As softball and baseball players know, "framing" is a skill used
by catchers to help umpires see the merits of pitches that are borderline
or just out of the strike zone. Effective framing occurs when catchers
can persuasively position their bodies and gloves to funnel pitches into
the strike zone. Framing is designed to convince umpires that borderline
pitches are much better than they may initially appear. This simple,
yet effective art can sometimes turn balls into strikes.
Interestingly, this same concept of framing used so well by catchers
in softball and baseball can be adapted by anyone, regardless of their
position or sport. Many times situations that initially appear as
negative, threatening, or sacrifices can be transformed into positive and
challenging investments through mental framing. Mental framing occurs
when athletes and coaches position their minds in such a way to convince
themselves of the benefits of borderline situations.
For example, Susie Parra, former National Softball Player of
the Year at Arizona was a perfect example of a pitcher who used mental
framing to put her mind in a position to be successful. Too often
pitchers get stressed out and distracted when runners get on base.
Why? Because pitchers mentally frame base runners as threats and
worry about them scoring. Pitchers let the base runners dictate their
attitude and focus. They pitch from a mindset of "not making a mistake"
instead of "intelligently and aggressively challenging hitters."
Susie mentally framed base runners as challenges and focused on taking
care of the hitters to prevent the runners from advancing.
The Arizona menís basketball team also used mental framing effectively
on their amazing run to the National Championship. The team faced
a huge challenge in the Regional against number one seeded Kansas - the
same team that had knocked them out of the tournament the previous season.
Rather than viewing their chances as impossible because of last seasonís
loss to Kansas, the coaches and players mentally framed the previous yearís
loss as a positive. Mentally, they viewed the past three point loss
to Kansas as a sign that they could compete with them. With a little
more effort and intelligence the team believed they could come out on top.
By mentally framing the Kansas game as a positive, Arizona was able to
beat Kansas and used the confidence and momentum to go all the way in winning
the National Championship.
It has been said that ìLife is 10% what happens to me, and 90%
how I react to it.î The key to your success then is not necessarily
the situations you face, but how you mentally view those situations.
Champions allow their Mental Game to dictate situations rather than having
the situation dictate their Mental Game.
Next time you are faced with a difficult situation see if you
can mentally frame it to your advantage. Ask yourself . . .
ï How could I see this situation as a positive challenge?
ï What are the advantages of this situation?
ï How might this be a good opportunity for me?
ï What can I learn from this situation that could help
me in the future?
Remember that how you choose to mentally frame each situation is an
important part of a winning mental game. Frame situations to your
advantage!