chasing56

Calm in the Chaos: Madison Bumgarner’s 2014 Masterclass

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 17:23:40 GMT

Composure in the Moment

Calm in the Chaos

Some moments in sports don’t just define championships — they define composure. The 2014 World Series gave us one of those moments through Madison Bumgarner , the San Francisco Giants’ left-handed ace.

At just 25 years old, Bumgarner delivered one of the most dominant and poised performances in baseball history. He didn’t just win — he showed the world what calm under chaos truly looks like.

When the Giants faced the Kansas City Royals, the stage was massive. The series was tied 2–2. Every pitch is magnified. But while the pressure mounted, Bumgarner’s pulse didn’t.

Watching that Game 7, I remember thinking — this is what every coach hopes to see: a player controlling the controllables, staying loose, locked in, and emptying the tank . He didn’t look like he was trying to be great — he looked like someone who knew he was ready.

Pressure doesn’t care who you are. It just asks who’s ready.

In Game 5 , Bumgarner threw a complete-game shutout — no walks, eight strikeouts, and total control. He worked fast, never let emotion take over, and made one of baseball’s toughest lineups look unsure.

Then came Game 7 . Just two days later, on short rest, he stepped out of the bullpen in the fifth inning with a one-run lead. Five innings later, he was still there. Only two hits allowed. No walks. No panic. When the final out dropped into Pablo Sandoval’s glove, Bumgarner had secured the Giants’ third championship in five years — and a permanent place in World Series history.

But his performance was more than dominance — it was discipline. His body language never changed. His breath was steady. His focus never wavered. That’s what composure looks like when pressure is highest.

Coach Insight: The calmest athlete often becomes the most dangerous. Pressure doesn’t create greatness — it reveals who’s ready fo r it.

Preparation Creates Poise

Tips on how you can apply this approach:

Mental Performance Cue: Steady, Breathe, Attack

Breathe and Reset . Use a simple cue — deep breath, slow exhale, eyes up. Reset your focus between moments.

Control What You Can Control. Ignore noise, distractions, and outcomes. Anchor your mind to process and effort.

Train Calm Under Stress. Practice responding, not reacting, when things go wrong.

Trust Your Preparation. Confidence isn’t a feeling — it’s a memory of your work.

Every competitor faces chaos. The difference is whether you let it consume you or center you.

Lessons for Every Competitor

Madison Bumgarner’s 2014 performance is a blueprint for how to elevate your game when it matters most. His mindset teaches every athlete that calm is not passive — it’s powerful.

When you watch Bumgarner’s face during those final innings, you see the essence of elite competition — His intensity was real, but his composure outweighed it. Not emotion, but intention. Not chaos, but command.

He didn’t talk about staying calm. He was calm. He didn’t chase greatness. He embodied it through preparation, presence, and belief.

And that’s what separates good athletes from the rare ones who can control a championship moment. That’s what we train for — the ability to stay calm when it counts.

“True confidence doesn’t look loud — it looks calm.”

Pulisic and Breaking Your Comfort Zone

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 20:40:12 GMT

Pulisic's Next Chapter - Leaving Comfort to Build Greatness

Christian Pulisic, the pride of American soccer and a product of Central Pennsylvania, is boldly moving from Chelsea to the iconic AC Milan. Transferring between two world-class clubs may sound like a lateral shift, but in truth, it’s a major transition that demands mental resilience, physical readiness, and personal evolution.

This moment is about more than a change of jersey. It’s about leaving the comfort zone. And for any athlete, especially one constantly under the microscope, that can be the difference between plateauing and leveling up.

Moving from team to team, organization to organization, is never easy. It means learning new systems, adapting to new teammates, understanding new expectations, adjusting to a new culture, and often, proving yourself all over again. Even for a seasoned pro like Pulisic, this move requires a reset — mentally, emotionally, and physically. He’ll need to lean into what he’s already accomplished and remain open to what this new chapter can offer.

Here’s what will serve Christian best on this journey — and what any athlete can take from his example:

Comfort Zone

Success rarely happens when we stay where things are safe and familiar. Milan is a new territory, with a different language, culture, and style of play. But this move allows Pulisic to sharpen his game and rediscover what drives him. Leaving the comfort zone isn’t a threat; it’s a launchpad.

