“Basketball is like photography, if you don’t focus, all you have is the negative.” -Dan Frisby,

Focusing is all about the mental basketball game.

It’s how you use your mind to give yourself a competitive advantage and keep your mind entirely in the moment, deflecting any other thoughts that may cause a mere distraction.

It is not as easily done as said because our basketball minds are very complex and can be distracted by the slightest things during a game which often causes careless mistakes.

Being Pin Point Focused:

You can avoid distractions through mental preparation like reciting a phrase to remind you to stay in the game, e.g., “focus, attack, shoot.” This will keep your mind busy, so you can’t think of other things.

One main reason for losing concentration, as claimed by a professional basketball psychologist, is because of being fatigued so make sure you have enough energy to get you through an entire game by reviving yourself during breaks and have a healthy diet.

Distractions aren’t only caused by negative things like a failure; it is also caused by getting too excited.

No matter how remarkable the slam-dunk is, don’t let your mind wander until the game is officially over. Players who completely immerse themselves in their game are less likely to be victims of distractions.

How does one achieve this state? Basketball psychology suggests that an essential part of being focused is being calm. The tremendous pressure you get during a game can cause you to be nervous. The goal is to find your internal peace so, you don’t put yourself in jeopardy.

Basketball confidence also plays a big role in getting in the zone. If you lack confidence, you will be at a disadvantage because you will always think of the worst and be demotivated. Your mind will only worry about the possible failures rather than the possible successes.

One way you can boost your confidence and stay focused on the game is by concentrating all your energy on the things your good at.

Wherever your strengths lie is where your confidence lies, so utilize that power.

Developing Mental Toughness:

The psychological portion of basketball is crucial to achieving your optimal performance because basketball is just as much mental as it is physical.

The first step would be to have a mental preparation routine before to the game. Know your target, know your strategies, and know your opponent’s weakness. Another step is always to keep a positive mindset. Optimistic behavior encourages mental toughness because this enables you to focus on what you can do best and you will be motivated to play better. Furthermore, you need to be in control of your emotions on the court and not let your anger or sadness cloud your judgment.

Sometimes when making an important decision on the spot, you need to put aside your emotions and ego and think logically otherwise the consequences could be grave.

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