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Writer's pictureMichaela Lawson

ReWriting Your Script

Here’s the bottom line. You can always rewrite your script as a player. Hypothetically speaking, if you’re sitting across the table of a coach and he/she slides a script across that says you are a difficult person, a poor teammate, toxic, uncontrollable, thick skulled, a waste of time, anything that you don’t want or like how someone perceives you, do not accept it, rip it up. Rewrite your own script and slide it back across the table. No one is holding you to those perceptions, except for your own stubborn self.


Every day is a new opportunity to work on the ways you want others to perceive you.


Here’s how:


Refocus the Negative Energy


Instead of internalizing your errors and letting them fester in your head of how you could have done it differently, or better, turn to someone in the field and express your error. Take ownership. “Hey, my bad.”


That’s step one; admit to it. After that, come up with a plan of how you’re going to rectify it.


“My bad, I’m going to go get the next one.”


“Hey, let’s turn the double play and get her out at two.”


“Shouldn't have let that one go by, I’m going to be a little more aggressive at my next at bat.”


Expressing your errors helps your mind flush them out, and allows you move forward faster.


As a parent, coach, teammate, your job is to support the players plan, not make them feel worse or embarrassed by their error.


“You’re right, you can and will get the next one.”


Instead of:


“You’re darn right, you better swing the bat next time, or there won’t be a next time!”


or:


"I see a lot of thoughts going through your head right now, focus on one or two and see what happens"


Instead of:


"You need to just throw it as hard as you can. Just throw a strike. Just aim and hit the glove."



Practice and Prepare so You’re More Likely to Succeed in Games


Nothing is worse that showing up to anything clearly unprepared. Games are no different. Lack of practice will come back ten fold and is often what can cause a player to have a bad attitude. You are getting lit up on the mound, you are consistently missing the zone by a mile, you struck out every at bat. Simply put, it’s obvious when you didn’t put in the work and effort needed to preform well. And if you’re a pitcher, your attitude is exemplified even more when you are supposed to be considered a leader and the entire team feeds off your demeanor.


Having a positive attitude when you preform terribly is a hard thing to do, make sure that your poor performance isn’t from a lack of preparation.


Pick Out One or Two Teammates You Trust to Help You


This is a tough one to expect out of younger players, but ask a teammate to help you through your tough times. Ask them to call time and come talk to you when your body language and attitude are clearly showing negativity. Ask that teammate to meet you at the end of the dugout after a strike out and talk to you about something completely unrelated to your at bat.


The game should always be fun, but sometimes it’s important to have those more serious conversations when you need someone to help you get over a bad attitude patch. If you’re the teammate being asked for that help, take it seriously and truly be there for her when she needs you.


Express Your Motives to Teammates and Coaches


Make sure your team and coach know the true you. Tell them your difficulties of being too hard on yourself, reveal your fears of failing in front of them, and let them in on your thoughts when your team loses or when things aren’t going right.


Winning solves a lot of problems including bad attitudes, but when your team is losing it’s important to reconnect, and come up with a plan. You’ll be surprised to find out how closely your fears and anxieties closely parallel those of your fellow teammates, or in the least hear how your fellow teammates keep their attitude in check when they’re struggling.


Re-Write Your Script Now


I will always want girls to walk into the facility and feel like she can be herself, let her guard down, and feel comfortable. I will never shame, or make a girl feel bad about having an attitude, but I will call her out for it. Because I guarantee if she is hanging her head, rolling her eyes, speaking disrespectfully under her breath, etc, she is turning around and doing it all on the field. So it’s important to call her on her negativity and figure out a new way to act and approach the situation. A good part of that, stems from building her confidence as a player, and believing in her abilities more so than she may even directly see and believe in herself.




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