“You don’t play against opponents, you play against the game of basketball.” Bobby Knight

Bobby Knight, one of the all-time most decorated coaches in college basketball history, knows a thing or two about basketball mental toughness.

Even amidst challenges such as hitting the winning shot from the dramatic venue of the free throw line, or fighting through the pain of illness or injury to overcome adversity can be managed with a superior mental game in basketball.

While most aspects of basketball psychology tend to highlight the importance the mental game without acknowledging one of the best precursors to a strong and developed mental game – a mental toolkit.

Such toolkits exist in the minds of each individual basketball players, and differ from person to person. Sports psychology for basketball would be wise to promote such athletic programs, as mental toolkits can help athletes develop the mental skills, strategies, and techniques that – over time – can foster strong and proven toughness known only as basketball mental toughness.

Gyms and fitness centers are filled from floor to ceiling with all manners of equipment used to condition athletes physically, but the mental game of basketball requires a steady cultivation of presence and repetition in order for basketball players to become successful on the basketball court equally as much as the weight room will help them develop athletically.

Each player’s “personal toolkit’ can consist of principles learned to help them achieve the necessary focus that elevates their physical game with all of the techniques learned and cultivated on the court.

Without focus, costly errors, missteps and fouls can lead a player to become a detriment to their teammates on the court.

Footwork, ball-handling, shooting accuracy, and timing are all concepts that can be refined physically as tools to add to each player’s basketball game.

The mental toolkits will consist of techniques such as breathing methods, auditory ‘shut-out’ strategies used to minimize crowd noise, distractions, and pre-play visualization. Therefore when the game is on the line any given athlete is able to remain calm and collected, a surefire method of maintaining confidence and promoting success.

Acts such as taking a few deep breaths and mentally visualizing the next physical move while waiting for an offensive play to set up can enable the proactive athlete a mental means to achieve what they physically desire on the court.

Believing in the visualized play beforehand is the epitome of basketball mental toughness.

A well-used mental toolkit will assist any basketball player in achieving their dreams of on-the-court dominance but the advancement of such mental toolkit initiatives will only take traction the more such methods are promoted by those athletes who have used them to success.

In the end, mental toolkits for recall in the heat of the moment carry as much weight as the iron that athletes pump to mold their bodies for the challenge of game day.

Download the free mental game assessment and get started on Improving your Mental Game in basketball.