Written by NTangible, Alliance Fastpitch’s Official Mental Performance Partner.

 

The difference between good and great in softball isn’t always in the swing, the arm, or the glove. Sometimes, it’s in the six inches between your ears.

 

At every level of the game, talent gets you in the door—but mindset keeps you in the lineup. Great players don’t just train their bodies—they train their minds to show up when it matters most. “Confidence is a decision,” said Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch. “And I choose to believe in myself—especially when things get hard.” That belief isn’t just for the big moments. It’s built pitch by pitch, rep by rep, in the quiet grind no one sees.

 

The best players know that pressure doesn’t go away as you level up—it multiplies. But what separates the ones who rise from the ones who shrink is how they respond. Mental skills coach and former D-I athlete Lauren Johnson puts it like this: “You don’t rise to the occasion, you fall to your level of training.” That includes your mental training. If your head’s not ready, your body won’t be either.

 

Think about the clutch teammate who never seems rattled. The one who calms everyone down when the game gets tight. That’s not luck or a personality trait. That’s a learned skill—emotional regulation, the ability to stay composed when adrenaline’s surging and the stakes are sky high. It’s the reason mental training isn’t a luxury anymore; it’s a necessity.

 

Former Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said it best: “The game knows when you’re not locked in.” You can’t fake presence. You can’t pretend to be composed. The game—like your teammates—feels it. But the flip side is powerful: when you are locked in, when you’ve done the inner work, you become unshakable. And that’s what greatness looks like.

 

Legendary sports psychologist Dr. Ken Ravizza once carried a toilet seat onto the field to teach athletes to flush mistakes. That’s not a joke—it’s a mindset. You can’t carry an error with you into the next pitch. Great players learn how to reset. To breathe. To re-center. That skill—resilience—is the unsung hero of every championship run.

 

And yes, it’s hard. Training your mind means dealing with doubt, fear, and failure head-on. It means understanding words like equanimity—the ability to stay grounded in chaos. But here’s the secret: you don’t have to do it alone. You can build that strength like anything else, with reps, tools, and support. Remember, this isn’t just a sports skill – it’s a life skill!

 

So if you’re a 14-year-old trying to make varsity or a college player trying to crack the starting lineup, here’s the truth: the physical part of your game might be similar to everyone else’s. The mental part is where you can pull away. That’s your edge. Your advantage. Your NTangible.

 

Train your mind like you train your swing. And when the moment comes, you won’t have to hope you’re ready. You’ll know.

NTangible is here to help you get started. Get your baseline, learn what you need to work on, and build a practice to make yourself the best player, the best person you can be.

Now you can take the first step. NTangible has partnered with Alliance Fastpitch to bring cutting-edge mental testing to athletes like you—at 50% off. The NTangible test is the first to give you an objective number for your readiness in the biggest moments. It sets your mental performance baseline and tracks your growth as you train your mind. This is your chance to see where you are and build from there.

 

About NTangible
NTangible has created the first objective, predictive mental test focused on the ability to succeed in high leverage situations. For years, coaches and players have known certain people step up when the game is on the line … and some don’t. Finally, NTangible can answer the question – Are you clutch? Visit NTangible.co for more details.

 

About the Alliance Fastpitch
The Alliance Fastpitch is a national organizing body for travel softball. The Alliance Fastpitch offers annual memberships for teams, athletes, and coaches. Our national competition structure provides a clear pathway to your season starting with regional play that leads to a national event. Alliance Fastpitch competition includes league play, an in-season tournament series called the Super Cup Series, National Championships, and a player identification program called the Stars of Tomorrow Series.