Mindset... the Key to Playing at Your Potential

For all of you Basketball Junkies out there.

Why play sport? Why Recruit Athletes into your Organization?

Because, if coached well, they will have learned how to handle pressure and hard (growth) conversations at the same time developing grit and resilience especially when experiencing failure.

These are 6 Tips that I shared with my High School Basketball Team this week... that I'm strongly considering sharing with my Team at work.

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“I already had skill, and over time, I’ve refined it. ?But what grew the most for me was my mentality and my mindset, the growth in my maturity, which allowed me to continue to get better in my career every single year."?? Jaylen Brown

? Being mentally strong means staying calm and overcoming adversity when it happens during a game or even practice. It requires an understanding that the mind and body are intertwined, meaning both need to be exercised.?

So how do I practice being mentally strong?? Here are six tips that will help you stay calm so you can perform at your very best.

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1.???? ?Keep your emotions in check?

?Learning to control emotions should be a part of every basketball player’s mental training. Emotions such as joy or feelings of determination may temporarily boost performance – but negative emotions like fear, self-doubt, overthinking and anxiety will lead to a downward spiral and actually impact the way you play.

Learn strategies to redirect your thoughts

In order to overcome negative emotions in basketball you have to retrain your mind. The first step is identifying and stopping the negative thought, then challenging it and replacing it. Going through this cycle of mindfulness takes practice, so don’t expect results immediately.?

Mindfulness is one of the most powerful mental skills you can practice to help control your emotions. Aim to be present when you practice and during games. Pay attention to your body’s signals – your heartbeat, your pulse in your hands, or your breath as it enters your body and expands your chest. ?Focus on that signal and use it to create space between your initial emotion and your reaction.

?2.???? ?Become a Good Leader

Training your mind is a great way to demonstrate leadership, and no matter where you are, you can start right now. Simply treat inner skills like?mental toughness?and grit the same way you treat dribbling and shooting free throws.

Traits of a good team leader?

While good leaders are extremely competitive, they approach sport with positivity and motivation. Believe it or not, smiling is a great trait. Good leaders also visualise an end result and set goals to get there. Talk to your team-mates about the vision you’re creating for your basketball team. When you’re on your own, journaling or even just self-reflection after practice can help you hone in on areas you need to work on.

?3.???? ?Keep a short memory

In any basketball game, a play might not go your way or the referee might make a bad call. Has a coach ever told you to have “instant amnesia” after a play didn’t go your way? There’s a reason this phrase has been used for decades. The art of forgetting bad things when they happen helps you reset your mind and focus on the present moment, so you can create something great instead of dwelling on the past. Make a commitment to yourself to create a positive attitude if or when something negative happens. Watch for yourself how quickly that habit improves so-called luck.

4.???? ?Don’t listen to the crowd

Where your focus goes, energy flows. When you focus on things you can control, such as playing your best, it’s easier to stay calm and keep your mind quiet. Distractions such as crowd noise, on the other hand, can take you away from your best.

Block out distractions

If you struggle to stay focused during games, use practice to learn how to control the chaos. Loud music or a coach’s hand in your face during shooting drills can help you learn how to shut the noise out and focus on your game.

Trash talk has been around in sports for decades, and probably isn’t going anywhere. Like crowd noise, though, it’s not something you can control.

At the core of mental training for basketball lies a simple truth: control what you can control. You can’t control what another player says to you. You can only control how you respond. And let’s be honest, beating an opponent that talks trash feels good.

?5.???? ?Control your breathing

?When you control your breath, you control your mind. Try this and see for yourself. Take a moment to observe your mind. Notice if your brain feels scattered or take a guess how well you’d perform right now if you had to focus on something.

Now, take a deep breath in through your nose on a three count. Hold for one second, then slowly release. Repeat this five times and notice how you feel.?

Your breath is a great anchor for returning to the present moment. Practise controlling your breathing off the court so you have it in your toolbox when you need it during big games.

?6.???? ?Treat failure as an opportunity for growth

You didn’t fail because you lost a basketball game or because you had a bad training session. The true definition of failure is not trying at all. Did you show up today and put in the work? Then you didn’t fail. There’s always another opportunity tomorrow to fix what didn’t go well today.

Becoming a great basketball player, above all, is about being consistent. Train your mind to stay on the path and not give up.

?Conclusion

Basketball players who put in the time to develop mental skills gain an edge over their competition. Observing your emotions on and off the court, learning to forget mistakes as soon as they happen, or even just learning to breathe in a way that calms you down can help push your game to the next level—and help you emerge as a leader amongst your peers.

? Basketball is Life