Rambling On About My Glory Days: The Key to Mental Toughness Quiz

I have had this debate with friends before. It all started with a question from a friend about how important mental toughness is in an athlete and if it could be taught. I set out to find what I thought was the key to mental toughness for athletes. Before coming to my conclusion I would like you to take this short quiz. If you answer all of the above you would be close to being correct but that is not going to be one of your options.

Quiz – What is the key to mental toughness:
1. Love of the game - a must
2. Never give up attitude (determination) - that’s it
3. Focus - have to have this
4. Aggressiveness – could it be?
5. The ability to remain calm (Slow everything down in the mind) - great athletes do this
6. Confidence – of course
7. Talent - another must have
8. None of the above - what else is there?

If you answered 8 you are correct, in my opinion. Your answer is probably still different than mine. My answer? Great fundamentals and I know that sounds kind of boring when it comes to mental toughness. But, all things being equal, even though they rarely are of course, give me very good fundamentals and I will take my chances with being a little short-handed with the other ingredients. By all things being equal, I mean enough God-given athleticism to be able to compete. Without great fundamentals, players will fall by the wayside at some point. Let me explain:

I know numerous players who loved the game, had talent, were determined and focused, had aggressiveness, confidence and a calm mind, but fell short of reaching their goals. They eventually didn’t make the grade because they could not produce the fundamentals when it counted, for whatever reason. Players with great fundamentals almost always develop these other characteristics of course and that is what eventually sets them apart, but they would never reach the top level without solid fundamentals. Does that mean players with great fundamentals don’t choke? Of course not, but those with the fundamentals have the best chance to reproduce them under pressure and reach the top. Tiger Woods is a great example of all of the above quiz’s ngredients but it all starts with his correct repetitive technique (fundamentals).

Not to belabor the point but I hope you see what I mean. In every sport you will notice players with great talent being “schooled” by players with equal or slightly less athleticism because of their better fundamentals. A good example is when you look at how the world caught up to the USA in basketball over the years by focusing on the fundamentals while we were relying athleticism.

Furthermore, baseball examples include a base runner who is the fastest player on the team and a below average base stealer and hitters who are the most determined, focused, confident, aggressive and talented but fail because of inadequate hitting fundamentals. Players with good fundamentals are able to foul off tough pitches, whereas players without them cannot, no matter how determined, etc… they are. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

So, the point of the story is? As a long time baseball and softball instructor, I am often asked how to help players who do not possess the above numbered qualities? Answer – help them develop the best fundamentals they are capable of and you will see their mental toughness improve and develop enormously. Way too often I have noticed when parents are concerned with their kid’s mental make-up when it is their fundamentals that need addressing. Mental toughness can be taught and it is done with hours and hours of repetitive practice.

Former major leaguer Jack Perconte is the author of The Making of a Hitter (http://jackperconte.com) and has a baseball instruction site that can be found at www.baseballcoachingtips.net. He has recently published his second book Raising an Athlete – How to Instill Confidence, Build Skills and Inspire a Love of Sport