Ending batting slumps in baseball: a qualitative investigation.

This study used a qualitative method of inquiry to examine how baseball players cope with batting slumps. Players from one national junior (n = 30) and several semi-professional teams (n = 35) made up the sample. Through the use of an open-ended question, each subject was asked to provide advice to players experiencing a batting slump. Inductive content analysis procedures were used to analyse the quotes from the open-ended question. Six major categories of coping strategies emerged from the data: focusing on the task, returning to basics, being actively positive, avoiding negativism, increasing effort, and seeking coaching. These findings contribute to the suggestion that baseball players use a variety of coping strategies to deal with batting slumps. Results also showed that national junior and semi-professional players differed on some of the coping strategies they considered to be most helpful. How this information can be used by coaches and sport psychologists is discussed.