Preparation

Tactical readiness, physical conditioning, and mental sharpness are essential. The more prepared an athlete is, the more adaptable they become. The Italian league offers different tactical demands than the Premier League, and preparation, not talent alone, will determine how quickly Pulisic adapts and thrives.

Confidence

Not arrogance — but earned, internal belief. Confidence built from reps, visualization, comebacks, aligned values, and years of competing on the world stage. Christian has proven time and again that when he’s healthy and trusted, he delivers. That history matters. That creates confidence.

If Pulisic enters Milan with a clear sense of self, embraces the chaos of transition, and stays committed to the habits that got him here, this could become the most defining stretch of his career. With a supportive locker room and a coaching staff that believes in his upside, we may witness a complete evolution, not just technically, but mentally.

Pulisic 3.0 might just be the version that leads the U.S. to its breakthrough moment in the 2026 World Cup.

Godspeed, Christian. From Central PA to one of the most storied clubs in Europe, you show us the courage to grow outside our comfort zone with every touch of the ball.

“I'm a go-getter. I'm someone who wants to constantly find ways to make myself better. To do that, I have to get out of my comfort zone.”

— Carli Lloyd

(2x World Cup Champion, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, and FIFA World Player of the Year)

“From Pennsylvania to the Champions League – anything is possible.” — Christian Pulisic 

The ABCs of Hockey According to Saul L. Miller

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:52:17 GMT

The ABCs of Hockey According to Saul L. Miller

In high-pressure moments — a game, a tryout, or even a tough practice — your mental game can be the difference between hesitation and high performance. In his book Hockey Tough, Saul L. Miller introduces the Hockey ABCs , designed to keep athletes clear-headed and decisive under pressure.

While rooted in hockey, Miller’s approach, especially what he calls Power Thinking , applies to athletes in every sport. It’s a powerful reminder that preparation, internal dialogue, and confidence fuel consistency.

A – Strategy (Situational Thinking)

Miller encourages players to define their role within different scenarios — power plays, forechecks, penalty kills, etc. Having a mental roadmap in these situations eliminates hesitation and sharpens decision-making.

This applies far beyond hockey. Athletes in any sport benefit from mentally mapping out key roles and responsibilities. Visualizing common situations—like defending a fast break, executing a serve-and-volley, or running a designed play—reinforces confidence and helps athletes react instead of overthinking.

Coaching Tip : Write out or walk through three game scenarios and your role in each. Define where you should be, what you need to see, and what success looks like.

B – Personal Thoughts (Performance Cues)

This is where your internal dialogue either builds you up or breaks you down. Miller emphasizes using personal affirmations and short performance cues to keep your mind aligned with how you want to play.

These aren’t fluffy mantras — they’re short, powerful reminders that direct your attention, keep you in the moment, and regulate your emotions. Here are some examples:

“I am fast and quick to the puck.”
“Head up, see the ice, be a playmaker.”
“Take the Body and Control the Gap”
“Shoot to Score.”

Your cue might be about speed, positioning, communication, or toughness — what matters is that it’s yours. These phrases help block out distractions, remind you what you need to do to be elite, and reconnect you with your best mindset.

Coaching Tip: Pick one cue for your next game. Write it on your water bottle, repeat it in the locker room, on the bench, and before your first shift.

C – Confidence Through Preparation

When strategy and self-talk align, confidence naturally follows. Athletes don’t need to feel confident to perform well — they need to be prepared. Visualization, clear thinking, and empowering inner dialogue create the mental reps that generate confidence and composure.

Miller’s concept of Power Thinking proves that mindset isn’t something you hope for — it’s something you build.

“The mind is a powerful tool that can shape the outcome of any game.” — Mario Lemieux (NHL Hall of Famer)

The 7th Level Athlete

Tue, 24 May 2022 20:46:56 GMT

The 7th Level Athlete

Becoming a 7th-level athlete is a journey rooted in self-awareness and the lessons I learned through the IPEC Coaching Program.

It’s not just about physical talent; it’s about how you think, react, and grow.

The real game-changer is your ability to understand your own energy and choose how you show up in every moment — whether in sport, school, relationships, or life.

One of IPEC's core tools is Bruce Schneider’s 7 Levels of Energy. These levels aren’t about right or wrong—they’re a framework to help you recognize how your mindset impacts your performance and daily life.

