Basketball is as much a mental game as it is a physical one. In fact, according to some NBA greats, basketball is more of a mental game than it is a physical one, with some sources stating that basketball is 75% mental and 25% physical and skills based.
And despite the importance of the mental game, it is often disregarded as a fallacy and a non-important factor. In fact, many coaches, athletes, and parents dismiss the mental factors involved in the game, rather looking to practice and harness fundamental and shooting skills.
However, we believe that is short-sighted and does a disservice to an athlete. That is why, below, we’re going to discuss and show you how to coach the mental game in basketball. These skills will help you to develop better, more in-tune players and athletes both on and off the court.
What is Mental Toughness?
If you ask 100 basketball players and coaches what mental toughness is, you will likely receive 100 different answers. And while the answers may be somewhat different, they all will likely focus on some smaller aspects of the whole.
Mental toughness, in basketball specifically, is knowing and understanding that you should focus only on the aspects of the game that are in your control.
And, within that, it is being comfortable while being uncomfortable on the court.
Too many players and coaches focus not only on the things they cannot control, but they also focus on the wrong things. You cannot control the calls a ref makes, you cannot control the actions of the fans, you cannot control the trash talking of the opposing team.
But you can control your focus, your attitude, your body language and effort, and your thoughts and how you communicate with your team.
And while you may not be able to control what happens once you let a shot off, or what happens once you have made a pass to a teammate, or what happens while you are on the bench, there are aspects of it that you can control.
And that control is mental. That control is understanding, innately, that the previous play has come and gone. It is done. It is in the past. There is nothing further that you can do to change it or affect it. Let it go.
Focus on the Now
Part of mental toughness, and the mental game, in basketball, is focusing on the now. While it takes some time to learn and develop, it is one that is worthwhile to do. Basketball is a game of seconds. There are only a limited number of seconds on the shot clock and only a limited number of minutes in each quarter or half.
As-such, understanding that you can better prepare yourself to focus on the now. You should, essentially, learn amnesia. Now, we’ll admit, that’s an odd phrase. But hear us out.
Amnesia, as defined by Mayo Clinic, is the loss of memories, information, and experiences. And that last word is what we’re focusing on. The loss and forgetfulness of experiences. As a basketball player, each play is a new chance and opportunity to prove yourself.
Developing a sense of amnesia doesn’t mean forgetting everything. It simply means to forget the previous play. Whether you successfully scored a bucket or made a wildly off and errant shot, you should forget about it. It is in the past and cannot determine nor effect the current play.
Rather, you should focus on the now. Focus on the play at hand and what you can control in this play.
Developing Mentally Tough Athletes
Now, it’s not an easy process to develop mentally tough athletes. Each individual athlete will come on the team with their own life experiences, expectations, and internal roadblocks. But, with time, patience, and effort, any player can become mentally tough.
You need to be a patient coach and give each player what they need.
That is your job. If you are looking to coach and develop a player on the mental game in basketball, then you will need to be patient with each player.
To begin with, speak to each player on what their goals are for the team and for themselves. Understand what they are thinking. Understand what mental roadblocks they may have.
And once you understand what their mental roadblocks are, create a roadmap to overcome them.
For instance, a player who talks about how they lost a big game due to their inability to make a game winning free-throw will, obviously, need help with their free-throw abilities. But take it a step further. Don’t only place them on the free-throw line and ask them to shoot 100 free-throws.
Rather, ask them what else happened in the game. Did the team fail to secure a crucial rebound? Or was a recent pass stolen or lost? Or was there an errant shot by a teammate?
Show that player that the loss wasn’t their fault. It happens. Games are won and games are lost. But mental toughness will last.
In addition, discuss with the entire team as a whole what they expect from themselves and from the team. Let it be an honest, frank discussion. This should be a no judgment, safe space. Let each player discuss their expectations and allow yourself to discuss yours.
Once everyone has finished, begin a discussion with the players on how you will all, together, reach those goals. What will it take? What needs to be done? What steps will each player take to reach those goals?
Discussing these wants together will not only form a bond for the team but will also help each player set a goal for themselves and the team as a whole.
Running Drills to Become Mentally Tough in Basketball
While being mentally tough in basketball takes a certain mindset, there are a few drills that can help develop mentally tough players. You can run these drills during practice to help your athletes develop their mental toughness and overall mental fortitude.
One great drill is called POP or Purpose of Play. With POP, you will want to call out an individual player during practice and yell POP. When done, the individual player should give you their purpose of play, or in simpler terms, why are they playing and what are they looking to achieve?
A simple, easy addition to any drill, POP works by forcing your players to understand why they are playing or why they are practicing a certain drill. However, as a coach, you should not accept every answer a player gives.
For example, if a player says that their POP is to block every shot, tell them that that’s not in their control and not a realistic goal. Rather, have them rephrase to, “my POP is to play the highest level of defense against my opponent on every play.”
The second drill that we’ve utilized is typically done towards the end of practice. Have each player bring up a doubt or concern they may have. For example, a player may say, “What if I miss every shot I take?” Then, have the team together give that player reassuring words, such-as, “what if you make every shot you take”, or “last year your shooting percentage was over 63%.”
These motivational, reassuring terms will help to allay any fears individual players may have while also building up the team’s overall confidence.
Lastly, a great way to coach the mental game in basketball is to continuously take notes on what each player did well during a game or practice. After the end of the game or practice, send the player an quick email letting them know what they did well and that you are seeing improvement in their overall game.
While simple, this method helps to reinforce confidence in the player and gives them motivation to continue to work hard and develop their basketball skills.