“I Eat Waffles for Breakfast”: How a Little League Pitcher Mastered Distraction

I remember the game like it was yesterday. It was a sweltering Saturday afternoon at an All-Star tournament, and I was sitting in the stands, watching a ten-year-old pitcher put on an absolute clinic. He was dealing—strike after strike, inning after inning. It was clear early on that this kid was something special. Poised, focused, dominant.

But what really stuck with me wasn’t the power of his fastball or the change up that dropped off the table—it was what happened in the second inning.

The opposing team, clearly frustrated and outmatched, decided to try a different tactic. From their dugout came a chant:

“Waffle! Waffle! Waffle!”

At first, I couldn’t tell what they were doing. It seemed random—kind of silly, really. But they kept at it. Every time the young pitcher stepped on the mound, the chant grew louder.

“Waffle! Waffle! Waffle!”

It was a clear attempt to get in the pitcher's head. Rattle his rhythm. Break his focus.

I’ve seen plenty of pitchers—young and old—get thrown off by far less. But this kid? He didn’t flinch.

Instead, after a couple of innings of the chant echoing behind him, he turned toward the opposing team’s dugout and said confidently:

“I eat waffles for breakfast.”

The crowd chuckled, the chant fizzled, and the young pitcher continued to dominate the game.

Life Is Full of Distractions—Some Loud, Some Quiet

That moment stuck with me not just because it was funny or clever—but because it was true. Not just on the baseball field, but in life.

We live in a world filled with distractions trying to knock us off our game. From the moment we wake up, notifications ping, comparison traps scroll past on social media, and people—even well-meaning ones—offer unsolicited opinions about what we should or shouldn’t do.

But the real distraction often comes from a much more dangerous place—inside our own heads.

You can be walking into a job interview, giving a speech, taking a test, starting a business, or stepping up to the plate in your own version of a high-stakes moment—and suddenly, there’s that voice:

“You’re not ready.”“You’re not good enough.”“This isn’t going to work.”

These thoughts aren’t just annoyances. They’re like invisible chants from the opposing dugout of your mind, whispering waffle-like nonsense in moments that demand focus, courage, and grit.

The problem isn’t that these distractions exist. The problem is what we do with them.

The Mental Waffle Game: Notice. Observe. Reframe.

What makes that young pitcher’s story so powerful isn’t that he ignored the chant—it’s that he faced it. He heard it, acknowledged it, and transformed it into fuel. We can do the same thing with distractions. Here’s how:

1. Notice the Distraction

Before we can do anything, we must catch the distraction. Sometimes it’s subtle, like a background whisper: “This isn’t going to work.” Other times, it’s loud and immediate: “You’re going to mess up.” Becoming aware of these distractions doesn’t mean you agree with them—it means you’re ready to deal with them.

2. Observe the Distraction Without Judgment

This is key. Don’t pretend the distraction isn’t there, and don’t take it personally. Instead, say something like, “That’s the ‘not good enough’ voice again,” or “That’s fear talking.” Observing it brings the distraction out of the shadows, so it has less power over you.

3. Reframe The Distraction so that It Empowers You

Just like our young pitcher, flip the distraction so that it serves you. From “I’m not good enough,” to “I’ve trained for this moment.”From “I don’t feel like it,” to “I don’t need to feel like it—I just need to start.”From “What if I fail?” to “What if I fly?”

You don’t have to yell it across the field—but you do have to say it to yourself. Choose language that strengthens and re-grounds you in truth. Be intentional about the script running in your head—write one that serves your goals, not your fears. Respond with character, be effective in action, not reactive in feeling.

When chatter distracts you, meet it with clarity, courage, and commitment. Your mindset is your most powerful response.

Be the Best You—Even When the World’s Chanting “Waffle”

You’re going to face distractions. Some will be external—critics, circumstances, chaos. Others will be internal—doubt, fear, exhaustion. But every time they show up, you have a choice.

You can let them rattle you. Or you can turn, look them straight in the eye, and say with calm confidence:

“I eat waffles for breakfast.”

Then get back to work. The game’s not over. You’ve still got pitches to throw.

Need help training your mind to respond like a champion? Dr. Geoff Weckel specializes in mental performance coaching for athletes and high performers. Reach out today to learn how to stay locked in, no matter what life throws at you.