Each and every season brings high expectations for the upcoming year. Long Island crowned eight county champions in 2016. Center Moriches (Suffolk B), East Meadow (Nassau AA), Mt Sinai (Suffolk A), Smithtown Christian (Suffolk D), Southold (Suffolk C), Wantagh (Nassau A) Wheatley (Nassau B) and West Islip (Class AA) all won county championships last spring.
These teams all hope to repeat last year’s success but also must be aware of the potential for complacency due to lofty expectations and being overconfident. Another hurdle these teams will have is that their opponents will all have extra motivation to unseat these champions.
As a defending champion or even a team that had an outstanding 2016, you must avoid the thought of being invincible the following year. Many things change each year in high school baseball. Teams that met great success the previous year may have graduated many of its key players or may have had injuries pop up in the offseason. These are among the reasons why it is extremely difficult to have successful seasons year in and year out at the high school level. Schools that are perennial playoff teams each year are quite unusual, as they prove to be consistent winners. That consistency is something to be proud of. These schools are considered to have outstanding programs.
The first thing a team must do is to acknowledge that it is a new season and not rest on last year’s laurels. The championship season was last year and surely does not bring any guarantees the following year. Assuming that you will win again is surely a setup for failure. Being confident is a trait that each player must have in order for the team to carry itself in that manner. Being confident is a major difference from being a squad that lacks respect for their opponents and is too cocky. This will lead to complacency and a disappointing season.
All teams must be focused on the tasks at hand. This means that the end result cannot be over emphasized. Focusing on each at bat, each pitch, each throw and each situation will allow each individual and each team to achieve its best performance.
The coaching staff and the team leaders should develop these traits. This will in turn spread through the remainder of the team as the season continues and culminate towards the end of the regular season and into the playoffs.
It is not unusual that in a season certain circumstances will occur to distract a team from its ultimate goal. These can be injuries, a tough loss or even a selfish teammate or two. If a team is truly a confident, together group, these hurdles will be overcome. In many cases it actually brings the team closer together.
Individuals must also to be able to focus on improving from season to season. The only way to duplicate or improve on a special individual season is to work extremely hard in the offseason on all skills, but most importantly, be mentally prepared. All opponents will be gunning for you in each and every game. It is critical that a player keeps his focus. Being confident in your ability and having the necessary focus will lead you to a great season and lots of personal satisfaction.
Avoiding complacency requires hard work and self-confidence that includes a mental checklist of items that are critical to your overall development as a player.
