Expert: David Kenward - 10/6/2007

Question
I am 13 and have been struggling for years. I can play and i know i can but i also know its all mental when i play bad. for instance sometimes, if i know him the best and am comfortable, i will play well and aggressive (like in practice) but other times in aau games i will play worse then kids i played much better than in practice and won't be aggressive.

Please tell me what I can do to help this.

Answer
Hello Joe and thank you for asking this question.

What will really help you is to mentally prep yourself before playing people you don't know or are comfortable with.  

A good way to do this is to sit down, relax, take five slow deep breaths, then picture or imagine your best game, playing well and aggressive with people you are comfortable with.  Your imagination is powerful, really get into it so you feel as confident and powerful as you did on the court.  Then, choose a word or gesture that you link to that feeling (like the word SUCCESS or the gesture of pumping your fist.  Practice this (a lot) and what will happen is when you play people you don't know or aren't comfortable with, you say your word or do your gesture, and you WILL feel that confidence.  We learn by association, it's how our brain is wired, but this time you are doing it on purpose.

I've taught this tool to many basketball players, it WORKS.  Do it, and let me know how it works for you.

David

David Kenward, The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com