“We communicate all the time, even when we don’t realize it. Be aware of body language” Pat Summitt

Making right decisions and playing with the right mindset is critical in basketball.

When you play a basketball game, you need to think like the champions. They are the ones with excellent basketball awareness. With basketball awareness, you can make better decisions, have a better basketball mental game, and increase the possibility of winning.

How To Increase Awareness

To discover your basketball mental game awareness, you have to be aware of your technical skills. The better your skills, the more confident you feel when performing.

Being able to see the larger team picture is imperative. It is essential to know your teammates and how to respond to them. Being able to anticipate who can show up and do what you need at the right moment is critical to a successful game. To read your teammates is a high-level ability, however, this level of awareness win championships.

Being mindful, flexible and learning to increase your game awareness is how you go from average to extraordinary.

Create A Focused Plan

We all lose our focus at times. It is inevitable. The critical question is, what do you do to get your focus back? The next time you find yourself losing focus and you are having a difficult time getting back on track, try one (or all) of these three things.

1. Breathing – Whether you are thinking about a problem, having trouble focusing on the game or a play that requires your full attention, breathing can help. Breathing deeply for a few minutes can bring what you want to focus on front and center in your mind.
2. Exercise – Exercise helps clear your mind. According to sports psychology for basketball, exercise improves your brain in the short term by raising your focus for two to three hours afterward.
3. Your Pre-Game Reminders – Include cue words or short phrases in your pre-game routine that can help you focus and refocus when you find your mind dwelling on something other than the present moment. These cue words and phrases will signal your brain and help you regain focus and control on the task at hand.

Emotions like anxiety are an essential part of sports and competition; however, if you do not gain control of them before competing, they might control you.

Taking charge of your emotions by being aware and implementing a basketball mental game plan will make you mentally tough and help you to an optimal state of readiness for your performance.

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