N4L 003: "Crunch Time" by Rick Peterson & Judd Hoekstra

Pitching coach Rick Peterson knows how to help when the heat is on. His first trick is learning to "reframe." This means simply “finding different ways of interpreting a less-than-ideal situation.” In other words, every tough situation can be seen as an opportunity for making something great happen. For example, when a pitcher walks a batter, then next batter can represent an opportunity to make two outs with one pitch. His next tip is to overprepare. Practice, practice, practice! Prepare for every situation possible, including practicing amidst chaos. Practice until you’ve mastered your skill. Peterson talks about Michael Phelps’s coach who used to hide or break Michael’s goggles just before races so Michael had to learn to swim his best even in less-than-ideal circumstances. One of his best secrets for diffusing stress is to "try easy." When it’s “crunch time,” don’t try harder. Try easy! When you’re under pressure, don’t try to be better than you actually are; just perform the best you did when you were practicing. It also helps to keep the laughter coming. Store at least a couple of funny stories in your memory bank. Then, when you’re under stress, recall these stories. You’ll find yourself laughing rather than choking under pressure. Finally, try time traveling. Focus on the outcome rather than on the process. In other words, “Just hit the glove.” Settle your mind down by taking your thoughts back to a time when you performed at your best. Relive your best performances. For example, Peterson coached Barry Zito to go back in his mind to a time during spring training when he gave up only one hit in six innings. BUY Crunch Time: How to Be Your Best When It Matters Most Music Credit Sound Editing Credit