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Question: My son Harrison has excellent skills, he's 15 years old and has made his middle school team, his freshman and JV high school team both as a starter and a utility player (middle infield). Harrison has only been playing ball for five years and what he has achieved is solely based on raw talent. Recently he has been battling with his confidence and he not letting things go. I'm concerned because he loves this game and right now it seems like he's not having fun.

Answer: In a game where failure often defines success, letting go in baseball is critical to performance. Baseball demands that we pay attention in the “now”. To have our mental, visual and emotional resources monopolized by past events, decreases performance. Players must be 100% committed to focusing on the pitchers release point and the ball (batting), the catcher's target (pitching) or the batter's contact zone (fielding.) Nothing else matters. 

At all Frozen Ropes events, an observer is likely to see a small toy toilet sitting on a bench close by.  It might seem unusual, but the toilet is actually a trigger mechanism that reminds players to “flush” away any thoughts that are not performance enhancing,  prior to the next pitch.  This is part of what we call, Showtime Training – mental skills that become part of every player’s on and off field routines and preparation.

Start with something simple, such as a cleansing, deep belly breath and use the exhale as your flush.  This simple relaxation tool is a great way to teach body awareness and to become aware of being in the present.

Finally the fun factor in baseball is critical.  The umpires says “play ball” not “work ball”.  Ask your son what was most fun about baseball when he first started playing and make it a goal to focus on those “fun” aspects of the game in the next practice or live game.


Answers provided by Frozen Ropes Baseball and Softball Training Centers Staff

Ray Lauenstein is the author of College Bound: The Official Guide to Playing College Baseball and The Making of a Student Athlete.  He also holds a Masters Degree in Sport Psychology and gives seminars on Mental Skills Training and the Recruiting Process.  If you would like him to speak to your team, booster club or other group please contact him via the online form or call 1-617-835-1836.