“Mental toughness is believing, without a doubt, that whatever happens, you got this” – Tim Grover

When Ron Artest of the Los Angeles Lakers publicly talked about how the help from a sports psychologist contributed to his success on the court, the media took that as evidence that he was “crazy.”

That was fair from the truth. Professional athletes like Artest would be crazy not to seek help when they know their performance is declining and there is help available.

Coaches’ primary focus and responsibility is the physical side of the game and sport psychologists focus on athletes’ minds. Sport psychologists can help athletes achieve their goals by working through barriers that may be preventing them from reaching peak performance.

For example, you might become anxious or lose focus during competition. You might have trouble communicating with teammates, controlling your temper or even just motivating yourself to exercise. Or you might choke at key moments during a game. A sports psychologist can help.

Sport psychologists can also help you with basketball mental toughness, relaxation techniques, and cognitive restructuring — are all useful tools to get the competitive edge.

Sport psychologists can help you:

Enhance performance: sports psychologist use mental strategies, such as visualization, self-talk and relaxation techniques, can help you overcome barriers and achieve your full potential in the game.

Cope with the pressures of competition: Sport psychologists can help you deal with pressure from parents, coaches, fans, and not reaching your goals.

Recover from injuries: After an injury and you have been cleared to play, you may have a period of adjusting. Returning to play after an injury can cause various emotions due to the fear of re injury.

Keep up an exercise program: Sometimes you may find yourself unable to fulfill your goal of exercising to improve your on the court performance. Sport psychologists can help you increase your motivation and tackle any related concerns that maybe holding you back

In summary…
• A sports psychologist can help athletes enhance performance and cope with the pressures of competition.
• A sports psychologist can teach various mental strategies, such as visualization, self-talk and relaxation for the purpose of helping athletes to overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential.

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