Mental Drill: Four Steps to Mental Toughness for Softball Pitchers (Softball)
Specific mental toughness training for softball pitchers. Four-step approach to developing the mental resilience required for pitching success.
How to Run This Drill
- STEP 1: CONTROL CONTROLLABLES - Focus only on what you control: effort, attitude, pitch selection, mechanics. Release outcome, umpire calls, errors, and results. STEP 2: SHORT MEMORY - After bad pitch or bad inning, quick reset. Don't carry mistakes forward. Use physical cue to reset between pitches. STEP 3: TRUST YOUR STUFF - Believe in your pitches and training. Throw with conviction, not fear. Confidence in abilities allows aggressive approach. STEP 4: COMPETE PITCH-BY-PITCH - Stay present focused on current pitch only. Don't think about score, previous inning, or future at-bats. One pitch at a time mentality. Practice these four steps consistently to build unshakeable mental toughness on mound.
Coaching Points
- Pitching is mental battle as much as physical skill
- Mental toughness allows pitchers to perform under pressure
- Focusing on controllables reduces anxiety and tension
- Short memory prevents one bad pitch from becoming bad game
- Trust allows aggressive pitching rather than afraid-to-fail approach
- Present-moment focus maximizes performance
- These four steps must become automatic through practice
Quick Actions
At a Glance
- none
Similar Drills You Might Like
Explore more drills to build your practice plan and develop well-rounded skills
Four-Step Mental Skills Routine for Softball
Simple, effective four-step mental routine for softball players to maintain focus and composure during competition. Applicable to all positions.
Mental Skills For Softball Infielders
Mental training techniques specifically for infielders to reduce errors through improved focus, confidence, and error recovery strategies.
Mental Imagery for Softball
Detailed guide to using mental imagery and visualization for softball performance enhancement. Learn to create effective mental practice sessions.
Add This Drill to Your Practice Plan
Use our free Practice Planner to build complete practice plans with this drill and 100+ others. Drag and drop to customize timing and order.
Try the Practice PlannerFree forever - No account required