See it before you play it

You can take hundreds of swings in the cage and field ground balls all afternoon. But what happens when you step into a game, the bases are loaded, and suddenly everything feels different?

I've spent years around softball as a player and coach, and one thing I believe is that we need to practice more than what to do with the ball. We need to practice what to do with ourselves when the moment gets big.

That's where visualization, also called mental rehearsal, comes in.

Visualization means mentally walking through a situation before it happens. You might imagine what you see, how your body feels, the words you use to refocus, and the next action you choose. It can complement physical practice, but it doesn't replace it or guarantee a particular result.

Don't just picture the perfect play

Here's where I think players can get more out of visualization: don't only imagine crushing a double or striking out the side.

Imagine the tough stuff, too.

You strike out with runners on. You miss a ground ball. You walk the leadoff hitter. Now what?

The player who can respond to that moment has a plan. That's what I want you to rehearse.

My simple routine: See → Feel → Respond

SEE: Pick one specific moment. Imagine the count, field, pitcher, runners, and pace. Make it feel like your game, not a highlight reel.

FEEL: Notice your feet, hands, posture, and breathing. Picture yourself returning to a comfortable, athletic ready position.

RESPOND: Rehearse your next controllable action. Include what you'll do if the play doesn't go the way you want.

Start with a minute or two. Eyes open or closed both work. If you struggle to picture things, say the routine to yourself or move through it physically.

For hitters: see the pitch, not the outcome

Before batting practice, stand with your bat and imagine stepping into the box. Picture tracking the ball and making a clear swing-or-take decision. Now imagine a swing-and-miss. Step out, take a comfortable breath, choose one cue — maybe “See it early” — and get ready for the next pitch.

Your job isn't to mentally promise yourself a hit. It's to rehearse an approach you can repeat.

For pitchers: practice the pitch after the miss

Before your bullpen, picture receiving the sign, seeing your target, and moving at your normal tempo. Then imagine a ball being called. Rehearse your reset: a breath, a physical cue, a new target, and the next pitch. You can do a short “shadow” version of your usual motion without throwing a ball.

For fielders: picture wanting the next ball

Before infield, imagine a ground ball coming your way. Rehearse your first step and glove position. Then imagine bobbling one. Instead of staying stuck on it, use your reset cue, return to ready, and picture taking the next rep.

This fits our RELEASE → RESET → ATTACK language: acknowledge the last play, get yourself back, and compete on the next one.

Coaches: build this into five minutes of practice

Have players stand in their ready positions. Give them a situation — two outs, runners on, close game. Ask them to rehearse one successful action. Then add a mistake and have them practice their response. Finish by running the actual drill.

I want players to learn that confidence doesn't mean nothing goes wrong. It means they know what to do next when something does.

Try this before your next practice

Choose one situation that tends to get in your head. Spend two minutes mentally rehearsing it. Include the part where things don't go perfectly. Then practice your routine during real reps. Afterward, ask yourself: Did I use my plan? What should I adjust?

Real softball. Real pressure. One next rep at a time.

Note: Visualization is a preparation tool, not a guarantee of performance. If mental rehearsal feels uncomfortable, use a simpler grounding or movement-based routine instead.