“When you’re playing against a stacked deck, compete even harder. Show the world how much you’ll fight for the winners circle. If you do, someday the cellophane will crackle off a fresh pack, one that belongs to you, and the cards will be stacked in your favor.”
Pat Riley

All basketball players experience obstacles and adversity throughout their career, no matter how long they play the game. The player with basketball confidence develops a strong ability to persevere through difficulties and withstand negative circumstances without any decrease in mental toughness or focus. Mental preparation for the game plays a significant role in the establishment of a solid basketball confidence and is critical to the longevity of success a player achieves.

Nearly all athletes desire success constantly, not just sporadic events throughout a career plagued with slumps. They want to play at their peak performance with continual growth, not simply ride the momentum of streaks, whether good or bad. The athlete with a strong basketball mind plays with perseverance no matter if the circumstances are positive or negative, or if they are winning or losing a game. Basketball confidence is the fuel to push an athlete through the storm of adversity until success is eventually found.

In many sports, the winner is not always the strongest or the fastest, but rather the one still believing they can win at the end of the game. The mentally tough athlete maintains an ability to persevere through the obstacles, frustrations and injuries. Mental preparation for basketball strengthens an athletes ability to persevere through the trials and negative situations while continuing to maintain a positive mindset and solid sports self concept.

The following are exercises that help cultivate an athlete’s perseverance ability and improve their basketball confidence.

• Vision–occurs when an athlete is able to look at any negative circumstance and strive to find a positive impact to their long term development as a player. An example is the player who suffers an injury, and must sit out of practice or games for a period of rehabilitation. The player with vision utilizes the down time as a way to mentally prepare and develop their basketball mind. Another example is when an athlete suffers from a heart wrenching defeat. The player with vision sees the loss as a means to fuel for future improvement and allows a hunger to develop for the next win.

• Proactive preparation allows for an athlete to prepare their response for any hard times that come their way. They know their response before anything negative ever happens, and thus are not surprised by adversity. A good practice is to maintain a list of positive quotes, sayings, or scriptures that offer encouragement. The mentally tough athlete constantly revisits, and adds to the list for later reflection. When your mind drifts to darkened thoughts or weakened confidence, it is critical to reframe and replace the negativity with positive affirmations.

• Surroundings provide an external source of either encouragement or criticism. When you face difficulties it is important to surround yourself with positive individuals who leave you with a sense of strength and perseverance, and not those pointing out every mistake or negative circumstance. Avoid people that fill you with negative thoughts and weaken your confidence.

Basketball confidence provides the ability to maintain your game plan and positive focus through all situations you face, both on and off the court. Perseverance is the product of solid mental toughness and a strong basketball mind.

An effective mental preparation strategy establishes the ability to persevere through all circumstances, and that persistence raises a mediocre athlete to one with a higher level of play.