Consistency is a habit formed by repeated acts. Consistent behavior will get you
consistent performance. We have heard many times over that softball is a game of
monotonous repetition of fundamental skills. Coaches and players alike always
enjoy learning new drills that add variety and freshness to our teaching methods.
It is important that we understand how drills affect our ability to perform the
necessary skills of the game with consistency and how our behavior affects our
ability to perform those skills in game situations.
Why is repetition so important? My first area of building consistency in simple
terms is: repetition creates muscle memory. This muscle memory will give us the
best chance to execute necessary movements with consistency and more importantly
without thinking. As an avid golfer, I know how difficult it is to repeat my
swing and the ball is not even moving. Imagine the challenge we have in our game
to build consistency with all the variables we have to deal with. Whether you are
building a pitcher or hitter in our game, the ability to repeat the same movement
is the difference between good and great! As coaches, we must make sure our
athletes understand the movement they are executing and that proper technique is
always applied in practice situations. Quality repetitions vs. quantity
repetitions!
Making mistakes on the field and using those opportunities as teachable
moments are key in our young athletes growth, as a player, but more importantly,
as a person. Responsible Sports has an acronym for another coach teaching tool,
called E.L.M. which stands for Effort, Learning and Mistakes. This principle is
built on giving 100% effort, constantly learning, and bouncing back from mistakes.
By moving your team's focus off their scoreboard results and on to their effort,
you'll have happier, more self- confident players, and the wins will come.
Go to ResponsibleSports.com to
learn more.
This brings me to the second area of building consistency in
performance - Consistent behavior! The game we play is a very difficult game and
we tend to make it more difficult by the behavior we choose when we lose track of
the process. How many times do you see a player always fighting themselves
because of the inability to deal with the failure this great game brings at times.
They are constantly on a roller coaster and can never achieve consistency in their
performance. As coaches, parents or players, we cannot underestimate the power of
choice. We have a choice as to how we respond to a situation and it is our job to
teach young people that failure is a part of the process. Just ask Tiger Woods, Thomas Edison or Michael Jordan the number of failures they learned from before
reaching greatness in their careers. I have used an acronym with our players to
give them a plan to build consistency. The acronym is P.A.R. This stands for
Preparation, Action and Response. In our game, we have control over certain
things and these are three areas that cannot be underestimated. If we can bring a
consistent behavior to our preparation, actions and response to our actions, we
will finally understand how the great players have brought consistency to their
games. This is not only a great approach to building success on the field, but
also a great formula for success in life.
"After watching Greg Maddux for [many] years, I've to come to appreciate his
consistency in performances, the consistency in his work between games, the
consistency in his thought processes, the consistency in the excellence of his
innings, his games. It is amazing to watch. It just never varies."
Bobby Cox
Manager - Atlanta Braves
