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[procricket]

Its a vicious cycle really - the only real way to build confidence is through success but it appears to be the lack of confidence that is causing the lack of success...

A good trick which might work is to talk to the guy about things he does well - it might be sporting or professionally - and get him to internalise the feeling of confidence that he has in relation to those things.

Failing that, you might have to go down the Sargeant Major route for this one...

It funny you mention this I have read a book about repetition of the mind and it found that this is more key then physical things like technique and thoughts with repetition of the mind perfomace is always in the long run better

[Manormanic]

It funny you mention this I have read a book about repetition of the mind and it found that this is more key then physical things like technique and thoughts with repetition of the mind perfomace is always in the long run better

There are several pretty interesting books on the mental side of sport, and they seem to agree that practice in the early stages of your career is vital and that positive mental imagery is the biggest key thereafter!

[ProCricketer1982]

I regard my mental strength now as one of my key attributes. Without it I think I'd score far less runs. Why, well because now when I go into bat unless you are 80+ I'm just not bothered by you, you can bounce, yorke, gob off as much as you want but I firmly believe that if I take my time and get in I'll beat you. I only built this determination on the bowling machine and spending hours with my dad bowling at me before I had regular use of a machine. Just ball after ball after ball.. Working on technique of course and all that good stuff but mainly just learning that actually, people swinging the ball at high speeds etc isn't something to be frightened of, once you learn in your mind and body how to deal with it.

Train hard, fight easy. This gives you that inner strength. So for me to maintain that has nothing to do with scoring runs (although that helps!), but more just time per week spent training/batting. If I happen to say not train for a week and rock up on match day then I'm generally a walking wicket, not because the bowling is too good but because I lose that belief that I can beat 'you', so I end up making a mistake and I'm gone.

It's another one of them skills good coaches will have, that ability to pick up what each players mental triggers are and use them. Find this guys and it'll make a huge difference IMHO. Just my opinion of course, backed up by nothing else than playing footy to a reasonable level and now learning to play cricket.

[tim2000s]

ProCricketer, that's an interesting opposite view to mine. I will bowl at you knowing full well that you will give me your wicket, regardless of the fact that i bowl at sub 80mph? Why? Because you are a batsman and you will make a mistake...

The point being that that is the mindset that you need, and comes from hours of practice. The hardest thing to coach into someone is that it is okay to make a fool of yourself in front of others as part of the learning experience.

[ProCricketer1982]

ProCricketer, that's an interesting opposite view to mine. I will bowl at you knowing full well that you will give me your wicket, regardless of the fact that i bowl at sub 80mph? Why? Because you are a batsman and you will make a mistake...

The point being that that is the mindset that you need, and comes from hours of practice. The hardest thing to coach into someone is that it is okay to make a fool of yourself in front of others as part of the learning experience.

Oh yes mate, I will defo make a mistake at some point! perfectly correct there as I'm not a pro, I just hope it's later rather than sooner I will still believe I can win the duel though otherwise I feel if I don't then what the hell am I doing there! (and I'd assume and hope the bowler feels the same in reverse)

Yeah, having that inner confidence to not worry what people think is hard to teach. I suppose all I meant by it all was simply (not that simple I know) finding that unique way for the subject to gain that confidence as people are all different (although there are common themes etc)

[Blazer]

I can relate to this guy in question . I lacked in confidence in general and that affected every aspect of life. Perhaps you could tell him to let go of the worry and start enjoying the game . Everytime I have wanted something badly , I have ended up choking and severely stressed . This is a vicious cycle difficult to break and the lad is probably unaware of it . If you could tell how well he does when he is relaxed , it might help .

[tim2000s]

It's possible that any kind of pressure situation gets to him. Has anyone done any kind of coaching away from the cricket field with him on this kind of thing? How confident is he in everyday life? Is he the type that steps up to the plate first or usually needs to be pushed. Id expect similar traits both on and off the cricket pitch.

