July 03, 2019 | Tagged Coaching,
PMA on the basketball court
There is a fantastic article in Sports Illustrated entitled Score Card by David Epstein which talks about the differences between two amazing athletes, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. What is outstanding about the article is the discipline to keep open-minded when it comes to talent development. Tiger’s dramatic trajectory to domination has led to parents and trainers rushing to get their five year old to be the next world prodigy. However, research has found, talent isn’t that simple.
Those who have diversity of training and specialize later in their teens can still achieve and maintain greatness. Roger Federer late trajectory toward domination has been as or if not more successful than Tiger’s trajectory. What this means is that talent is still elusive and multivalent. Keep yourself from foreclosing on your own talent. Keep around positive coaches and people who will believe in helping you become better.
Comparison robs everyone. Don’t judge yourself against siblings or teammates. If comparison robs your energy to become better, stop comparing.
Don’t talk about your skills or have your parents talk about your skills. When parents start to brag about your skill set, you are setting yourself up for failure.
Mentally set your intentions for practice and games before you step on the court. Your will is your roadmap for your emotions and actions. Your will makes life happen. Don’t allow your emotions or your daily circumstances decide your life. Set your intentions beforehand.
Your mind sets the goals that your body obeys. Your body needs to obey your mind. Otherwise, your body will quit long before it should. As with all maxims, wisdom is needed. If you don’t listen to your body, you can get injured. Know yourself. Are you too soft on yourself or too hard? Balance this with your mental attitude.
Your inner dialogue on the court tells you so much about the quality of player you are. Try and notice what kind of thoughts race through your head. Your thoughts should be powerful and positive. Avoid any thought of trying to prove yourself or attract the attention of the coach or the crowd. Avoid any negative thinking toward yourself or your team. When you are in a negative mindset, mistakes ensue.
ABOUT NBC BASKETBALL
NBC Basketball is committed to the work of becoming our best on and off the court. This requires fearless self inventory and the will to live from the inside out not the outside in. Success for NBC Basketball is based on the development of the intrinsic qualities of mental toughness, gratitude, hope, fortitude, etc and not primarily on external successes such as awards, accolades and fame. NBC Basketball values living a life of meaning and service to others. For more information about NBC Basketball visit nbccamps.com/basketball