“Awareness is everything. The secret is not thinking. That doesn’t mean being stupid. It means quieting the endless jabbering of thoughts so that your body can do instinctively what it’s been trained to do without the mind getting in the way.” Phil Jackson

In order to obtain optimal performance in basketball, the mind and body must be in sync and work in coordination with each other; if one falters, the whole performance falters.

In today’s world of ruthless competitiveness, especially in basketball, decisions are made in split seconds, and that decision can change the game. One needs to be not only physically tough but mentally tough.

In games, pressure builds up fast, and there is not much time to think at crucial times. You must act fast, or you may cost the team the game.

Some of the ways to enhance mental and physical are discussed below.

Motivation and Positive Thinking

Thinking affects how we act and how we act shapes our actions and ultimately decide what we do. It is vital, even at crucial moments in the basketball games, to stay positive and motivated. A positive attitude exudes enthusiasm which is infectious and will motivate other team members. If you see that glass is half full, you may act with confidence to make the glass full, but if you see it as half empty, you may lose the enthusiasm or the drive to make things happen; it is essential to keep an optimistic viewpoint as your thinking is reflected in your actions. Staying motivated is necessary to win any game. When you are unsure, you will not go full throttle, and that little less confidence in yourself can throw the whole game away. Developing your mental game for basketball will help you stay motivated and maintain a positive attitude.

Self Talk and Self Assessment

There is always room for improvement; therefore, you will benefit from doing a self-assessment to help develop your mental game for basketball. Assessing your strength and weakness is an excellent way to build your basketball mental toughness. It is imperative to remain and keep yourself motivated. Doing an honest self-assessment about your strength and weakness will give you an objective perspective of yourself. This realization can be utilized to maximize your mental game. Take stock of your strengths and dig out your weakness and work on them to turn them into advantages. Believe in yourself and always tell yourself, “I can accomplish ________ (whatever the goal is).”

Goal Setting

Nothing is as important as goal setting in basketball. It not only provides impetus to work but also provides a much-needed sense of direction. One can be motivated, but all efforts may get diluted if the goal or final destination is not set. Once you set the target, your mind becomes focused and channels the energy to think about the ways to make it happen. If you want to score points, set a goal of how many points per game and how you plan to do it, jump shots, layups, etc. Once you set the goal, the direction will become clearer as to how to achieve it. If there is a destination, you can find a way to achieve it.

More to come next week. Stay tuned for Part II!

If you are ready to level up and soar to the top of your game, check out my online course at www.dcmentaltrainingu.com