Pssst!  Baseball Players, come closer...                                                                 

 "Hank Aaron Wants You to Have His Secret Weapon"

Here's What the Man with the Most Home Runs and Most RBI's of Anyone Ever Told Me to Tell You...

	Warning! Once you read the secret below you cannot turn back.  You cannot unlearn it.  You will always know the path to excellence is here waiting for you.   Don't read on if you'd rather stay in the dark and at the performance level you're now at.

Did you get it?  Aaron's secret was his ability to Fully FOCUS on what he had to do on a daily basis.  And he LEARNED how to do it!

Pitchers, I've talked to many Hall-of-Fame pitchers and I can assure you they'd tell you the same thing...

*********

If you're tired of playing below your potential and have a strong desire to make your baseball dreams come true, you can "take charge of your mental game" and learn to: 

	Be focused and in total control under pressure -- Do you hit or pitch great in practice but not so great in games?  Would you like to be able to "slow the game down?"
	Block out mistakes and failures -- Let go of your frustration and anger after you screw up and be focused and confident on the very next pitch.
	Create that feeling of total confidence any time you want -- Remember that one game you were totally in the zone?  Would you like to be able to generate that feeling at the push of a button?
	Relax and have fun -- Jeter told me this is his key to success.  Have your parents or coach told you that you should "just relax!"?  Would you like to learn how?

These abilities are all learnable by following simple, step-by-step instructions.  I've been doing it for 20 years.  Let me explain...

By Tom Hanson, Ph.D. -- CEO                                                        Print this letter
Baseball Confidence.com
Written Tuesday, 1:44 pm
Tampa, FL

Dear Ball Player:

I'm guessing you're in one of two places right now. 

You're frustrated, maybe even angry.  You know you have talent, you work hard, but you just can't perform in games as well as you know you can. 

Something keeps getting in your way. 

Now you're sick of failure and are ready to leave it behind.

Or, you're playing well right now but you're smart. You know you can gain a huge advantage over other players if you train your brain and not just your biceps. 

So, like Hank Aaron and all top players, you're looking for an edge.

If neither of those two fit you, if everything is just "fine" with your performance and you're satisfied with where you are now, then good-bye;  I can't help you (not right now anyway, but you might want to bookmark this page  just in case...).

	You Will Choose This letter is a crossroads in your career. In a few minutes you'll make a choice that will shape your destiny in baseball. Will you: 1) "Take Charge of Your Mental Game," or 2) "Go it alone"        ?????

Can You Relate to Any of These Players?

If you're still with me, congratulations; You're a member of an elite group of players. 

The group that "gets it." 

You're not alone.  Here is just a small sample of actual emails I get from players.  See which ones you can relate to...

	"I know that I can perform at a certain level, and I do well during practices, but in games I always seem to perform below par.  I'm not sure if it's anxiety or fear of failure, but I can't seem to get over it successfully.  What can I do to overcome this?"
	"Last year was a big disapointment for me and for my team.  They were relying on me to step up and win big games but it didn't happen.  This is my senior year and I need to have the confidence to pitch my game."
	"I have the talent to play D1, but I could a lot better if I were to be more consistent by being stronger mentally."
	"I know that I am one of the best hitters 'mechanically'.  But on a regular basis I weakly ground out or let a perfect fastball go by. I need help on being more consistent and getting that relaxed batting practice feeling in the box."
	"Sometimes I pitch great, sometimes I'm terrible.  How can I constantly be locked in on throwing every pitch and how can I learn how to block everything else out?"
	"I know I should be more positive but the voice in my head keeps telling me how much I suck."
	"I've had success at every level I've been at so far, but I know there are other good players out there.  I want every advantage I can get and know the mental game is huge at the higher levels.  Can you help me be more confident and more consistent?"

What Will Happen If These Players Don't Take Charge of Their Mental Game?

I'm guessing you can relate to one or more of those players.

Every player has challenges with the mental game.  (Believe me, I've stood in the Yankees clubhouse and heard guys with 4 rings struggle with their confidence.)

