Interview with Frostee Lynn Rucker.

Developing a winning mind set and increasing basketball mental toughness is essential in the success of your physical and mental game of basketball. Coach Frostee Lynn Rucker offered some insight on two types of mindsets in the world of sports; a fixed mind set and growth mind set.

If we look at the psychology of basketball we can turn to a statement by Coach Rucker, a former athlete and current NFL father of a Cleveland Browns player. When asked, what would you suggest an athlete do that want to develop a growth mindset? He replied – work hard and believe in yourself. Learn from your mistakes and never give up. Always practice to get better. He went on to say, he had someone that believed in him while he was playing and that helped him excel in sports. He also said he want to give the same support to youth and professional players coming up now.

The above statement in regards to sports psychology for basketball represents a coach with a growth minded set for his players and team. Why? Coach Rucker said “Sometimes the players are not aware of what they can do until they are put in a situation or push beyond their limits.” Coach Rucker believes with his support and encouragements a growth mindset represents a pattern of playing and thinking that will help the players become exceptional players.

What about the Fixed Mind Set? Can you excel to excellence with a fixed mind set? The answer is not clear cut, but what we do know is there is always someone out there working hard to get better and if you relay on your natural abilities (fixed mind set) to get you to the pro’s and keep you there, just know there is always another athlete behind you or around the corner working to get better every day (growth mindset).

What did Coach Rucker have to say about a fixed mind set when asked, if an athlete tells you they like their fixed mindset, because they know what their abilities and talents are and they know what to do and the athlete go as far to say “I am naturally talented why should I work harder”. Coach Rucker replied “leave them alone, time will tell” and smiled.

In situations like this, Coach Rucker is known for always being there and welcoming any and all players back with open arms, lots of love and guidance. He stated, whenever they are really for change or to just fine tune their “natural” skills I will be there. Coach Rucker said “they have young minds. You just have to work with him”.

Developing a winning mindset will also led to basketball mental toughness. If we were to take a growth mind and use it on the basketball court it would most definitely represent the mental game of basketball. Without it, it will be very hard for any player, team or coach to have success. Coach Rucker said his way of helping the players develop a winning mind set is to stay positive, be patient and always encourage them. He realize that the world of basketball has become too competitive not to have the mental toughness edge that will help the athletes reach peak performance.

In comparison a fixed mind set is one where a team is coached in a way that they are not being encouraged psychologically to grow and reach the best of their abilities. Simply put, it is as if they are being taught plays, but they are not learning new ones that may be more difficult. The coach is content with where the players are mentally and not requiring his players to be challenged and grow in a way that represents building their basketball mental toughness.

Coach Rucker believes anything is possible if you put in the work and develop a growth mind set. He often talked about “young minds”. He feels it is his responsibility and a privilege to teach, support, mentor and offer all the opportunities he can to upcoming athletes and those that desire to be athletes. Divulging more into the sports psychology for basketball while interviewing Coach Rucker, one can conclude that the growth mind set, as opposed to the fixed mind set, encourages players to grow in their basketball mental toughness. It is the mindset we need to work on, said Coach Rucker; we need to help these young athletes challenge themselves and their skills. Coach Rucker said plays that comes from the mind of the players, reaches the physical body and then they can play ball.

So what can you conclude from these two comparisons? From a coaches perspective if you would like to see your players grow mentally and/or psychologically from the game of basketball that will translate not just on the court but also in the game of life, coach them with a mindset that will consist of challenges and encouragement. Don’t lie back on perhaps your laurels and just coach in a way that is enough to win. Instead do the opposite.

As a result, the players that Coach Rucker has coach throughout the years has learned to trust him and they look to him for that guidance and ways to improve their mental toughness and mind set not only on the court but in life as well.

Special thanks to Coach Frostee Lynn Rucker for your time and expert.