[LeonieKelly18]

I can relate to this guy in question . I lacked in confidence in general and that affected every aspect of life. Perhaps you could tell him to let go of the worry and start enjoying the game . Everytime I have wanted something badly , I have ended up choking and severely stressed . This is a vicious cycle difficult to break and the lad is probably unaware of it . If you could tell how well he does when he is relaxed , it might help .

he over thinks everything even when its the easiest thing around or a line on the floor.  he isn't unaware of it he just talks a lot about how he used to be before he was injured and got unfit.

It's possible that any kind of pressure situation gets to him. Has anyone done any kind of coaching away from the cricket field with him on this kind of thing? How confident is he in everyday life? Is he the type that steps up to the plate first or usually needs to be pushed. Id expect similar traits both on and off the cricket pitch.

in normal life he has confidence and tells us all about it hahaha!

[tim2000s]

in normal life he has confidence and tells us all about it hahaha!

Really? Talking it up is usually a good indicator of someone trying to build themself up and who isn't quite as confident as you think...

[Buzz]

I agree, being loud doesn't make you confident - it is sometimes a way of overcoming nerves.

His confidence will improve with improved fitness and lots and lots of practice - consistently getting it right in practice and then as he shows off his new skills in games his confidence will slowly improve, this isn't a quick process.
A couple of good catches will really help.

With a guy like this, I suspect his confidence will drop when people take the micky out of him - I have seen this a few times - all brovado but struggles when it is handed back. Sounds like he needs an aweful lot of care - it is possible to improve, but he will never be Johnty Rhodes.

[joeylough]

Sounds here a bit like myself. I am good in the nets, and training.

But out in the game it is a different story. If I make a mistake early on, I will make it all game, as I can only think about the mistake.

If I have a good game and make only one mistake, I will still regard that as I bad showing. I take praise rather bad, as I only look at the bad elements that need improving, rather than the bits that are already there.

It is very much a mental barrier.

[ProCricketer1982]

Sounds here a bit like myself. I am good in the nets, and training.

But out in the game it is a different story. If I make a mistake early on, I will make it all game, as I can only think about the mistake.

If I have a good game and make only one mistake, I will still regard that as I bad showing. I take praise rather bad, as I only look at the bad elements that need improving, rather than the bits that are already there.

It is very much a mental barrier.

Focusing on the 'bad' bits isn't a bad thing per say, in fact tbh I'd say your more likely to train harder and so improve more as you will be trying to get better. Someone that seems to only remember 'that glorious 4' 'oh I made an awesome 56' (even though 10 runs were edges, twice dropped etc etc). I remember all my games for the things I do wrong and barely remember the good things, yet I use that as a motivator to get better (well at least try). Different ways and all that.

[charlie15]

As some one who is seriously lacking in confidence, and is currently investing in coaching to improve my game I can relate to this.  I'm the first person to take the mick out of my batting, and I know that until I'm out in the middle at the start of my season my confidence will still be low due to my form last year.

I think the big thing for me at the moment is that I know in myself that I am giving myself every opportunity to improve my game, and I've also identified that when I am batting in unfamiliar surroundings everything I have learnt deserts me (the Lords meet up is a case in point), I then end up asking a step back when I go to my clubs net sessions and it takes me another week to get back to where I was.

I've also always had the horrible habit of putting pressure on myself to succeed in everything I do whether that be playing sport or at work, it doesn't help that as a batsman you are always under pressure... If I could master this habit then I believe I have he ability to be a far better batsman than I have been over the last couple of seasons.

[Manormanic]

we all have the ability...its the practice...

[charlie15]

he over thinks everything even when its the easiest thing around or a line on the floor.  he isn't unaware of it he just talks a lot about how he used to be before he was injured and got unfit.

This is where I've changed this season, last year I was constantly analysing everything I did even in nets, this year I've made a couple of adjustments that have helped so much that I know that a long as I remember to keep to them I don't need to analyse my game and inevitably change it.  I'm not saying it will work or me all the time, but I expect that if I have a bad net or game all I need to do is recognise this and why, draw a line under it and go back to what I have been coached next time out.