“I’m a little bit worried. It’s the start of summer ball. I want to start off strong.”
One of my high school baseball players shared this with me during our regularly scheduled session this week.
He just finished his high school baseball season after being knocked out in the semifinal playoff round.
However, there wasn’t much time to reflect. He would be hitting the road the following morning for a 7-hour car drive to a showcase at a Division I school.
He used the word “worried” six times in one hour when discussing his summer.
The thought of showcasing at a “Power 4” school was weighing heavy on his mind.
Summer ball can feel like a make-or-break season for high school baseball players.
Showcases.
Tournaments.
Nonstop recruiting talk and social media feeds.
So much rides on a relatively small number of games.
And the pressure?
It’s very real.
I experience it up close with my clients going through the process. The challenges can extend well beyond the field.
They have trouble sleeping.
They are overthinking on and off the field.
They’re not acting or playing like themselves.
It’s hard to watch. And honestly, it’s hard to coach through sometimes, too.
It Can Be Difficult to Relate
When I played high school baseball—many years ago—things were simpler.
I wanted to play in college—but I had no idea how recruiting worked. I just assumed coaches would find me if I was good enough. My lack of knowledge was actually a blessing.
I already put enough pressure on myself. I didn’t need the extra layer of “who’s watching?”
Now, players know.
They know when scouts are in the stands.
They know the stakes.
And that awareness often makes everything feel bigger and heavier than it already is.
What I Tell Players, Parents, and Coaches (and Remind Myself)
When I work with players feeling overwhelmed, I fight the urge to “fix it.” Because the truth is, I can’t fix it.
However, I can help them find a bit more control inside the chaos.
Here’s how we start:
Step 1: What Can You Control?
We make two lists: what they can control, and what they can’t.
It might sound elementary. However, it’s typically much harder than young athletes think.
Separating what they can and can’t control builds mindset-shifting awareness.
They realize they don’t have to carry everything—just a few key pieces.
Step 2: Recognize What’s Working (and What’s Not)
We talk about what they’re thinking, feeling, and doing when things go well—and when they don’t.
The goal is further building awareness, not self-flagellation.
Catching unproductive patterns earlier means they can stop them before spiraling.
Step 3: Keep It Simple When It’s Hard
When everything speeds up and the pressure builds, that’s the moment to slow down.
Not by adding something new, but by resetting with one simple act: a deep breath.
It’s definitely not groundbreaking advice.
Yet, most athletes haven’t been told why it matters—or how it works.
I explain how the brain interprets pressure as a threat.
College coaches watching?
That’s a danger signal to the nervous system.
Heart rate rises.
Muscles tighten.
Breathing becomes shallow.
And then… things fall apart.
But a deep breath sends the opposite message:
I’m safe.
I’m okay.
I can handle this.
With that breath, they shift focus back to something productive—something they’ve trained.
Progress Doesn’t Always Look Like You Think
My clients remind me of this.
One player has told me he usually overthinks 80% of the time. After a few sessions, it was down to 60%. Not a stat anyone else would notice—but for him, huge progress.
Another had a rough first outing after we started working together. Control wasn’t there yet. But his body language? His attitude? Positive. He bounced back faster. His mother said, “There were glimmers of the player we know.”
And one player, at a big showcase in Georgia, had a great week—.467 average, over .500 on-base, eight RBIs. But what he was most proud of?
Staying focused on his breath and his simple mantra: “See ball. Hit ball.”
The Mental Game Isn’t Magic—It’s A Practice
We’re not chasing perfection.
We’re building trust—trust in the process, in preparation, and in the knowledge that when pressure hits, there’s something to lean on.
Confidence doesn’t come from being perfect.
It comes from knowing what to do when things aren’t.
So, What Does Mental Performance Coaching Look Like?
Before we wrapped, I asked him to tell me his plan for the weekend showcase.
Here are my notes that capture what he shared with me:
