Dr. Ken Ravizza
December 17, 2008Lots on the agenda lately. I’ve been getting ready for the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) convention the beginning of January. I’m speaking on Monday and have a little booth to sell my book and make connections throughout the weekend. For the speech, I’m working on a powerpoint type presentation with pictures, outline, etc. For the booth I don’t really know what the heck I’m doing so I’m going super low tech with a table, beach chair, and my book. It will undoubtedly get the award for worst booth in show. What I really need is to hire a hot girl to wear a bikini and sell the book for me.
I went up to Cal State Fullerton today and interviewed Dr. Ken Ravizza for a future podcast. Dr. Ravizza is a professor at CSUF and has been a sport psychology consultant for the U.S. Olympic Field Hockey, Water Polo, and Baseball teams as well as for the Dodgers, Angels, Arizona State, CSUF, and LB State. 
He also works with a number of pro baseball players on an individual basis. He wrote the book “Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time.” I had Dr. Ken as a professor when I was a student there – he’s a great guy and has a lot to offer for the aspiring ball player or coach. One really interesting thing that happened while I was there was I met one of his teaching assistants. This guy was sent to Ken from West Point of all places. Turns out the Army is using sports psychology to boost the performance of their soldiers in Iraq. It totally makes sense. A soldier obviously needs the same sharp focus and intense concentration that an athlete needs – especially in the topsy turvy Iraq arena. Split second decisions need to be made as to who’s trying to kill you and who’s an innocent civilian. Obviously a soldier who is keenly focused and “in the zone” so to speak is a safer and more efficient soldier. The Army somehow found out that Ken, through all his work with elite athletes, knows the in’s and out’s of the mental game and the zone experience. Fascinating. It totally supports my theory that the elite from any field – be it athletics, business, health, war, art, or even lawn maintenance – share a similar mental state. They all know how to be in the moment. All for now, I’ll edit the talk and get it up as soon as possible.
I wonder if Dr. Ken is any good at sports?
He was a super duper football player…I think at USC if I’m not mistaken…I think he had a big knee injury?
Hey Brent,
If you would, shoot me an email in regards to your booth and the ABCA Convention. I may have some idea’s for you and would like to talk about the Convention. BTW thanks for the interesting info!
I am a huge fan of Ken Ravizza. I first heard about him when I was in high school and I read his book in college. The great thing about his book and methods is he teaches you tools that you can use. I now use it in my coaching. Last year we read his book on chapter a week. This year we are using his audio book.