How to Stop Being Nervous Before a Basketball Practice

Being nervous before a basketball game or practice session is, contrary to popular belief, completely normal.  In fact, even some of the greatest players to play the game, including Michael Jordan, have stated they were nervous before each game they played.

However, while feeling nervous before a basketball game or practice session is normal, those feelings can negatively affect your performance on the court.  That’s why, below, we are going to review how to stop being nervous before a basketball practice.

With the tips below, not only will you feel more confident and less nervous before your next practice session, but you will also be able to perform at a higher level and one that ensures a better level of play.

Why do we Feel Nervous?

The feeling of nervousness is a completely normal one.  And before a game or practice session of basketball, it is completely normal to feel some levels of nervousness.  In fact, even Michael Jordan once quipped, “I was pretty much nervous before every game.”

And if one of the greatest basketball players of all-time felt nervous before a game, then it is completely normal for you and I to feel nervous before a game or practice session.

The feeling of nervousness, while normal, is brought about by your body’s stress response.  This feeling involves a series of hormonal and physiological responses that help your body prepare to handle a perceived, imagined, or real threat.

In essence, your body prepares to fight or flee a threat by boosting your adrenaline production.  With this increased adrenaline, your heart begins to beat faster, your blood pressure rises, your breathing quickens, and your hands and palms begin to sweat.

Reasons Why You May be Nervous Before a Basketball Practice

While being and having nervous feelings is normal, there may be a few reasons why you are having those feelings before a practice session.  And whether you are having those feelings before practice for a junior varsity team or an NBA one, below are some reasons why you may feel nervous beforehand.

Lack of Practice – the number one reason why so many athletes and basketball players feel nervous before a practice session is due to the simple fact that they feel underprepared for the practice session. 

This is primarily due to a lack of practice outside the scheduled practice session.  To overcome this feeling, we recommend practicing your basketball skills at home and before your scheduled team practice.  This can be done in the comfort of your home and can even be done without a basketball.

A Lack of Experience – admittedly, if you are newer to the team, you are more likely to have feelings of nervousness before a practice session.  However, while you are newer to the team, you must reframe your mindset to truly believe that not only do you belong on the team, but that your addition to the team is for its overall benefit.

A Feeling of Pressure from Those Around You – whether you are feeling pressure from your coach, your parents, your friends, your teammates, or even yourself, this feeling of pressure can make you feel more nervous.  Although easier said, it is important to ignore those pressures.  Play the game and perform in your practice session in a manner that is best for yourself.

A Bully or Difficult Teammate – having to deal with a bully or difficult teammate can also cause feelings of nervousness before a basketball practice session.  While no-one likes dealing with a bully, we’ve previously discussed how to deal with bullies on the basketball court that should be able to help you overcome their taunts.   

An Unfair Coach – for many basketball players, having a coach who plays favorites or is simply mean and disrespectful can cause feelings of nervousness.  While those feelings are normal, it does not excuse the actions of the coach.  While difficult, it is best to discuss how you feel directly with your coach and confront the issue directly.

Best Ways to Stop Being Nervous Before a Basketball Practice Session

Once you understand why you are feeling nervous before a basketball practice session, it becomes easier to quell those feelings.  Below are some of the best ways to stop being nervous before a basketball practice session.

Listen to Music – perhaps one of the easiest and most sure-fired ways to ease your feelings of nervousness before a practice session is to simply listen to music beforehand.  Whether you listen to motivational songs or a personal playlist, listening to music has been shown to reduce the feelings of stress, nervousness, and anxiety.

Meditate and Implement a Yoga Routine – another great way to reduce the feelings of nervousness before a basketball practice session is to meditate and implement a yoga routine into your personal practice sessions.  There are a plethora of benefits to yoga for basketball players, including being more focused, having better concentration, and even playing better defense.

If purchasing and attending a live yoga session is financially difficult, consider downloading a yoga specific app.

Practice Basketball on Your Own – if you don’t want to feel nervous or want to feel less nervous before a basketball practice session, then we would recommend practicing on your own beforehand.  There are a number of easy at-home basketball practices and workouts you can complete to make you more prepared for a scheduled team practice.

Play Pick-up Games – playing a game of pick-up basketball is inherently different than a regulation one.  And while the pick-up game has fewer official rules, it is often more intense and full-bodied than a regulation game.  By playing pick-up games, you will not only be able to practice for your official team practice sessions but will also increase your basketball confidence and IQ.

Consider Taking a Pre-Workout Supplement – while pre-workouts can cause jitters and a slight feeling of anxiety, due to the increased caffeine intake, they will help you to perform at your best and at a higher level.  However, we recommend you test which pre-workout provides you with the best feeling before your official practice session, as you do not want to feel sick or have an upset stomach before aa big practice. 

You can read up on our review of the best pre-workouts for basketball players to help you decide on the right one for you.

Develop a Feeling of Amnesia – in life, we all make mistakes and errors.  However, while you should learn from those mistakes, you should also develop a feeling of amnesia on the court.  This means that although you are bound to make mistakes, you should be quick to forget the errant play and continue to play with a high level of confidence.

Don’t Forget, it’s Just a Game – at the end of the day, basketball is just a game.  While you will want to perform at your best during a practice session and in the game, you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself.  Play at the level you are most comfortable in and try your best and hardest.