How Can My Son Lose the Fear When At-Bat?

Mother:

My son is scared of being hit by the baseball. When at the plate, he loses his focus and concentration and does not swing at pitches because he is scared of the ball. He has been hit by the baseball before a few times.

Dr. Cohn’s Answer:

Ah yes, fear. Fear is a big problem when it comes to sports performance—either real or psychological threat. In this case, fear of being hit and injured is real and not imagined. Most of the fear athletes have deals with psychological threat (“don’t embarrass yourself in front of others”) instead of physical danger.

First, the idea that he has been hit in the past influences his thinking in the present because now he believes that he is “prone” to getting hit. It’s the idea, “if it has happened in the past, it WILL happen again.” So he first needs to let go of this generalization about getting hit by the baseball. It could happen, but it doesn’t mean it will happen.

Second, trying to hit a baseball with the focus of “don’t get hit again” will cause him to freeze at the plate literally. Avoidance is not a good approach to batting. Just like trying to avoid striking out is not relevant to good hitting, trying to avoid getting hit works in the same way.

Third, he needs to develop and stay focused on an at bat routine, and also learn to identify what is relevant to good hitting. The fear results from focusing on getting hit by the ball (or avoiding getting hit). The best approach is to focus on picking up the ball and reacting to what he sees as a good pitch. Here are the ingredients of a good routine he should become absorbed into:

1. Regroup and Get Control: Outside of the box, release the last pitch, it’s over, let it go. Take a slow, deep breath as you prepare to step into the batter’s box. When you step into the box, this says your mind is clear and you are focused on the next pitch (no fear).

2. Have a Plan: Get signal from coach. Make sure you have a plan and commit to it before your step in such as “see the ball and react.” Do not proceed unless you are committed to a plan.

3. See Your Plan: Rehearse your plan. You have a few options here. See it, “feel” it, hear the ball contacting the bat, or use a combination of all! Positive image here is necessary to feel confident and commit to plan.

4. Focus on the Ball: Narrow your focus on the release point of pitcher as you settle into the box. Here, you are setting the stage to see it and react.

5. React, Just do it: React to the ball freely. What’s important is to be free, natural, and loose. Don’t “guide” the swing—trust your mechanics. You may choose a cue word or phrase to help you “let it go,” such as “hit it hard.”

If he starts to tense up and fear getting hit again, he should step out of the batter’s box and collect himself. It’s important for him to remind himself to focus on the steps in the routine instead of getting hit again.

Join Peaksports Online Mental Training System

How do champions win over and over again? By mastering the mental game. Now you, too, can harness the power of unbeatable mental toughness in sports--every time you compete!” Visit peaksportsnetwork and access over 500 performance-boosting sports psychology and mental training tips and programs.