These players, like you, are at a decision point; a fork in the road of their baseball careers:

* Will they "take charge of their mental game" as Aaron recommends and go on to a season and career they're proud of?

* Or will they think they know more than Hall of Famers about how to approach the game and try to "tough it out" themselves?

Their choice (and more importantly, your choice) may well determine whether all your hours of training, traveling and practicing pays off in a baseball dream-come-true, or end up having been wasted.

If players don't get coaching on how to overcome these challenges, they'' ll experience a lot of needless suffering. 

If you don't learn to "take charge of your mental game," as Aaron described it, you’ll experience much more of the following than you need to…

1.  Frustration when you strike out to end the game (again)

2.  Anger when you walk in the winning run (again)

3.  Fear when you are called on to deliver in a clutch situation (perhaps not “again” since you didn’t come through the first time).

4. And most of all, devastation when you realize your career is over and you didn’t reach your potential. 

If you don’t take charge of your mental game you will not find out how good you can be in baseball. 

You will retire and one day look back and say, “You know, I didn’t do every thing I could have.  What would have happened if I had trained my brain for confidence, focus, and composure the way I trained my body for power, flexibility and endurance?"

Imagine the waste – all the countless hours of work on the field and in the gym, all the time spent traveling to and from ball parks, all the money spent on equipment, camps, uniforms, team fees, and showcases, and all the dreams you’ve had since you first picked up a baseball...

All flushed down the toilet because you neglected the single most important part of the game!

Will You End Up Like This Guy?

For example, one guy I know well was pretty talented.  He loved to play baseball as a kid and he had some big dreams.

He dominated in the youth leagues, but then many players caught up to him later in junior high and early high school.

He worked hard between his junior and senior years of high school and again became a dominent player.  His senior year of American Legion he hit over .400 and was MVP of his team that finished fourth in the State Tournament.

But in college his performance waned. 

He got one wrong idea in his head as a freshman, and that one wrong idea handicapped him his entire college career.  He never wised up.

Although he was All-Conference his sophomore year and his team won multiple conference titles, he never really found his stroke.  He didn't focus and apply himself the way he had as a senior in high school.

In fact, he forgot much of what had made him successful in high school.

He didn't do anything extra.

He didn't seek out help from people who could have helped him be a lot better.

He chose to "go it alone."

In the end, his career was OK.  He enjoyed some individual and team success, and he's got some fond memories.

But he's now (already) 44 years old and he's got questions.  Unanswered questions.  The kind of questions you want answers to but will never get.

"What could I have done had I been more focused?" 

"What could I have done if I would have known how to 'take charge of my mental game?'"

"What could I have done if I didn't have that one wrong idea in my head my entire college career?"

Those questions will never be answered.  There's no way to turn back the clock. 

The door is closed. 

The lights are out.

The party is over.

Those questions will live with him for the rest of his life.  For the rest of his life he will wonder "What if...?"

Not a good feeling.

Do you want to be plagued by those questions?

Do you want that feeling? 

Well, if you want to know more about them, just ask me.

The player I'm describing is me. 

I Go on a Mission

I became facinated with this idea of the "mental game."  Everyone, including me, says it's 80% or more of your success, but what is it?  More importantly, how do you win the mental game?"

I went on a mission.

I got my master's degree at the Universty of Illinois specializing in sport psychology. 

I went straight from there to the University of Virginia to get my Ph.D. specializing in sport psychology.  While there I was the hitting coach for the baseball team for three seasons.

(By the way, I'm a P.E. major, not a psychologist.  If you have mental problems, I'm not your guy.  If you want to think great so you can play great, if you want to learn to think the way Hall of Famers think, I am your guy.) 

Hitting was my passion, so for my Ph.D. research I interviewed Hank Aaron, Rod Carew, Stan Musial, Carl Yastrzemski and Tony Oliva.  I picked their brains on this "mental game" to get them to spill the beans on the real secrets to their success.

