It is fairly typical of athletes at any level to be self-centered.  After all sports has a winner and loser, stats, playing time, etc.  It can create an environment where all you think about is yourself, your role on the team, your performance, your next game, your workouts, etc. 

It is nice to step outside this tiny world to take the focus off yourself and put it on others.  Recently our team at Sacred Heart did this through an elementary school read a loud and a youth baseball camp.  I’m no dummy.  Given the choice, I am sure they would all rather do something for themselves, sleep being high on the list.  But if you ask every play involved if they enjoyed the experience, grew because of it, and felt good about themselves for doing so, you’d get a yes across the board. 

So when you can, try to set up something for yourself or for your team where you are in a situation where the focus is off you and on others.

Coach Mazzoni

www.CollegeBaseballCoachesCamp.com

www.BaseballRecruitOnline.com

www.D1PitchingMechanics.com

www.LeftHandedPickOff.com

www.NewBaseballStrengthTraining.com

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If the answer is yes, my question to you, is why were you not this fired up all along?  I’m always amazed in sports how certainly things wake up a player and a team and my feeling is “why the heck were you asleep?”.  You play 16 games in the NFL, 20 in the hs baseball season, you dream about it all year, you practice, you lift, you visualize, and then you sleep during the game?  Are you kidding?  I don’t care if you are up 15-1 or down 20-0.  High school baseball, college baseball, man it only last so long. 

So not only should you be training the mechanics, training the body, but good lord train the mind.  Train the mind to play from opening pitch of the year to last pitch of the season like your shortstop just got taken out on a illegal slide and then their guy laughed as he ran off the field.  Play at level 10. 

Good luck this season.

Coach Mazz

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One day a week a do a distance run on the beach.  I like it because I can be outside, take my dog, and it’s the beach!  However, without really being aware of it, I have built in expectations that certain things will happen.  Here are some of them…

• My laces will stay tied
• I won’t get a blister
• My ipod will stay charged and the headphones will work.
• The tide won’t come up and soak my feet.
• My dog will not run off and chase other dogs or horses (yes, horses).
• The weather will be nice, especially a lack of wind.
• But most of all, I hope it’s low tide.  At low tide, the sand is firm and I can run sort of like I do on teh street.  At high tide, it’s not quite quick sand, but close.  

I found that I always expected things to go my way and I would get frustrated and defeated if things didn’t. 

What I did was make a few changes in my attitude. 

First, I stopped expecting everything to go perfectly.  I still want things to be ideal, but I don’t need or expect them to.  I prefer them to, but again, don’t need them to. 

Secondly, when things don’t go as planned, I simply chalk it up to a challenge that I can overcome.  I want low tide, but if it’s high tide, rather then be bummed, I say “oh yeah, you think you can slow me down- – doubt it!”

Next time you find yourself frustrated with a coach, teammate, equipment, umpire, referee, instead of being defeated by it, add it to your challenge pile.  Then after you handle them, look back and congratulate yourself with your behavior.  Additionally, it can also help to visualize or plan for these things ahead of time.  Sure you want to envision success and everything going right, but to also plan for facing challenges is a great way to be prepared for trouble when it will inevitably come your way.

All athletes, all people, all humans, have challenges and when we deal with them in a reasonable manner we increase our mental toughness.

Good luck.

Coach Mazzoni

Coach Mazzoni was a recent presenter at the Mohegan Sun World Baseball Coaches Convention.  He is also director of the highly successful College Baseball Coaches Camp showcases.

www.CollegeBaseballCamps.com/CBCC

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I had the good fortune of getting to meet Theo Epstein and Brian Cashman last night at a Sacred Heart event.  Prior to their appearance on stage I had some time to talk about some things as it related to their careers which was further stated once they took the stage.

What I took away was how patience and long term thinking are often rewarded.  First off, both men started as bottom of the barrel interns and advance to GM’s.  That alone shows their patience, intelligence, and perserverance.  

Further, both view their roles and their organizations in the same way.  They have long term values that they will not trade for the short term.  A good lesson for us all.

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Three messages for the week.

1)    The first is my take on the best way to be in the classroom during high school and college.  There are really three types of people in class.  Those that feel that they are in prison.  They would rather be anywhere else in the world.  They truly feel chained to the chair. They are a prisoner of the room.  The second type of person is the vacationer.  Basically there to goof off, pass notes, just sort of hang out and let the time and world go by.  The third is the explorer.  That is the person, who even though they may not be engaged with the subject, figures there might be something to learn, some way to better themselves, some nugget to get from the class.  I think we all know the best route to be taken.

2)    The second is another motivational video I found on which I think is just awesome.  Check it out here.   

3)    Lastly, is some social media that I have set up which is for both SHU baseball and the baseball camps I run.  Check them out when you have some time.

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I mean after all, Tim Tebow could never play QB in the NFL right?

Well, on that note there is a great story in Sports Illustrated from last week that is a MUST READ. It is about Tom Brady. Now, keep in mind, I truly hate Tom Brady. I’m a die hard Jets fan and while I’d love to see him tear a rotator cuff, I can’t help but respect the heck out of the guy.

But we all see him as the flat out stud with the Patriots and often forget what the road was like to get him where he is. I think it is quite inspirational and educational to read this story.

Feel free to comment on it if you’d like. The story can be found at this link.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1193473/1/index.htm

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1)      What I found was an amazing website called Ted (www.Ted.com) that has talks from all around the world from all sorts of people.  Here is a quick link to one of the talks (all have to be 18 minutes are less, this one is only 5 plus).  http://www.ted.com/talks/ric_elias.html

2)      This is a story from 60 minutes about Alex Honnold who climbs huge rocks walls without a rope.  http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7393496n&tag=contentBody;storyMediaBox

3)      Last one, and stay with me on this, is a death meter.  Meaning, you answer the questions and this site predicts when you will die and then counts down to it.  To me, this is a terrific reminder of what you need to make of each day.  http://www.findyourfate.com/deathmeter/deathmtr.html 

Happy New Year and I hope these sites affect you the way they have me.

Coach Mazz

mazzoniw@sacredheart.edu

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http://podcastrss.play.it/rick-wolff-the-sports-edge_mp3_128.xml

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College Coaches Address Campers

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