There are several benefits associated with mental game coaching and sports psychology for basketball, so why are athletes so reluctant to use this valuable service?
Many athletes are reluctant to seek out a mental game coach because of the social stigma that still exists when asking for help. Virtually every college, national, professional and Olympic team has a sports psychologist or mental game coach on staff. Although many athletes are reluctant, there is a growing number of professional athletes now, that work closely with sports psychology consultants and mental game coaches.
There are also High Profile Championship Teams that Use sports psychologists and mental game coaches. The reason these teams are considered champion teams is because they use mental game coaches to get and maintain the cutting edge of focus, determination and a winning mind set. One of the well-known teams that have a sports psychologists on their coaching staff is the NBA World Champions San Antonio Spurs.
Phil Jackson, head Coach for both the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers brought home the gold with the assistance of a mental game coach — two NBA world championship trophies. He is a firm believer in sports psychology and mental game coaching. He tells his players, “players can be stars, but only teams win”. Jackson is considered one of the smartest coaches in basketball history and he uses sports psychology and mental game coaching to get the winning edge.
Listed below are just a few benefits (there are many more) of working with a Mental Game Coach:
• It gives athletes an edge over anxiety and stress that comes prior to the day of competition.
• It help athletes to stay focused during games.
• It helps in generating the awareness that athletes need to achieve peak performances.
• It helps athletes that suffers from bouts of inferiority complex.
• It helps athletes develop and maintain a sound positive self-image and boosts confidence.
• It aids the athletes in attaining and improving their abilities and boosting their leaning capabilities.
• It helps in curbing pre game and competition anxiety.
With this said, the benefits of an athlete working with a mental game coach or sports psychology expert has no limits. The mental game coach will go a long way to help the athlete identify, manage and overcome barriers that will interfere and prevent the athlete from reaching peak performance.
