“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan
You don’t have to be an Olympic champion to be a successful athlete. Anyone can be successful if they have the right attitude.
What is the “right attitude”? The right attitude is a positive attitude.
A positive attitude is one of the essential basketball mental skills that contribute to success in a game.
A positive attitude can be learned and improved with proper training and mental skills.
Attitudes are Contagious
In the sporting world, attitude can easily dictate a player’s coachability and how it will affect the team.
Research on sport psychology for basketball shows that attitude distinguishes champions on the road to success. There are some key characteristics among those who get to the top. The results showed that top performing athletes show an internal drive and commitment to their sport that their colleagues lack.
A positive attitude is vital to the success of an athlete, both on and off the court.
During the competition, it is easy to get upset about an incident or a bad call. However, in the end, it all comes down to how you react to these obstacles. If you have a positive, “learn from it” attitude, then that attitude will serve you will, and you will progress further in the game of basketball and life.
Attitude is a Habit
Humans are creatures of habit. Making athletes change from who they are is an enormous challenge to anyone even to the best coach.
That’s why coaches prefer players who have a positive mindset, easy to coach, easy to work with, and always give their best.
Those players are:
• Great listeners
• Always looking to get more feedback and improve
• Don’t complain
• Help others
• Have a put the team first attitude
• Welcome new players on the team
• Communicate effectively
• Always prepared to train and give their best effort no matter the outcome
• Stay positive and encourage others in good and bad times
Better Attitude – Better Team
Athletes who have a positive attitude are an asset to any team. Those who may have the talent but bring a negative attitude to the team will hinder the team’s success. A negative attitude is just as contagious.
The right attitude can make a massive difference between an average team and a team that wins championships. Attitude is a crucial characteristic of you and the team.
While athletes, coaches, and parents want to win, there are a lot of things to learn from competition. Even a loss can result in a renewed determination and a greater focus.
Recognizing the lessons learned from either a win or a loss in competition can help the athlete develop basketball mental toughness.
If you are a professional athlete or amateur, developing a positive attitude can help give you a competitive edge.
What many athletes do not realize, is that a positive attitude can be strengthened with daily practice or with the help of a Mental Game Coach.
*Download the free mental game assessment and get started on Improving your Mental Game in Basketball.
