“Good judgment, common sense, and reason all fly out the window when emotions kick down your door.” – John Wooden*

In basketball, mental toughness is essential for a player to persevere. The environment on the court only allows for the most composed competitors to succeed. The capacity to control feelings and thoughts is essential for upholding poise, and is vital for mental development.

Composed players are constantly in control of their behavior, and are ready to perform well under all circumstances. Their mental composure originates from self-confidence, and therefore, the first thing a basketball player needs is confidence. That is where basketball psychology comes into play.

Composure is the state of being in control of one’s self. A player with composure understands how to deal with their emotions effectively. They are not controlled by the highs and lows of the game, and do not feel outraged or overwhelmed by the opponents. Rather, a player with poise uses his/her emotions in an arranged and planned manner to respond to any circumstances they experience. A player with composure can handle just about anything on the basketball court.

When it comes to self-confidence, it is one’s trust in one’s own judgment and abilities. Sports psychology for basketball places a lot of emphasis on building a player’s self-confidence, because a player who believes in her/himself is a player who can deliver results.

Being a physical as well as a mental game, basketball requires players to develop a positive self-image, so that they can remain composed and deliver optimum performance. Sports psychologists use activities such as visualization to create self-restraint and to reinforce mental strength among players.

In a visualization activity, the player envisions any conceivable situation that can happen in a game. Next, they envision their response to such situations. They reenact their ideal response to all circumstances, and persistently fortify their self-opinion that they are surely a composed player. The composure the player aspires for eventually becomes second nature.

Breathing techniques are an alternate approach to maintain self-calm in highly demanding circumstances. The point when a player feels disturbed or overpowered by a situation, their breathing becomes faster, shallower, and less effective in regulating blood-flow. A confident and composed player uses breathing techniques to diminish anxiety, and to enhance their capacity to focus and concentrate.

Another powerful technique to build composure is the steady examination of emotions, and how to respond when faced with certain emotions. Basketball players need to ask themselves if their responses are appropriate for achieving the desired results, and if their emotions and feelings are working in their favor. These questions help you in building a strong foundation of confidence, which leads to composure in a highly competitive environment.

When it comes down to it, basketball is as much a battle of physical prowess and athleticism as it is of mental fortitude. Total concentration and strength is required to achieve any significant triumph in life, and the same goes for basketball games. Composure not only helps to maintain a positive mental game but also helps keep a team in sync.

All exceptional athletes possess self-confidence, composure, and mental strength. An athlete with a positive mental game inspires confidence and composure not only in themselves but in their teammates as well.

In short, composure improves mental strength, and mental strength makes a significant difference on the basketball court. Therefore, a player must work on confidence and composure as well.

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