Virtually every one of them said some form of what Aaron told me 15 minutes into the interview:

"This is the most important part about hitting and no one has ever asked me this before."

I had goose bumps the size of golf balls. 

And I knew I was on the right track.  Clearly this is information that people needed. 

Some, like Aaron, figured it out on their own.  Others, like me and surely thousands of others, didn't and hung up their cleats unfulfilled.

I continued my formal and experiential research as head baseball coach and professor at Skidmore College, a Division III school in New York.

Every day for seven years I got to see what worked and what didn't work for players, and for myself as head coach.

During that time I wrote "Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time" with Dr. Ken Ravizza.  We've sold over 65,000 copies of that book world wide, and it's been required reading for several Division I National Champions, pro players, and the U.S. Olympic team. 

Collegiate Baseball calls it "the bible for mental toughness in baseball." 

After leaving Skidmore to start my own business helping people win the mental game, I consulted for two years with the Texas Rangers before being hired away by the Yankees to work full time here in Tampa for 2001.

It's been 10 years now since writing "Heads-Up Baseball."  Ten years of experience refining and advancing the ideas in that book.   

To begin telling you how to win the mental game I want to share a quick story from when I was with the Rangers.

One Centerfield Conversation Reveals Two Players' Fate

One bright sunny day I was standing in the outfield grass at The Ballpark in Arlington shagging balls during BP.  The Rangers had their top prospects in for a special week of training before spring training started.

On my left was young Player A.  On my right was young Player B.

Player A was commenting on how fun it was just to be there in a big league stadium and said he hoped he'd be there for real one day.

Player B interrupted with "What do you think it takes to be a Hall of Famer?"

Player A laughed at this question, and a coach who joined the conversation a few moments later did as well.  They didn't feel Player B ought to be asking that question as a mere 18-year-old newbie.

Fast forward to today:  I can't tell you who Player B was because I haven't asked him for permission to tell you.  I can tell you he's played in the All-Star Game and has already established himself as a plus Major Leaguer.

I can't tell you who Player A was because I can't remember who it was.  Honest.  I can't even picture his face.

Now of course talent and other things play a roll in this, you've got to have talent.  But Player A was a high draft choice or he wouldn't have been there, so he had talent.

All I know for sure is the guy focused on being a Hall of Famer still could be one, and is now cashing some huge checks and having a blast playing baseball.  And the guy who "hoped to make it someday" is for all I know flipping burgers somewhere.

Solution: How to Win the Mental Game

OK, you want to be like the All-star and not the burger flipper, yes?

There's more to it than imagining yourself in the HOF, but it is important to keep it simple.

Basically, to win the mental game, you need to:

1. Learn what you need to think and do to be confident and focused.

2. Do those things every day.   Practice them until they are engrained into your system, conditioned into your brain.

3. Repeat until you retire.

That's it. 

And you already know and use this process.

Take a physical skill like bunting. 

To be a proficient bunter you first learn the fundamentals of what you need to think and do to bunt well.  Then you practice it over and over until good bunting becomes a habit, until it is conditioned into your body.

You then repeat the process, continuing to learn, continuing to practice.  The process goes on and on.  You're never "done" developing your bunting. 

If you stop practicing, your skills will decline.

The mental game is the same:  You first learn the fundamentals of what you need to think and do to be confident.  Then you practice and condition those things into your body. 

Then you repeat the process: learn more, practice more, learn more, practice more.

It sounds simple, but it's not easy to do.  Especially without expert coaching.

	These next 3 paragraphs are key, so make sure your speakers are on, click the purple "play" button twice and read along with me: You can mentally condition your mind to be confident, focused and cool under pressure just the same way you physically condition your body to be strong, fast, and flexible. Amazing boosts in confidence can happen almost instantly using my science-based techniques, but you must commit to developing your "mental muscles" throughout your entire baseball career in order to reach your potential in the game. Just like you must consistently go to the regular gym to condition your body for strength, speed and endurance, you must go to the mental training “gym” to train your brain for confidence, focus, and composure.

