send a rush through the body, and it will relax the mind from what was once frustrating it. Coaches can follow suit or if you’re not much of a runner, take a walk to clear the mind. Parents, who have more freedom being outside of the lines can take a walk to the bathroom, the concession stand or to the car to cool off.

Take a Breath: This point is obvious but should also be taken more seriously. Taking deep breaths is key when you feel those game day frustrations building up. Deep breaths send oxygen to the brain and relaxes the body at the same time. If you find yourself spiraling out of control and you start to feel your muscles tense up, close your eyes and take a deep breath. It’s an obvious tip that we have been told time and time again since a young age, but how many times have you actually stepped back and taken it seriously?

Write it Down: Some teams require players to have a notebook in their game bag. A notebook can be used for writing down pre-game goals or post-game reflections. Notebooks can also be used for getting frustrations out and written down on paper. When softball players take the time to write down what is bothering them, they are not only flushing it out of their mind but they now also have it documented, and they can look back on it and learn from it. If players, coaches, and parents can understand what triggers these emotions of frustration, they can create a plan to eliminate them or find ways to stop the spiraling process.

Gameday frustrations are going to occur in the sport of softball. It’s important that players, coaches, and parents acknowledge these frustrations and confront them, rather than internalizing them and let them build up over time. Even the most strong-minded and mentally tough athletes have bad days where the negative emotions and frustrations take over. Next time you feel yourself spiraling mentally, take a step back and focus on one of the tips above. It will help take your mind off the frustration by shifting your attention to something else.

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