{"id":4412,"date":"2017-03-30T18:32:40","date_gmt":"2017-03-30T18:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=4412"},"modified":"2025-08-11T04:26:25","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T08:26:25","slug":"how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation\/","title":{"rendered":"How Athletes Can Learn From Hank Aaron&#8217;s Mental Preparation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation-1.jpg\" alt=\"Youth Sports Psychology\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation-1-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Teaching_Young_Athletes_to_Mentally_Prepare\"><\/span>Teaching Young Athletes to Mentally Prepare<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation\/#Teaching_Young_Athletes_to_Mentally_Prepare\" >Teaching Young Athletes to Mentally Prepare<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation\/#Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\" >Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation\/#Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\" >Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Hall of Fame player Hank Aaron, one of the best hitters in the history of baseball and a model of <strong>consistency,<\/strong> attributed much of his <strong>success<\/strong> to his <strong>mental preparation,<\/strong> both before and during a game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than <strong>focusing<\/strong> on mechanics, he believed that <strong>preparing mentally<\/strong> and doing his &#8220;homework&#8221; was what made him such a <strong>consistent<\/strong> hitter year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cI think about how a guy <strong>mentally prepares<\/strong> himself to do battle, to go out and face the pitcher,\u201d<\/em> he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, the world\u2019s top athletes use <strong>pregame routines<\/strong> to help create the proper <strong>mindset<\/strong> for competition and practice. Such routines instill <strong>confidence, focus<\/strong> and a <strong>success-minded mindset.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can help your young athletes establish these all-important routines. Kids need to start <strong>preparing mentally<\/strong> days or weeks before competition by learning ways to boost their <strong>focus, confidence<\/strong> and <strong>composure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, each athlete needs a custom-designed routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>routine<\/strong> is something kids do over and over, sort of like getting up in the morning, getting dressed, eating breakfast, then brushing their teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/help-young-athletes-focus-on-the-process-before-a-game\/\"><strong>Help Young Athletes Focus on The Process Before a Game<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If they do it enough times, they don\u2019t need to think hard about it and can keep their minds busy&#8211;away from distractions&#8211;<strong>focused<\/strong> on important things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A swimmer might create this routine on the blocks:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Forget about the last heat<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adjust your goggles and bathing cap<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Loosen up your arms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stretch<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create a plan for your race<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Visualize<\/strong> the start of the race<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Your athletes can create <strong>routines<\/strong> based on their sport and their position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with creating a <strong>pregame routine<\/strong> and plan, sports kids should boost their <strong>confidence<\/strong> by thinking about their <strong>positive traits&#8230;<\/strong> How hard they can work, what they excel at, how well they communicate or what great team players they are, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\"><\/span>Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/mental-preparation-for-young-athletes\/\"><strong>Mental Preparation For Young Athletes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/pregame-mental-preparation-for-kids\/\"><strong>Pregame Mental Preparation For Kids<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/your-athletes-mental-preparation-prior-to-competition\/\"><strong>Your Athletes\u2019 Mental Preparation Prior to Competition<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\"><\/span><strong>Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mental-training-for-young-athletes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6868\" style=\"width:138px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re certain that, as a parent,&nbsp;you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life.&nbsp;And as a sports parent, you\u2019d love for your children to reach their potential in sports.&nbsp;But encouraging your child to <strong>strive for greatness without pressuring them<\/strong> can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today\u2019s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.<\/strong><br><strong>Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Training<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Teaching Young Athletes to Mentally Prepare Hall of Fame player Hank Aaron, one of the best hitters in the history of baseball and a model of consistency, attributed much of his success to his mental preparation, both before and during a game. Rather than focusing on mechanics, he believed that &#8230; <a title=\"How Athletes Can Learn From Hank Aaron&#8217;s Mental Preparation\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-athletes-can-learn-from-hank-aarons-mental-preparation\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Athletes Can Learn From Hank Aaron&#8217;s Mental Preparation\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4414,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,7,6],"tags":[303,304],"class_list":["post-4412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kids-in-sports","category-sports-psychology-for-kids","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-mental-preparation-for-sports-kids","tag-pregame-routine-for-sports-kids"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4412\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}