You may be asking...

"But Can You Really Learn to be Focused, Block out Mistakes, Create a Feeling of Total Confidence, and Relax and Have Fun Playing?"

Here's what a few players had to say about that...

Be focused and in total control under pressure by conditioning yourself to turn negative thoughts around...

Block out mistakes and failures -- Let go of your frustration and anger after you screw up and be focused and confident on the very next pitch...

Create that feeling of total confidence any time you want -- Remember that one game you were totally in the zone?  Would you like to be able to generate that feeling at the push of a button?

Relax and have fun -- Jeter told me this is his key to success.  Have your parents or coach told you that you should "just relax!"?  Would you like to learn how?

Plus, you ought to hear this remarkable player talk about the experience he's had with mental training... Click here now to listen...

Now you should be asking...

"How Can I Get These Benefits?"

I still do some 1-1 coaching, mostly on the phone.  If you're interested in that, please contact me.

But in response to requests for audio programs that could be done without me (I'm often booked solid and am too expensive for some players) I created a step-by-step program for taking charge of your mental game: 

"BREAKTHROUGH! Your 5 Keys to Success at the Next Level"

It's like a "Mental Game 101" program.  I believe every player, coach and parent should be required to take it. 

Remember how I said in order to win the mental game you need to:

1. Learn what you need to think and do to be confident and focused.

2. Do those things every day.   Practice them until they are engrained into your system, conditioned into your brain.

3. Repeat until you retire.

"BREAKTHROUGH!"  solves the problem of (1) learning what you need to think and do to be confident and focused and (2) gives you a way to practice your mental skills.  

But it doesn't give you the "repeat" and ongoing learning part of winning the mental game -- remember the way Hall of Famers think: learn more, practice more, learn more, practice more... (I'll solve the ongoing learning issue in a moment)

The cost? 

	"BREAKTHROUGH!" costs $47 if you buy it on it's own. But I'm so committed to helping you win the mental game I will give it to you FREE if you join "Hanson's Gym" for just one month.

"What is 'Hanson's Mental Training Gym?'"

It's a monthly program that solves the final problem of ongoing coaching and ongoing learning (learn more, practice more...) 

In a regular gym you condition your body.  In my Baseball Confidence Gym you condition your mind.  Like a regular gym you get to use equipment you otherwise couldn't afford to buy. 

In this case, it's access to me and the mental training "equipment" I provide you with.

Instead of growing your muscles, you grow your mind.  In this program, G.Y.M. stands for Grow Your Mind.

This Gym is not like a normal gym you go to -- the "equipment" is on line.  You do the workout at your computer or on your mp3 device.

If you want results like the ones you read about  above (and I could send you more testimonials if you want), if you want to rocket past the training top Division I college programs are doing, if you want your mind to be your greatest ally this year instead of  your biggest enemy, all for just pennies on the dollar, join the Gym.

As a Gym member, each month you get:

1. New powerful content each month (you get info I normally save for my high paying clients.)  Each month will have a different theme vitally important to baseball success.  Plus,   

• Interviews with baseball's best minds, including the many Hall-of-Famers like Aaron, Carew, Musial and Yastrzemski that I already have on tape that no one has heard;
• I've got a "million dollar rolodex" that enables me to get exclusive interviews with the best players and teachers of the game
• The Gym "Exercise of the Month" that takes your mental training to highly advanced levels

2. Email Coaching -- You get an email each Friday from me that will coach you to your best performances.  The coaching will cover all aspects of the mental game and focus on the theme of the month.  This will keep your feet to the fire and you performing at the top of your game. 

3. The opportunity to submit your questions to me. I can't promise to respond to each question personally, but I will address questions I get in the Gym Forum.  This is open to parents as well as players and coaches.

4. Entry into a free 1-on-1 coaching session drawing.  Each month one member will be selected randomly to receive a private phone coaching lesson with me.  I'll record the session and send it to you for future listening.

