“I never looked at the consequences of missing a big shot…when you think about the consequences, you always think of a negative result.” Michael Jordan

Most basketball players at some time talk about being in the zone.

Getting in the zone is not as easy as one might presume. And even if you get in the zone, how long can you stay there?

Being in the zone is one thing, and staying in the zone is entirely different.

Before we continue the discussion of getting in the zone, let’s first understand what the zone is.

In the simplest terms, the “zone” (or “flow” as some sport psychologists call it), is generally described as “the pinnacle of achievement for an athlete,” and characterizes “a state in which an athlete performs to the best of his or her ability” (Young & Pain 1999)

It is the mental state of operation in which an athlete is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity to the point that nothing can penetrate their thoughts.

Here are two tips to increase your mental game for basketball and help get you in the zone and stay there longer.

1. Intuition

If you want to enter the zone and stay there longer, it is important to practice then trust your instinct. Look back at one of your games and ask yourself, how many times have you thought, ‘I knew this would happen!’ If only you had acted on it. There are many athletes that enter the zone, and they can do that because their mental game is strong.

It is crucial to develop your mental game for intuitive knowledge and actions. A great way to build intuition is by training and practicing over and over and over again. Training increase your concentration and focus. When you practice with intensity and consistency, your brain gets trained to work under pressure. Thus your instinct takes over.

2. Mental State

Your mental state is the most significant factor in predicting your performance on the court. If you are feeling good, then a positive state will be visible in your performance. You can implement mental skills strategies to improve your mental state.

Take a few moments before your game to get yourself in a positive mindset. This will enhance your performance. This is where having a strong mental game will help.

One technique is mental rehearsal. Mental rehearsal uses images in your mind to generate a positive outcome for the game.

Create successful plays in your mind of you succeeding in the game. Visualize the perfect performance and play it over and over in your mind. This will get you in a good state of mind and help your instinct take over.

If you want to learn more mental skills to improve your game, click the link and join DC Mental Training Gym.

https://dcmentaltraininggym.com/Membership