Focus on each of these resolutions for 10 days each, and in three months,T ^KTTT Y • You W*H not believe the change you see in your game...

S DAYS 1-10 - COMMIT TO IMPROVE BY SHOWING PROGRESS IN MY STATISTICAL OUTPUT.I will focus on the process of playing one pitch at a time and trust my routine to help keep me in the present moment,realize that ultimately my batting average and stats are out of my control so rather than focus on batting average and ERA, Iwill focus on the process, the things I can control, quality at-bat average and quality pitch average.

DAYS 11-20 - GAIN CONFIDENCE BY REALIZING THAT IT IS NOT ABOUT ME, IT IS ABOUT US.It is not about one of us, but all of us and that I will put TEAM over ME. By putting team over me, I will not set theoutcome goal of being a starter, but will set the process goal of being the best player I can be. If I am the best playerand best teammate I can be, I give myself and my team the best chance for success.

DAYS 21-30 - GET IN SHAPE BY DOING A LITTLE A LOT, NOT A LOT A LITTLE.I realize that peak physical shape is a byproduct of doing a little a lot vs. a lot a little. I will commit to doing my agilityladder lower body and upper body drills each day as well as a max set of pull ups, push ups and core work. By doing a littleeach day I will reap the benefits of discipline as physical change takes time.

DAYS 31-40 - BE MORE CONSISTENT BY HAVING ROUTINES AND REALIZING THAT THE GOAL ISNOT TO BE PERFECT BUT TO BE EXCELLENT.

There are no perfect people, players, coaches or parents. I will focus on beingexcellent vs. perfect. If I strive to be perfect, then I am living in Disneyland becausesoftball is TOUGH and a game of failure and if I set the goal to not fail, I will fail. Mygoal is to have great RESPONDABILITY and respond to pressure, adversity, failure andsuccess all the same way, with a commitment to the next pitch.

DAYS 41-50 - BE RECOGNIZED FOR SOMETHING POSITIVE(HARD WORK, LEADERSHIP IMPROVEMENT, ETC.).

I realize that it takes no talent to work hard. I am 100 percent in control of mywork ethic. I also realize that confidence is a choice and attitude is a decision. Iwill be known as a control freak, a positive term given to the select few who arementally tough enough to only focus on what they can control.

DAYS 51-60 - MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE THROUGHOUT EVERY GAND PRACTICE BY TURNING MY HAVE TO S INTO WANT TO

All athletes will have a love-hate relationship with their sport,because it gives you the highs and the lows. I will acceptthat my career and my day's performance will be good andbad, not good or bad.

DAYS 61-70 -GIVE BACK TO THIS SPORT OF so:I will play the game the right way and respect the game. I willstand for the national anthem and to commit to the process, likethings that I can control - effort, attitude and my performance. Iwill give back by spending extra time after practice working on my gamewith my teammates when there is nobody watching. I realize that the game ofsoftball is bigger than us all and that "The Game Knows." The game will reward me fordoing things right. By doing things right, I am respecting the game.

* LEARN TO EXECUTE A NEW SKILL DURING THIS SEASON.(Bunt for a base hit, slap, hit behind the runner, etc). I will work at all aspects of my game. I believe in WILL over SKILL andwill invest, not spend my time working on the intricacies of the game. I will work on bunting, baserunning and defense. I willwork on being a great teammate. I will set the goal of investing three days a week after practice for 10-20 minutes to focuson this specific skill. I am a softball player, not a slapper, a pitcher or an outfielder. I work at all aspects of my game.

DAYS 81-90 - SHOW RESPECT FOR MY TEAMMATES, TEACHERS AND COACHES BY LOOKINGTHEM IN THE EYE AND GIVING MY TOTALLY UNDIVIDED ATTENTION.

I will live in the present and will use my routine to help me separate from when I am a student and when I am an athlete.I will respect my coaches, teachers, teammates and the great game of softball by staying in the moment and being where Ineed to be when I need to be there.

DATS 91-100 - BECOME A RELENTLESS COMPETITOR BY FOCUSING ON ONLY WHAT I CANCONTROL AND BY PLAYING THE GAME ONE PITCH AT A TIME.

I will pursue excellence over perfection, turn my have to's into want to's, become the best player I can be and strive to bea great teammate and an energy giver vs. an energy taker. Being a relentless competitor is about acting different than howI feel and getting immersed into the game as if it was the only game that existed. Because in that moment, it is...

Brian Cain is one of the top mental conditioning coaches who specializes in the mental game of softball. Cain is currently working with The Universityof Alabama, The University of Houston, Florida State and many other top college and high school programs. His new book Toilets, Bricks, Fish Hooksand PRIDE is full of great mental game strategies you can use to help take your mental game to another level. Please check out his mental conditioningproducts at www.briancain.com as well as follow him on twitter @BrianCainPeak and friend him on Facebook - Brian Cain Peak Performance.

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