Open

Be open to new ideas practice habits and suggestions. As players and coaches we tend to stick with what we have known for many years and are stubborn at times to change. Remember there is always something to learn and change is growth.  Reach out and explore other avenues and see if it helps improve your game.

Develop Winning Practice Habits Rick Saggese Elite Performance Coach

Blog Talk Radio Shows

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Quality At Bat

Focus on having a quality at bat I like to say " hit the ball and win". I made up a QAB chart that I give my clients and there is 10 ways to have a QAB and guess what getting a hit is only 1 way. Get away from batting average because it's a trap and focus on QAB's u will see a big difference.

LLWS

Great to see young kids play the game hard with sportsmanship and integrity at the Little League World Series.  Remember baseball and softball is a team game work together pull for each other and amazing things can happen.

4 pillars to training

Be sure u incorporate these 4 important factors b4 engaging in training. Have the proper mindset , nutrition, movements, recovery.

Fall

As fall approaches I recommend to take off playing competitive games and focus on developing your weaknesses. This will give your body a well needed rest and time to focus on developing parts of your game that needs to improve. If your are in college or playing professionally these players have time off playing games as they focus n development and you should to!!

Pilates

Pilates arc is a great training tool that helps on rotational, abdominal, and core strength. At Think outside the diamond we incorporate both yoga and Pilates with the Pilates arc. You are intense, you say yes when others say no, you rise when others sleep, you do what others will not.  If u do all those things you will control your destiny.

Feet

Improve performance thru your feet!  Massage and break up fascia by rolling your feet over a tennis ball. Difference between average and great is the player who does the small things to make them better. When u choose me as your mentor/trainer u can count on me doing things with u that u never imagined all for one reason to make YOU better!

Breathe To Win

Most athletes do not use breathing properly so it can help you perform better. Just like other skills you practice, breathing takes practice as well. It needs to be learned and then applied and there are specific ways you need to breathe to accomplish your desired outcome. Example if u want to relax you want to have a longer exhale and vice versa if u want more concentration or a boost of energy u want to have a shorter exhale.

Defense

Learning many positions and not just sticking with the one you have played since t-ball is vital. Good examples are with Boston's Brock Holt (3b) & Mookie Betts (2b)  who are both rookies trying to break into the starting line up. Both players would not be playing in the bigs right now if they were not open to learning to play new positions.   Both are natural infielders but both are now playing the outfield for he Red Sox since they need a bolt of energy out their to jump start offensive production. Lesson: be open to learn and play as many positions possible cause u never know what position u may need to play one day.

Spurs

Fundamentals and teamwork are 2 attributes that are having the spurs outplaying the heat in the NBA Finals. This plus a higher drive to win has made the spurs NBA champions!

Holt

Brock Holt has played 3 different positions so far because he is getting it done in the batters box. If you can hit they will find a place for u to play this theory is proven with Brock. I'm not saying defense isn't important cause it is however if u hit the fact is u will play.

Red Sox

After losing 10 straight games the Boston Red Sox have played much better defense, had clutch hits, and superb pitching as they have won 4 in a row.  This is what helped them win the WS last season and they have shown some glimpses of life from last year's run.  Again Defense and Pitching Wins Championships!

Defense

Defense wins championships a good example is how poorly the defense has played in the 10 game losing streak for the Red Sox. This takes a team effort as well as commitment as a team to constantly improve on this vital aspect.

Draft

Let the nfl draft fuel u as a player inspire you so u can get your name called on draft day no matter what sport u play. If it was easy everyone would get drafted but it isn't it takes sacrifice, commitment, sweat, and hard work.

Canes

Miami Hurricanes baseball team has won 19 of 20 after sweeping Clemson this weekend.  They are doing this by having fun and playing the game hard.  You can really see this team trusting in each other as it seems to be a different hero each game.  Keep it up all the way to Omaha.

Routine

Have a routine and trust in it. Routines allow you to be consistent which is key for success. Find your routine if it's a hitter or pitcher find what works for you and stick with it.

Papi

Everyone that see's David Ortiz come up with big hit after big hit does it surprise you?  It doesn't me,  it's not because we know he can do it, it's because he has been put in that situation time and time again and it doesn't phase him.  What I mean is if you practice in certain conditions (with pressure) you will get to the point that it's just another at bat.  See most players don't put themselves in these situations in practices so when they are faced with this situation in games they don't know how to respond to it in a positive way.

Ring

It's what you play for as an athlete to get that ring. Play hard, have great teamwork and many good things are possible as the 2013 Boston Red Sox showed us.  I believe it starts with the coaching staff and continues to the players.  This has to be a cohesive unit for it to survive the ups and downs of a long season.  Remember, the ring is the thing!

A-Gon

Alex Gonzalez had a little reason to feel pressure on opening day on a new team in a new city.  He commits an error which cost the Tigers a few runs as he gets booed most players would just fold up and their day would be done.  Not Alex, what does he do, next at bat he forgets and puts to use short term memory and comes up clutch with a triple which helps the Tigers tie the game and then comes up with a single to win the game in the bottom of the ninth.  If this doesn't show thick skin and the importance of a short term memory I don't know what does.  So what next pitch!

Sizemore

What a great story that should be mentioned because Grady Sizemore had a lot of doubters but never gave up. I don't care if he plays another game this season just to have him start his first game in over 2 seasons is a tribute to his hard work,  mental toughness, desire, and perseverance.

Biggest Mistakes Athletes Make Today by Coach Rick Saggese | Sports Podcasts

Biggest Mistakes Athletes Make Today  by Coach Rick Saggese | Sports Podcasts

Goals by Coach Rick Saggese | Sports Podcasts

Goals 03/27 by Coach Rick Saggese | Sports Podcasts

ROM

It's important to understand the importance of joint ROM.  Strengthing muscles surrounding our joints is great but without full ROM (range of motion) gives that joint more vulnerability to be injured. Make sure you work on your flexibility, ROM and strength.

Hydration

Be sure you are drinking plenty of water daily. Ideally half your body weight in ounces as dehydration can cause not only health issues but performance issues as well.  If you are sweating a lot be sure to add in a sports drink (Gatorade) to replace the proper nutrients.

Practice

When you practice not only is it important to practice perfectly but have a purpose. Know what u need to work on that particular day and focus on improving that.  As I like to call it "practice with a purpose".

Goodreads & Lulu

If you like to read books, which in my opinion is great for learning and vocabulary development, you need to visit www.goodreads.com and be sure to add me to your "friends" list.  Great site for readers! www.Lulu.com is a great place to get your next book as well.

New Players E-Book

Great new e-book for players "Why Some Players Exceed & Others Don't"  is now available on iBookstore and Nook...great informative short book to help maximize a players ability.  Must read for all players of all sports.  This will be the best $2.99 you spend this year.

New Coaches E-Book

Great new e-book for coaches "Why Some Coaches Exceed &; Others Don't"  is available now on the iBookstore and Nook...great informative short book to help improve the coaches communication, instruction, and trust with their players. Must read for all coaches of all sports.

Athletic Mental Peak Performance Online Radio by Coach Rick Saggese | BlogTalkRadio

Athletic Mental Peak Performance Online Radio by Coach Rick Saggese | BlogTalkRadio

Be In The Moment

I speak to many athletes on a daily basis that are thinking to much in the past or future.  To perform at a high level you need to be in the present moment.  This means forgetting the past and focus on the now this will help keep you focused on the process.  The process is what allows us to improve as athletes (ie: training) and to finish the process is to execute what you worked on in training and utilizing it on the playing field.

Be in the now and you will know how!!