“Use the Force, Luke” (or Ben, or Tyler, or…)

Athletes of every stripe can get caught up in results. After all, the entire point of competition is the result. Of course, in youth sports, winning and losing should be kept in perspective, but I’m not one of those who doesn’t believe in keeping score. There is a reason that every game we play -- whether it’s on a field of play, on a computer or on a game board -- ends when someone wins (yeah, I know some sports allow for ties; don’t get me started…). 

But when a player becomes too focused on results, they get themselves into trouble. Consider the Big League hitter who goes 0 for 30. If that hitter begins to focus on the 0, he’s making his at-bats much more difficult. He can pick the right pitch, execute well and still not end up on base. Line drives can be outs. Warning track fly balls can be outs. Bunts or purposely hitting behind the runner to move the him along are most often outs -- productive outs -- but still outs. Concentrating on the zero is negative and saps a hitter’s confidence. 

Young athletes are particularly susceptible to focusing on results. The less experienced you are, the less you understand your sport, the harder it is to know what your goals should be. And if you, as a parent, are focused on your child getting hits, striking out opponents from the pitching rubber or winning games, you're not helping your kid succeed. 

It's not just young players who get hung up on results. 10 years ago, I was speaking to an excellent high school pitcher who was not going well. I asked him what was in this mind while he was on the mound. His answer was that, since he was a senior and a captain, he had to throw “a win” for his teammates. I said, "I have no idea how you can even climb to the top of the pitchers mound with that type of weight on your shoulders." 

Could that high school pitcher control winning by himself? Of course not. His defense has to make plays. His offense has to score at least one run. 

My advice to him is what I would tell any athlete; try to control ONLY the things you can control. Do everything you can to make good pitches -- to throw the best pitch in the best location at the right time. Use your training and your knowledge to your best advantage. And if you make a mistake, do what you can to correct it next time. 

By trying to control things that are out of your control, such as “throwing a win” for your team, you set yourself up to fail. Former Cubs manager, Joe Maddon, once said, "You're not trying to beat the Yankees or the Red Sox or the Blue Jays, you're trying to beat the game of baseball through execution." 

How do you do that?

"Use the Force”. We all know what Luke Skywalker did when he was finally able to harness the power of the mystical Force. For an athlete, the Force is Process. Use The Force, focus on what you are doing, instead of what might happen. Being process-oriented is more effective than being results-oriented. Results simply show you how well you worked at the process. 

In his book, They Call me Coach, legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, wrote that he never talked to his players about winning. During practice, he did all he could to prepare them, always emphasizing proper technique, conditioning and teamwork. Then before each game he asked his players to give 100% effort. Harnessing the power of Process, Wooden won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period as head coach at UCLA, including a record seven in a row.

Focusing on things he or she can control makes a player confident versus focusing on results, which can lead to frustration and doubt. Yet, focusing on the process is one of the most difficult things for athletes of any age to do consistently. 

When I say to use the Force, I mean play the game one play at a time, one pitch at a time. Concentrate on what you need to do at this moment.

For example, it's late in a tie game. Your team’s pitcher has loaded the bases with no outs and your coach brings you in to pitch. If you think you need to strike out the next hitter, you’re thinking results. If you think of throwing a good pitch in the right location you’re thinking process. The weight of a “must” strikeout is too much. 6-time MLB All-Star pitcher, Sam McDowell, used the phrase, “this pitch, this moment.” That’s the perfect example of process; only thinking of what you want to do with the next pitch. 

During practice, in games, and in post-game discussions, many coaches and parents reinforce results. However, if you really want to help your child be successful, channel Obi Wan Kenobi and tell your player to “use the Force.”