National Chung Cheng University (CCU) held a forum titled “Coach, I Want to Play Baseball—Exploring the Psychological Factors Behind the P12 and WBCQ Games” on November 21. Organized by the Sport Psychology Program, the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Athletic Sports, the event drew a significant audience of baseball enthusiasts, students, and sports professionals.

The forum featured a panel of distinguished speakers, including Yueh-Ping Lin (Head Coach of the Uni-President Lions and 2023 WBC National Team Head Coach), former Head Coach Chang-Heng Hsieh (who led the Chinatrust Whales, Uni-President Lions, and Brother Elephants, and served as the 2013 WBC National Team Head Coach), and Professor Min-Hung Teng from the CCU Department of Psychology.

During the lively discussion, the three speakers shared their insights into the psychological challenges faced by players and coaches at critical career junctures. Coaches Lin and Hsieh recounted memorable anecdotes from their playing and coaching tenures. They then analyzed recent major tournaments, such as the WBSC Premier12 (P12) and the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers (WBCQ), to explore the psychological dimensions of the sport.

Professor Min-Hung Teng contributed academic perspectives from the field of psychological science, addressing topics such as mental toughness, stress management, resilience, motivational strategies, flow state, team dynamics, and the application of psychological skills. Together, the experts delved into the critical psychological factors that influenced elite performance.

The forum focused on four primary themes: (1) psychological considerations during national team selection; (2) factors affecting player performance in training and competition; (3) psychological hurdles faced by coaches; and (4) the practical application of psychological techniques in baseball. Discussions on team leadership, catcher stability, pitching strategies, cohesion, and tactical mind games resonated deeply with the audience.

The integration of professional experience and academic analysis provided both depth and practicality, reinforcing the idea that mental strength is as crucial as physical skill in determining outcomes. During the Q&A session, students engaged with the speakers on topics ranging from athlete stress management to coaching strategies and training methodology.

The atmosphere remained lively and interactive throughout the session. The organizers expressed their hope that the forum would foster further collaboration between athletic practitioners and psychological researchers. They planned to continue hosting similar events to deepen the integration of psychological science within Taiwan’s competitive sports landscape.