“Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” Vince Lombardi

What is wrong about wanting to have a perfect game athlete often asks.

Well, apart from the fact that a perfect game is impossible, there is not much else to say.

There is nothing wrong with an athlete who works hard towards perfecting their game by training consistently on their physical skills and techniques.

However, the adverse effects can manifest from an athlete’s strong drive and desire to reach perfection.

There are a couple of determining factors as to whether an athlete who chases perfection will benefit from doing so or will end up putting themselves on the perfect path to failure.

It can sometimes come down to their perspective on perfectionism and any pre-disposal they might have to fear failure.

An athlete’s game and mental toughness will benefit considerably by setting high realistic goals and working towards them consistently, and possessing the confidence to know that mistakes are opportunities to learn, improve and grow.

Athletes that chase attaining perfection will get frustrated when it inevitably does not materialize.

What tends to happen in these situations is that the athlete chasing perfection will experience tightening up during competition, feelings of self-doubt, stress, and anxiety, which will end up clouding and taxing their mind and causing them to lose focus and perform poorly.

This predominantly happens to athletes in a weakened mental state, as they become frustrated when they do not meet their personal goals or achieve their expected performance standards.

By tweaking the perfectionist’s perspective on the definitions of success, they can see and understand that perfection is not attainable, and excellence is.

Changing your mindset to a growth mindset and accepting that perfection is a myth will enhance your performance and elevate your game.

By changing your mindset and setting high realistic goals, then breaking them down into small process goals, you will see excellence will help you excel on the highest level.

This process is more rewarding and will get you to your ultimate goal sooner, quicker, and faster.

Working on your mental game, the potential benefits and insights that can be reaped are bountiful.

With the guidance of a Mental Game Coach, athletes can avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism and unlock their mental game in basketball to reach their best performance on the court.

Go to DrDCoffey.com/FreeResources & Download the FREE assessment on Improving your Mental Game in Basketball.