Alan Jaeger

Over the years, I've asked many players and coaches to describe what they feel are the most important "mental" attributes or state of mind to possess during performance. Here is a list of those words that were most often cited: Confident, Trusting, Relaxed, Clear Minded, Concentrated, Uninhibited, Natural, Instinctive, Loose, Free and Joy. These same attributes also happen to describe those feelings that are activated when an athlete is having a peak experience.

Over the years a great deal of research has been done on the effect of peak experiences on athletes. Peak experiences may be defined as an unusually heightened state of mind that may occur periodically to an athlete during performance. Athletes often describe this state of mind with such phrases as "I'm Unconscious", "I'm in a zone" or "I'm Locked-In". What the athlete is really saying is that his natural talents and abilities are taking over without any interference from his mind because his mind is free of thought.

This is a unique state of mind because the mind is used to thinking. It is not used to being silent and still, especially when there are distractions or consequences at stake. This "non-thinking" state of mind usually only comes from mental training. In the case of a peak experience it just "happens". And anyone who has ever experienced this feeling knows how empowering it is. It takes you to a completely different level. It also takes you beyond your physical technique.

Conveniently, these same types of characteristics common to a peak experience can also be effectively promoted in a mental training environment -- experienced during a mental training practice. The link between these two experiences are very strong. You might say that peak experiences become an extension of your mental practice. Mental practice gives you an opportunity to integrate these qualities into your life on a daily basis.


Mental training is first and foremost a practice. It is a daily commitment to putting yourself in an environment where you can practice being in a quiet, relaxing and trusting space. It is getting to know these qualities as a part of who you are when the "dust" clears. It's also teaches you that the commitment to being in a intended space on a daily basis acclimates your body and mind to these feelings: to these experiences...to these skills.

Mental practice promotes this because you are developing skills in the same manner in which you would develop any other skill -- through discipline, repeated exposure and consistency. These skills can become second nature in time because you are more familiar with this state of mind (and body). As this feeling becomes more familiar through practice it becomes something that can be relied on and recalled during performance. You have created a program in your computer that you are familiar with (like throwing a baseball) and can now be applied.

Keep in mind that the aforementioned characteristics of trust, relaxation and clarity of mind don't just appear because you want them to when the game is on the line. Without mental practice what is there to be recalled?


After taking thousands of ground balls I can understand why a shortstop would expect to field a ground ball in a game situation or an outfielder would expect to catch a routine fly ball. But why on earth would we expect a hitter or pitcher to be relaxed when the bases are loaded and the game is on the line when these are non-routine, pressure filled situations. Why would we expect a hitter to be confident when he is mired in an 0 for 20 slump?

If mental practice is not part of your daily routine the next time you step on the rubber or up to the plate, if you aren't successful because you weren't relaxed, focused or confident, don't be upset with yourself. Why would you be: these are mental skills that are earned through mental practice.

All of the physical practice in the world can be of such diminished value if the mind is vulnerable and unprepared in game situations, when the mind is tested the most. Like any test, if you haven't studied why would you expect to pass?