No one plays this or any game perfectly. It’s the guy who recovers from his mistakes who wins.
Phil Jackson

All basketball athletes experience the feeling of missing a shot, committing a foul, or failing to execute a play. Negative situations are a part of the game. Understanding how to mentally process these situations, and refocus into a positive mindset creates a strong basketball confidence and overall mental toughness. Every one misses a shot, or experiences a sense of a failure, but the mentally tough athlete recovers from any negative circumstance without letting it change their ability to focus or alter their game plan.

Sports psychology for basketball stresses the importance of centering attention on the present, not worrying about the future, nor regretting anything from the past. Self-doubt occurs when the athlete feels a sense of anxiety about their ability to perform in the future. Left unchecked, self-doubt can mentally cripple a player from reaching their full physical potential.

One component of self-doubt often centers on the opponent. Are they incredibly talented? So fast? So tall? So intimidating? They might be all those things, but you limit your mental energy and basketball confidence when you waste your attention on your opponent. Don’t read the newspaper and social media detailing the athletic abilities of your adversary. Focus on YOU! What are your strengths? What is your game plan? Keep your thoughts repeatedly on your plan, not expending it on worry over an opponent.

If you experience self- doubt when you see your opponent, then keep a short slogan that jerks you from a negative frame of worry, and resets your focus to the present on what YOU can control. You cannot control another person; only your reaction. Your slogan is simply a short, positive phrase that reminds you of your goal. Much like the overused Nike slogan of “Just Do It”, your slogan needs to mean something to you but very short and easy to remember. A mental reminder of how you want to play the game that leaves you with a positive mindset and stronger basketball confidence.

Eliminating self-doubt requires that you analyze your thoughts both on and off the court. What are you thinking about your abilities? A confidence limiting thought destroys mental toughness because it truly weakens your ability to perform at your best. If you are concerned with being “too slow”, then this is a confidence limiting thought. You won’t run any faster simply by worrying that you’re too slow.

Instead, focus on ways to improve your speed in the off season and practice, in a positive frame of reference. The mental game of basketball also promotes the idea that a mentally tough athlete with a positive focus will be far more successful and perform better than someone with equal talent but a weakened mindset.

This means if you allow your thoughts to stay positive, then you truly are faster than the athlete riddled with self-doubt and worry.

The mental game of basketball requires athletes to constantly evaluate their mindset, thoughts and focus. Eliminating self-doubt is one important facet to gaining basketball confidence and genuine mental toughness. Learning to spend the extra time and energy on developing mental toughness ensures a greater improvement on your physical game of basketball and finding success on the court.