Independent Reading Blog Post

        H.A. Dorfman, a sports physiologist sets out to teach you many things in his book The Mental Game of Baseball. This book teaches you about the mentality required to play the game at your best. In each chapter he focuses on a specific aspect of the game. He wants to teach you things you should focus on or things you should avoid thinking. As an example, one chapter he talks about negative reinforcement. He talks about how saying things like I hope I don't strike out only plants the image of you striking out. Which only makes it more likely you will strike out. If you say something like I want to hit a line drive the image of you hitting a line drive in planted in your head so you are more apt to hit one. He also wants me to know what mentality to have in very specific situations. He wants me to know how to not let pressure affect me in clutch situations or in big games.

        He gets this information across in several ways. One is that he uses lots of quotes from players and coaches. This is effective because it gives you real world examples. Another thing he does is give specific games and situations that players have found themselves in. Then he gives examples of different mental approaches these players could have. He also gives you the probable outcome of each one. Finally he sometimes takes you out side of baseball and even out side of sports and gives you real world examples like if you have a big presentation to give or an important test you need to take.
        I have had some experience with things like this. As a long time player this book made me look at the game it a different way. Everyone assumes that sports is just about physical abilities but it's not. I learned that when players go out on the field they have to be very mentally focused and prepared. I always went out there with no mental plan. Now when I play or watch a game it's a different kind of experience.