I was the top assistant coach for nine years at a highly successful baseball program.  We won National Championships in 2006, 2011, and 2012.  What a great experience!  I had the opportunity to be a part of nearly every aspect of the program: fundraising, recruiting, coaching, hosting regional tournaments, etc.  You couldn’t ask for a better apprenticeship.  In addition, I spent those years studying and reading about leadership.  It was and still is a passion of mine.  I was ready to be a head coach.  Or so I thought.     
 
Sure, everyone says they want to sit in the big seat.  But do they really?  Before you step into a leadership position it is important you “get ready” for these seven things:
 

 
Of course, the seven things listed above focus on baseball.  However, my guess is these things apply to most leadership positions.  I can tell you this, despite the challenges, I love being a leader.  I cannot imagine being anything else.
 
To anyone reading this who is an assistant coach here are a few pieces of advice:

 
Head coaches, CEO’s, owners, and any leaders reading this, can you add anything else that changes when you step into the “big seat?”  I’d love to hear your thoughts.
 
One final thought, to anyone who is in a leadership position and is trying to do it right, I salute you.  Remember, you aren’t alone.  At times, people who “don’t get it” will make you feel like you are wrong or even a bad person.  If your heart is in the right place, trust your instincts.  The people that do “get it” will be thankful for their experience.
 
 
Keep Pushing,
 
Coach Deegan

 
“I wish our guys were mentally tougher.” “This team lacks mental toughness.”  “We are never going to win championships until we get tougher mentally.”  These phrases are used almost daily by frustrated coaches.  We, as coaches, know the importance of mental toughness.  We know that the game of baseball challenges you in many different ways.  The handling of these challenges will determine the success or failure of the season.  
 
What make-up does a mentally tough player or program possess?  If mental toughness is critical to a player or team’s success, then it is equally as important to define the specific characteristics of a mentally tough player.  The goal of this week's newsletter is to demonstrate my belief of true toughness in baseball, and, more importantly, to get you thinking about how you can make your ball club, organization, or school district more mentally tough. 
 
Treat Everyday the Same
A true baseball player has a routine and prepares the same way whether it is an intra-squad scrimmage or a National Championship game.  Baseball is the ultimate game of consistency. Consistency cannot be achieved without a championship style effort displayed daily. Mentally tough players treat every “at bat” the same- up 10, down 10, or tied- it doesn’t matter; every “at bat” is precious and needs to be treated as such.
 
Believe in Incremental Improvement- The late Don Schaly, the ABCA’s Division III Coach of the Century, said it best, “You either get better or worse everyday.  You never stay the same.”  Mentally tough players are obsessed with getting better.  They welcome criticism, coaching, and feedback.  They realize that if they don’t improve, someone else will, and they possess way too much pride to allow that to happen.  Average players look for lightning in a bottle; they hope some hitting or pitching guru can snap their fingers and make them a great player.  Great players take pride in knowing that baseball represents a unique way of rewarding those individuals who pay it proper attention.  They believe if it were easy, everyone would do it.  They focus on getting just a little better everyday with an undeniable belief that they will be rewarded.
 
Understand Importance of Deliberate Practice- Mentally tough players do the things that nobody else wants to do; the mundane, the ordinary, the boring.  They realize that practice is not designed to be fun; it is designed for improvement.  Most players practice hitting by taking a few swings in the cage, or fielding by having their buddy hit them a few groundballs.  The mentally tough player has a plan with every work out, he seeks feedback, and his focus is on skill enhancement.  He delays gratification in practice in order for the ultimate jubilation of long term goal achievement and championships.
 
Exhibit a high Locus of Control- Mentally tough players believe they control their own destiny; when they experience failure (which is unavoidable in the game of baseball) they accept complete responsibility.  A mentally tough player doesn’t dwell on the past; it’s about the next pitch, next throw, or next play.  Weak minded players dwell on the past; champions move forward. It is never their teammate’s fault, an umpire’s blown call, or a coach “not liking them.” They don’t become frustrated; they simply accept the current reality and resolve to do everything in their power to change the result in the future.  The more a player decides he, and only he, controls his fate the better player he will become.
 
Develop Perspective, Not a Short Memory- It is often said that to play baseball you have to have a “short memory.” The mentally tough player wants exactly the opposite.  He plays as much baseball as he can spring, summer, and fall.  He analyzes film and studies opponents’ tendencies trying to increase his mental database.  He wants to have numerous experiences that can be called upon to help him through the difficult situations baseball can present. Mentally tough players realize that a game, at-bat, or error is not life threatening.  They believe the process is much more important than the result.  They have confidence that their hard work will be rewarded; however, if rewards are slow in coming, self worth is in tact.  Don’t buy into the short memory cliché; it sells short hard work.  Developing proper perspective is much more valuable
 
Pitchers Throw Inside with Conviction- There is a big difference between trying to throw inside and throwing inside with conviction.  Because of the “electric” bats of the past 20 years, most pitchers fear throwing inside.  Instead, they prefer to nibble on the outside part of the plate. The thinking is, “I’d rather give up a single than take a chance of a guy ‘turning on one’ for a home-run.” Nonsense!  Good hitters quickly take advantage of a guy who only throws to one side of the plate.  Most hitters, after seeing a pitch hard inside, begin to cheat, which opens up the outside third.  Throwing inside makes the hitter uncomfortable.  Mentally tough pitchers own all 17½ inches of the plate.  They will not give an inch to the hitter.
 
