“I hope the millions of people I’ve touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude”– Michael Jordan

Success in any sport is the mixture of many factors coming together but excellence is not on its own sufficient for success.

It’s also necessary to turn one’s ability into peak performance in the arena of competition. This often is the key challenge that many athletes face and is difficult to master and one element which differentiates the best from the rest.

You may often hear the expression ‘mind over matter’ and it is so apt in the basketball mental game.

You may have often watched in amazement when the extraordinary abilities of these great basketball players rise to the top and conquer their fears and anguish including the doubts and tension that resonate through their whole being.

How do they do it? Where does this mental toughness come from? Can it be learned?

One of the underlying principles is that goal setting gives significance and direction as well as fuel and energy to achieve objectives and approach new challenges. This is especially important for developing the commitment component of mental toughness.

Setting SMART goals is one method, as is setting milestones which help guide you to realize your goals.

If you know what your needs are and you know what to do to achieve them. In essence, all great adventures start with a goal, followed by clear and well planned road map outlining every key step and turn, which eventually culminates with the successful achievement of the elected goals.

Setting clear goals will allow you to highlight areas of strength and areas in need of improvement. Having a clear framework assist the development of peak performance through better and more effective training which is then applied during the actual game.

Setting clear goals also examines your motives; it helps develop your intentions and desires.

Motivation and desire then nurtures habits which in turn drives you forward in pursuit of peak performance.

The people you share your goals with will also play a major part in whether or not you reach your goals. In order to develop a successful approach surrounds yourself with positive and like-minded people who support your vision and enable you to move forward one step at a time.

Share your goals with your sports coach or a good friend. It’s important to develop some level of accountable. When there is someone else other than yourself holding you accountable, you are more likely to get your tasks completed throughout the week.

You will be motivated by both the desire to avoid letting them down as well as the support and encouragement that they offer when you do accomplish your goals.

Working with a mental game coach is a great way to help you track your progress toward your goals and improve your basketball mental toughness.

Establishing SMART goals is a powerful way of motivating you to accomplish your objectives.

SMART goals provide clear direction of what you are trying to accomplish and allow you to measure our progress.

Effective goal-setting enables you to plan what needs to be done in order to achieve your goals and develop your most important asset, basketball mental toughness.

*Download the free mental game assessment and get started on Improving your Mental Game in Basketball