The mental game is very important for all sports. What I mean by this is that...if you don't have a straight mind and have complete focus on whatever team your about to face than you are definitely not ready for whats about to happen. When other teams figure out that you aren't mentally prepared that's when they take over you and become in control of the the game is going to end. The bad thing about not having your A-game on is that anyone can beat you terribly if you aren't mentally prepared for whats about to happen during your games, track meet, swim meet, tennis match and any other sports, because it applies to all of them. From past experience playing softball through high school and a summer 18u gold softball team that if you are ever struggling or in a slump or need improvement in the outfield or in any of your sports that it's all in your head. You are the one that's telling you no that you can't do it. Never say you can't do something, because if you set your mind to it you can do anything. When your being down on yourself you just need to listen to your friends and coach, because they are trying to pick you up so you won't be down on yourself. They have faith in you that your much better than your playing and how good you are. That's why they are trying to keep your head up so you don't get down on yourself and lose complete confidence in yourself like I did and made me in the worse slump ever! Writers can learn from the mental game because yet that they don't neccessarily play a sport to understand, but it's the exact same with them, but they have writers block instead. It's going to be hard for them to start their paper or journal or anything in general that they have to write, but you just have to have confidence and give your mind a break listen to some music and then try to start writing again. If you keep staring at the computer with a blank page thats not going to get you anywhere on starting to write your paper. Just take a break and do something to get your mind off of things and try again and see if anything pops in your head to start your paper.