Each level carries a different energy, and learning how to shift between them is like learning how to change the channel in your mind. Let’s break down three key mental skills that come from this approach:

Awareness

It starts here. Awareness is your ability to recognize your feelings and thoughts in real time. Do you spiral when things go wrong? Do you hold onto a mistake too long? Do you go into autopilot for long stretches of the day? When you’re aware of the energy you’re in, you gain the power to shift out of it.

Coaching Tip: In a game or training session, pause and ask, “What energy level am I in right now?” That single check-in can disrupt negative cycles and open space for growth.

The Power to Choose Your Mindset

Once you have awareness, the next step is choosing how you respond. This is the essence of empowerment, leadership, and resilience— deciding how to show up no matter what’s happening around you. Through IPEC’s model, you learn to recognize that emotions like anger, doubt, or blame (levels 1 and 2) are temporary and shiftable.

Coaching Tip: When pressure builds, don’t just react. Take charge of your breath and choose: “What energy serves me right now?”

Letting Go of Perfectionism

Perfectionism is one of the biggest traps in sports. The IPEC approach teaches you to anchor into progress and presence, not perfect outcomes. The higher energy levels (Levels 5–7) allow you to play freely, creatively, and without fear.

Coaching Tip: Focus on who you want to be on the field — not just what you want to do. Your presence is more important than perfection.

Here’s a quick look at the 7 Energy Levels:

Level 7 – Absolute passion, unconditional love, pure flow
Level 6 – Joyful, fearless, connected, in the zone
Level 5 – Calm, confident, purposeful
Level 4 – Supportive, grateful, team-focused
Level 3 – Tolerant, practical, coping
Level 2 – Ultra-competitive, controlling, blame-driven
Level 1 – Fearful, doubtful, disengaged

By understanding your energy and mindset — and learning how to shift them — you gain a true competitive edge. You’ll show up more consistently, recover faster from setbacks, and lead both yourself and others with greater clarity and purpose.

If you're curious where your energy stands right now, the Energy Leadership Index (ELI) is a powerful assessment I offer to all my clients. It reveals how you respond to stress, pressure, and everyday challenges — and more importantly, how you can shift toward a mindset rooted in confidence, control, and long-term growth.

If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere."

— Frank A. Clark

Nick Saban and Enjoying the Process

Mon, 23 May 2022 20:49:27 GMT

Nick Saban and Enjoying the Process

Nick Saban, widely regarded as the greatest college football coach of all time, is best known not just for his championships but for his philosophy. At the core of that philosophy lies a simple but powerful concept: focus on the process, not the outcome.

With over 50 years of coaching experience, Saban has built a legacy not on chasing perfection, but on building systems of consistency, high standards, and relentless growth. His message is clear:

"We are not going to talk about what we will accomplish. We are going to talk about how we're going to do it."

This approach isn't just for football — it's a mindset that any athlete can adopt. In this post, we’ll break down three key coaching takeaways from Saban’s process that can improve your mental game:

High Standards, Not Perfectionism

Saban believes in having elite standards — not in being perfect. There’s a difference. High standards mean giving maximum effort, staying accountable, and being focused in every drill, rep, or play. Perfectionism, on the other hand, creates anxiety and fear of failure. Saban’s athletes aren’t asked to be perfect — they’re asked to do their job, every single time.

Coaching Tip: Ask yourself, “What does excellence look like in this moment, not perfection?”

The Process Mindset

Instead of focusing on outcomes like winning or stats, Saban trains his athletes to focus on the next rep, the next play, the next meeting. This mental discipline allows players to stay present, block out distractions, and stay locked into what they can control.

Coaching Tip: When things get big or overwhelming, return to your process and your controllables. Focus on effort, attitude, preparation, and execution.

Growth Over Comfort

Saban coaches with the belief that improvement never ends. He rejects complacency and encourages his players to find edges daily — in film, in the weight room, or in their mindset. This is the essence of the growth mindset: improvement is a choice you make again and again.

Coaching Tip: Instead of asking, “Am I good enough?” ask, “Where can I grow today?”

Nick Saban has led his teams to seven national championships and 10 SEC titles, not by chasing trophies but by mastering the art of consistency. His blueprint is built on preparation, discipline, and commitment to doing things right, over and over again.

By adapting this philosophy to your mental skills, you can apply the same principles to your own journey — build your process, clarify your “how,” and let go of perfection in pursuit of progress.

"Don’t think about winning the SEC Championship. Think about what you need to do in this drill, on this play, in this moment."

 — Nick Saban