“Hit the Ball to Me”- Mentally tough players want the ball hit to them.  In pressure spots, they say, “Hit it to me.” They don’t expect the pitcher to strike the batter out or hope the pressure chance goes to someone else.  They embrace the opportunity to make a play.  In addition, mentally tough defenders are always attacking. Good defenders get to hit baseballs; passive defenders have a knack for coming up short.  First and third basemen should go after balls in the hole and outfielders should expect every ball in the air to be an out.  Sometimes this creates mistakes, but aggressive miscues are understandable and easily corrected.
 
Welcome A Challenge- Theodore Roosevelt once stated that courage was the most important virtue because it underlies all other virtues.  Mentally tough players welcome a challenge- whether it is in a game, conditioning or in the weight room.  When they are put to the test they stand up; backing down is not an option.  True courage can cover up other deficiencies a mentally tough player may have.
 
Realize They Have a Responsibility on Every Play- Mentally tough defenders know their individual responsibility and get to their identified spot on every play.  Every player has a place to be on every single play.  If a pitcher gives up a shot in the gap, it’s not his job to stand in the middle of the diamond and pout.  His job is to read the play and get to his spot ensuring proper backup.  If a player fails to execute his responsibility he is hurting the team and is either mentally lazy or selfish; both are unacceptable.
 
Alert and Anticipate on the Base Paths- A mentally tough player is constantly running situations in his head. He may say, “I’m on 1^st with one out: on a single, my job is to get to third base.” Or, “1 ball, 2 strike count.  The pitcher’s out-pitch is a sharp slider in the dirt.  This next pitch is going to be in the dirt and I’m taking 2^nd.”  It’s never good enough just to be on base.  Mentally tough players are alert and look for ways to improve their team’s situation.
 
Take Pride in Bunting- In a given season 7-10 games will be directly decided, both offensively and defensively, by the bunt game.  More importantly, championship baseball games will be tighter and the bunt game will grow in importance.  Bunting is arguably the easiest skill in baseball to master; however, only a small percentage will be rated “excellent bunters.”  Mentally weak players may say, “Why do I need to bunt?” Their counterpart asks a different set of questions, “Will bunting make my team better?” Or, “What can I do to improve my bunting game?”  .
 
Fight for Every 90 Feet- The BBCOR bat has completely changed the collegiate game.  The days of waiting for the three-run homerun are over.  This has been replaced by a battle for every base.  Here are some simple ways to pick up an extra 90 feet:

 
 Know the Conditions and View them as an Opportunity instead of a Problem- Playing baseball in the spring oftentimes means competing in less than ideal conditions.  The mentally tough player views this as an opportunity, because he knows he is more equipped to handle the situation than his vulnerable opposition.  Coach Corbin of Vanderbilt University describes it best, “You dress for the conditions, and then it becomes sunny and 70.”  In other words, recognize the situation, prepare for it, and then forget about it. 
 
Being Hurt vs. Being Injured- Mentally tough athletes hate missing practice or games. They realize the difference between being hurt and being injured.  Being hurt is having bumps and bruises but you can play; an injury is much more severe and will keep you out of competition.  When hurt or injured, mentally tough players do everything in their power to get back on the diamond: ice, treatment, rest, and sleep. Training room athletes are detrimental; they damage the morale of the team.  
 
“Learn to get Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations”- Lou Pinella.  Bases loaded nobody out; the situation looks bleak.  For most players, this is when the game speeds up. It is like playing in a blender.  Their heart begins to race, fingers and mechanics stiffen, and breathing becomes erratic. The mentally tough player does just the opposite. He’s comfortable in adversity.  He controls his breathing, uses positive self-talk, and reminds himself that moments like this are why he loves to compete.  He slows down, visualizes positive results, focuses on the next pitch, and EXPECTS TO SUCCEED!
 
Exude Confidence- Chest out, Eyes Forward- I have a friend who, while visiting Africa, had the opportunity to go on a daily run with an African Native.  The Native warned my friend that if they encountered any wildlife, he must look directly into the beasts’ eyes and never break eye contact.  If you’re looking forward you’re the predator; if your eyes are to the side you’re the prey.  Mentally tough players look for signs of weakness in their opponent.  A pitcher appearing physically smaller in pressure situations; a player complaining about an umpire’s call; a sloppy infield/outfield- these are all signs of vulnerability.  Mentally tough players become more aggressive when they sense weakness.  In addition, mentally tough players ALWAYS demonstrate presence- chest out, eyes forward. They exude confidence in any situation. 

