Like with many sports, the first thing anyone thinks about when discussing a sport is the physicality of the sport and what it entails to be physically skilled and elite. However, basketball isn’t just about crossovers, dunking the ball or impressive ball handling. While physical skill is undeniably extremely important, the psychology of basketball plays a massive role in determining a player’s success. Don’t believe it? Have you seen elite players melt down when the game is on the line or seen a difference in play between standard games and playoffs? The difference is in the players that can keep their mental toughness required to navigate the pressure, overcome setbacks, and stay focused which can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Is mental fortitude something that can be acquired and learned? We think so and recommend a few tips on honing your mental game. For starters, being laser focused is key. Always being present in the moment allows you to react quickly, anticipate plays, and minimize mental distractions. This will help with outside noise and distractions especially when playing on an opponents home court where the crowd is likely to be a factor.
Secondly, having confidence is essential. The confidence will allow you not to second guess yourself, your abilities and shake off mistakes, and maintain a positive attitude even during setbacks. Positive self-talk and celebrating successes can build confidence.
Perhaps one of the biggest factors that helps with basketball toughest is the ability to manage emotions like frustration, anger, or disappointment. If you are an emotional volcano, another player can take advantage of that and exploit it as a vulnerability. Emotional control is needed.
Additionally there are strategies you can employ to develop and reinforce mental toughness. Having a pre-game ritual or routine will help you get in the zone and hone in on that laser focus. Talking yourself up before a game with positive self-talk and affirmations will help boost your confidence going into a game. Being able to shrug off mistakes and thinking about the next play will go a long way to make sure you keep momentum and not hinder performance. Lastly, it is important to always focus on what is in your control and what isn’t like a referee making a bad call. Don’t dwell on it and bounce back quickly. Keep your energy focused on your effort, hustle and execution which is in your realm of control.
If possible, learn from the greats to develop a growth mindset. Studying legendary players like Michael Jordan or Kobe’s Mamba Mentality will provide amazing insights into their mental side of the game that propelled them beyond just their skills on the court.
As you do with your fundamental basketball skills the mental toughness aspect also needs to be trained. The more you employ the mental toughness strategies the stronger your mental fortitude will become to ensure that is another tool you have to dominate the court and become a truly well rounded basketball player.
