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Basketball Mental Skills Article

Using Goals to Improve Focus

Developing a strong basketball mental toughness requires a specific plan and exercises to intensify focus. Players at any level can improve their mental game of basketball when they invest the time and effort to improve their ability to focus on their goals. Process goals are mini goals that assist a player to focus their attention on important cues during competition. Results and consequences of their performance are not the focus of thought, but rather moment to moment /play to play execution. Playing in the “present” is crucial to developing a solid mental basketball game.

There are two types of process goals.

Performance goals— these goals are based on something measurable, but not an outcome. An example would the thoughts while shooting a free throw. The performance goal is to focus on a smooth and solid follow through, not actually the ball going through the net. The player’s focus remains on the action needed for the desired outcome, not the actual point scored. Sports psychology for basketball stresses the need for a positive mindset, so these goals should be stated in a “positive voice”. The word “Don’t” is never allowed in a performance goal.

Mental goals—these goals are based on your mental game of basketball, and help you maintain focus throughout a game. Mental goals allow you the ability to negate distractors from controlling your thoughts. An example of a mental goal is to stay aggressive on defense. Anytime the mind drifts to thoughts outside this goal, it is important to redirect and back to staying aggressive.

A player made the following statement:
“I worry about my opponent, being anxious and my focus. I want to learn how to focus so I can perform well and stop worrying about my opponents.”


This player understands the need for a strong mental game of basketball. Focusing on an opponent and their reactions is completely counterproductive because it wastes precious energy thinking about aspects of the game outside of your control. You become self-conscious about what others think about your game. This is often paralyzing and weakens your physical ability to play as well.

An exercise that assists a player to develop both performance and process goals is to consciously make a list of positive aspects of the game the player wishes to accomplish. This is also an opportunity to approach a coach or mentor about how to improve their basketball mental toughness, and what they suggest as necessary goals. Deliberately write the goals down, and later tape in a place that is frequently seen such as a locker or bathroom mirror. Every time the goals are read, they are building positive mental focus. Reciting the goals during practice, on the trip to the game, and even during a game all increase the player’s ability to achieve peak physical performance.

Basketball psychology stresses the importance of maintaining both performance goals and mental goals to achieve an optimal positive focus. The player with solid mental toughness exhibits the power to play in the “present” thus boosting their physical performance on the court. Process goals are the steps to achieving consistent and superior focus.

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