October 09, 2022 | Tagged Coaching
How to Stand Out in Basketball Practice
How to Stand out in Basketball Practice
Standing out from the rest during basketball season is an important skill and discipline to achieve.
The majority of your time playing basketball is spent in basketball practice on your own and with your team. As the season wears on, you can lose your love for the game and your confidence in yourself. Some players become invisible on the court as their hope in playing time becomes diminished. Keep your hope alive and strong all season by making every practice your best. Here are a few ways to bring your best to every practice. If you are alive, strong and your best every practice, your coach and every member of your team will take notice.
Practice To Do List
1. Eliminate the need to be noticed. The more you try and be noticed the more annoying your choices will be. You will shoot when you shouldn't. You will talk when you should be listening. The need to be noticed and praised is a liability to your success. Instead, focus your attention on service. People who serve the team are invaluable.
2. Be thankful. Research shows the higher your gratitude level the more problems you will solve. If you miss a shot, continue your positive self-talk. Do not self-punish, it leads to more mistakes. If you make a mistake, take responsibility and then move on by disciplining your mind to say to yourself one thing you love about life and basketball.
3. Eyes should be off your coach. If players walk into practice with the number one goal of impressing their coach, they will fail. They will make bad decisions, their focus will be on their coach rather than on the game. Plus, it is human nature to be turned off when you feel someone is trying to impress you. However, if you choose to walk into practice totally committed to serving the team and giving a 100% toward that goal, your coach will be impressed.
4. Write out the goals you want to achieve. These should be goals you can control such as "I want to remain positive and thankful the entire practice. I commit to not focusing on the coach and worrying about his/her opinion of me. I want to spotlight all of my teammates. I want to work hard each drill. I commit to not comparing. I commit to diving for every loose ball. I commit to taking the open shot with confidence. I commit to not forcing my shot. I commit to blocking out every time. I commit to great defense."
5. Be hydrated. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Water helps you think clearly and make the best decision in the moment.
6. Pick one word or phrase to represent your goals. Say this word to yourself during the practice. It could be "Sacrifice, Commitment, Passion, 100%, Focus, Work Hard."
7. Don't make playing time or how much you score your barometer of success. Instead, make the intinsic qualities you aspire for yourself the goal. Did I finish every practice with confidence, grit, mental toughness, passion, joy and service to the team? Did I make my team better? Did I stay out of ego and preoccupation with self? Did I commit to work necessary to be great?
NBC Basketball Camps
Nothing beats commitment is what NBC Camps stands for. Commitment is the daily discipline to do the work necessary to achieve success on and off the court. At NBC Basketball we define success as being a leader and a person who makes those around them better. Your team should be better because you are on it, your family should be stronger and more unified because you are in it, and your community should be healthier because you are a leader. If you love basketball enough to commit to the work necessary to be great, you will love NBC Basketball. We have camps, travel teams, clinics, tips and training to help you become your best. Find out more at www.nbccamps.com/basketball.