ECSA opening day - execution & overthinking
Today was opening day for Emerald City Softball Association, an LGBTQIA+ and ally rec league in the Seattle area. It's my first time playing softball and my first time playing any organized team sport as an adult.
The best part of the day was running down a catch in foul territory.
The worst part was not focusing on fun.
And not just fun for fun's sake; I was playing worse because I was too concerned with playing well.
It was noticeable from the start. It's natural to have some anxiety going into game 1. I don't think it was just me, but I wasn't expecting it. I didn't feel this way during tryouts or practices despite those all being firsts for me as well. Today, I wasn’t just wanting to play well, I was concerned with it.
I hesitated on a fly ball I might have caught. I played timidly and missed SO MANY slow grounders. I second-guessed myself and took too long throwing the ball infield.
It was confusing and frustrating.
At the plate, things were fine. I was top of the order again, and getting on base. But I’m chasing that first extra-base hit!
I also struck out once.
We lost game one, 6–12.
During the 30 mins between games, I tried to reset. Slow my thinking down. Feel the sun. Take in where I was.
Three fields, hundreds of people, and a steady stream of planes flying low overhead into SEA less than a mile away. A lot more commotion than I expected and it definitely had an effect.
A couple innings into game two, things started to click. I was able to shake off the opening day jitters. I made that catch, felt it, and remembered: have fun.
I’m not sure I played that much better, but I felt different - more eager, calmer. Not necessarily confident but less tense.
Lessons learned
- Take in your surroundings
Your environment might affect you more than you think. Acknowledge it early. - Attitude drives performance
Find ways to shake things off. Loosen up. You’ll play better because of it.
Questions
- What's the procedure for the first batter at the top of game or when there's a pitching change? I wasn't sure when to step in.
Other thoughts
I need to further optimize my dugout bag.
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Batting → Fielding
- Stash batting gloves
- Grab fielding glove
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Fielding → Batting
- Stash fielding glove
- Grab batting gloves
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Camera management
- Grab/Stash Action Pod and battery
I'll start looking for a different main purpose bag for the above .Everything else should live in a separate bag.
More batting practice.
I've put bat-to-ball at most 100 times this year (or ever?). Two cage sessions so far; I'll book more at Sound Baseball. And just yesterday got my net and T setup in the driveway.
More chanting. Other teams showed a lot of energy!
More calling out "mine" in the outfield.
More knowing the play before I look up with the ball in my hand.
Usually I check the bases and outs after each play, and think of where the next play is, but then I completely forget it once the pitcher starts pitching. I completely lock in entirely on fielding.
To keep it simple I will now consider only 2 scenarios: throw to SS, or 3B (I'm playing left field).
Being my first season, not surprising I have a good list of things to improve on. And next weekend We have 3 games!