5. Deep discounts on other products I offer.  Plus "insider" offers I won't even make available to non-members.

6. "Extra Mile" surprise bonuses.  I'll be in your corner and I'll take your success personally, so I'll go the "extra mile" to make sure you break through to your all-time best performance level. 

All this, plus tons of free bonuses. 

If you are ready to take charge of your mental game, step up to the plate, and reach for the stars, my Gym is just what you're looking for.

	Here's What You Get: 1.  My 5 video program "BREAKTHROUGH!  Your 5 Keys to Success at the Next Level" ($47 value)  2.  One Month membership in Hanson's Mental Training Gym  3.  SPECIAL BONUSES:  My Mental Toughness Manual ($29 value) and more than $100 in additional training program bonuses That's $215.95 of value ALL FOR JUST $19.95

How to Be Like Hall of Famers

Hall of Famers and top players at every level constantly look for ways to get better.  They don't quit learning just because they gained some skill or knowledge about some aspect of baseball.

Especially the mental game.  The higher the level of player I work with, the better he understands the mental game is where it's at.

This is an ongoing process.  You never just "get it" and stop developing your mental game.

Would you ever stop your physical conditioning just because you got in pretty good shape once? 

Would you ever stop taking batting practice just because you hit a few balls on the nose?

Would you ever stop throwing bullpens just because you had a couple of good outings?

Of course not. 

Are You a Fool?

At the start of this letter to you I said you are now at a crossroads in your baseball career and you will choose between two paths: 

1) "Take Charge of Your Mental Game" -- the path Hank Aaron and virtually all great players take, a path that leads to a season and career you're proud of; or

2) "Go it alone" -- a path that leads to a career-long emotional roller coaster (up and down without the ability to control yourself)

One is filled with excessive, unnecessary suffering.

The other is filled with success, satisfaction and fulfillment.

Notice how I said you will choose. 

Not you could choose. 

Not you may choose. 

Not you might want to choose.

Time is going by.  You are choosing right now. 

As a 44-year old looking back on his college career with regret for the choice he made, I can tell you your career is going by fast right now. 

It's now .  Will you spend the next hour soaring toward your baseball dreams by conditioning yourself for confidence?  Or will you mindlessly surf the web and fall behind players who are already doing mental training?

Do nothing and you choose the "Go it Alone" path.  But...

If you are ready to take Hank Aaron's advice and take charge of your mental game, 

Choose to Join my Baseball Confidence Gym for one month. 

For $19.95 (this price is subject to change... but it will never be lower) you get $215.95 worth of mental game training including: My complete "BREAKTHROUGH!" program and my "Mental Toughness Manual" free as bonuses, plus all the benefits of the Gym.

Then, to continue your progress, each month you'll receive a brand new CD in the mail along with all the other Gym features listed above for the same monthly charge.

You're free to cancel any time with no penalty.

(click this and you'll learn about an even better offer)

I wish you all the best.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tom Hanson

P.S.   Just a quick reminder of the benefits of this program:

	Be focused and in total control under pressure -- Do you hit or pitch great in practice but not so great in games?  Would you like to be able to "slow the game down?"
	Block out mistakes and failures -- Let go of your frustration and anger after you screw up and be focused and confident on the very next pitch.
	Create that feeling of total confidence any time you want -- Remember that one game you were totally in the zone?  Would you like to be able to generate that feeling at the push of a button?
	Relax and have fun -- Jeter told me this is his key to success.  Have your parents or coach told you that you should "just relax!"?  Would you like to learn how?

	Here's What You Get: 1.  My 5 video program "BREAKTHROUGH!  Your 5 Keys to Success at the Next Level" ($47 value)  2.  One Month membership in Hanson's Mental Training Gym  3.  SPECIAL BONUSES:  My Mental Toughness Manual ($29 value) and more than $100 in additional training program bonuses That's $215.95 of value ALL FOR JUST $19.95

P.P.S.  The clock is ticking on your career and you are now choosing your destiny.  Choose wisely.