The Fundamentals
Every sport is comprised of four fundamental components, namely: the technical, tactical, physiological and psychological.

The technical components represent the actual skill necessary to play a given sport. Examples include Throwing and catching a ball. etc.

The tactical aspect refers to the strategies and concepts employed to showcase those techniques in competition. Examples include what offensive schemes to utilize in football.

The physiological components refer to the physical demands of a given sport. Examples include the cardio-respiratory demands, strength, flexibility, anaerobic needs, etc.

The fourth component is the psychological dimension. Examples include: motivation to compete, mental toughness, self-confidence, imagery, goal setting, etc.

How do I raise my confidence level? Can an athlete ever be too confident?
 
Cockiness is different than confidence. Arrogance and cockiness are social behaviors that involve bragging about the fact you are better than everyone else. Confidence is more internal and includes your thoughts and feelings about yourself and your abilities. It has more to do with believing what you can do rather than constantly comparing yourself to everyone else. Confidence can be increased by reflecting on your past accomplishments, situations where you succeeded. Then picture yourself succeeding in the current situation. Don't focus so much on beating the other person as executing your skill or drill successfully. Rehearse this over and over in your mind. Likewise, you can apply this after you have made a mistake in competition. It is proper to analyze and reflect on your mistake, make your mental corrections. But don't evaluate or judge yourself. Finish your reflection by seeing yourself do it proper on the next play. If you view confidence this way you can't have too much of it. It will not cause you to overlook an important game or be cocky. Confidence is all about you, not the other person.

2 QUESTIONS, 2 ANSWERS

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QUESTION 1:

Dr. Tom:

What is the single best thing for a young player to practice or focus on everyday to develop the best mental game for the big leagues?

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ANSWER 1:

The single best thing for a young player to practice or focus on every day to develop the best mental game for the big leagues is to develop the ability to stay focused on what he wants no matter what happens.

Successful people choose clear targets and stay focused on them.

Less successful people don't. Their focus wanders.

You need to keep your balance emotionally and energetically as you pursue your goal just as you need to keep your balance while hitting or pitching; but keeping your focus on your target is tops.

It's arguably even more important to be able to stay focused on your goal than believing it is possible to achieve your goal.

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QUESTION 2: (I assume he would ask this follow up, I would...)

Dr. Tom:

How do you get a young player to learn to stay focused on his target?

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ANSWER 2:

By putting him in an environment where other kids are doing that.

And where there are "cues" in his environment that light the fire and keep it burning.

"Cues" like photos on the wall of past greats who were once in the young player's place in life, stories of youngsters that have gone on to do great things, people who tell you great things are possible.

And very good coaches.

(Note: Research on top performer suggests that less important than having the first coaches be "great" is having them be loving and supporting. Key is that the player builds his/her self-esteem and feels good about himself. The great coaching can come after the fire has taken hold.)

Jargon from my world for "environment" or what yesterday I called "context" is to be "in the conversation" of success.

Meaning, people are talking about doing great things. They are talking about what you need to do to be great.

And part of the conversation is that all around him the player sees cues and symbols that remind him that great things are possible for him.

I grew up in Moorhead, MN.

We had a strong Legion tradition (Go Blues), but no one to my knowledge ever went on from Moorhead to play Division 1 baseball.

No one.

I had no role model. No "cues" in my environment telling me I could do it.

So I didn't.

I didn't work hard enough as a sophomore or junior to make myself that good (I did as a senior, but that's too late).

Nothing in my environment was telling me "You could do it if you work, Tommy."

Of course it could have just been in me and I could have been the first...

But if my older brothers or my friends' brothers had been star players and gone on to play Division I baseball, do you think it is more likely I would have?

Of course.

The environment is typically stronger than the will of an individual.

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BOTTOM LINE: Whatever you want to grow -- be it yourself or your son or your players -- put it in an environment where that thing grows really well.

Put it in an environment where success is normal.