Although the vast majority of players will never get the opportunity to compete professionally, however the characteristics described- courageous, confident, alert, responsible, consistent, and resilient- are all virtues that will provide student athletes with a feedback loop.  Mentally tough players are better equipped to transition into real life.  They become heads of companies, leaders in their communities, and good husbands and fathers, because they possess skills necessary to succeed in all aspects of life.  Mental toughness is a great asset in the game of life.  

Make it a great week,

Mike

I stood behind my son, Joey, as he sat on his bike.  I told him the instructions, “balance yourself and when I let go just keep peddling.”  It was time, I pushed him just hard enough to get the bike moving and then I let go ……and he crashed.  I picked him up, adjusted my directions slightly, pushed him again …. and he crashed again.  After several more tries, some laughs, a few tears, and many scrapes we decided to head home for the day.   
 
We visited other parking lots around the area everyday for the next week.  After a ton of FAILURE he began to get it.  My instructions became less and less and he started to explain what he needed to do.  We began setting GOALS.  Once Joey became proficient at staying up right we started setting up obstacle courses.  At first the courses were easy, “start here and go in a straight line and touch the drain.”  Once those were mastered we moved on to more challenging courses with turns.
 
I wanted to share with you two lessons that I learned during this process: Learning through Failure and Goal-Setting Strategies. 
 
Learning Through Failure
“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” - Michael Jordan
 
Why are we so hesitant to fail? 
Michael Jordan, Thomas Edison (“I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that do not work”), Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates….the stories of elite achievers who failed time and time again are everywhere. Why are we not actively seeking failure?  Is it fear? Our ego? Whatever our reason we must embrace failure as part of the growth process.  I know so many people who are afraid to put themselves out there.  They are afraid to try.  Yes, you are going to fail. It may be embarrassing and yes, it is going to be painful at times.  Sharp, intense pain does not last.  What we should be afraid of is not trying.  The long-term agony of wondering “what if” is much more powerful than dealing with temporary discomfort.  Think about it, do kids remember the pain associated from learning to ride a bike?  
 
Why are we so hesitant to let those we lead fail?
If you’ve taught someone how to ride a bike you can relate to my struggle.  You know as soon as you let go they are going down.  You know there is a strong possibility they will get hurt.  However, you also know the only way they will learn is to go through the failing process.  And since you care, you must allow them to struggle.  For whatever reason, as our children become older it becomes tougher to let them fail.  If our child gets a poor grade, we want to speak to the teacher.  If our child is, heaven for bid, yelled at by a coach or instructor we want to intervene.  Meanwhile, in our haste to protect them we are doing them the ultimate disservice of not letting them grow. 
 
The same theory holds true with the athletes we coach or employees we supervise.  They have to get used to failing; we cannot protect them.  And, as a mature leader we also have to understand the role and importance of failure.  When one of your subordinates makes a mistake how do you handle it?  Are you annoyed? Mad? Frustrated?  This is important stuff.  Joe Madden, skipper of the Chicago Cubs, says, “ I never want to coach the aggressiveness out of a player.  You can try to coach out the mental mistakes, but I want risk takers.”
 
Develop Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible” Anthony Robbins.
 
About ten years ago I listened to Brian Tracey’s auto book about goal-setting.  It had major impact on my life.  If you want to be different, start getting clear about what you want and how you want to get there.  My son’s goal is to be able to ride his bike with his friends.  Now, at six, he doesn’t know it is a “goal.”  At this point it is just something he really wants to do.  I am trying to help him in his journey by saying, “by the end of the summer (add a time component) you’ll be able to ride your bike with your friends (long-term goal).  In the meantime, we started to work on the process.  First, we are going to practice riding his bike three times a week.  He and I have set-up “short-term” goals like being able to make it around the doctor’s office parking lot by the end of the week.  The plan is by sticking to a process and by conquering the short-term goals he will ultimately achieve his long-term goal.
 
How clear are you about your goals?  In the last month have you allowed yourself the time and space to clearly define what you want?  How about the last year? Two years?  Clarity is king.  This week I am on vacation.  I’m going make time (not easy with three kids 6 and under) to evaluate what I want to GIVE this world, not what I WANT from this world (huge difference).  Once I develop that clear picture, then it’s time to start the goal-setting process. 
 
What about you?  Can you carve out an hour this week to either set new goals or evaluate your current situation?  Maybe it is time for something new?  Maybe it is time to readjust your plan?  We can’t allow ourselves to be on autopilot.  To my knowledge, you only get one crack at life on Earth.  Why not make the most of it?
 
 
Final Take
Teaching my son to ride a bike was an eye-opener.  As we were going through the process I saw my instructing philosophy right in front of me.  Here were the key points:

 
  
 
 Coach Deegan