Expert: Michael Muro - 1/12/2005

Question
My son plays on a JV team, and he plays very well and makes a contirbution to his tema, but it takes to about the 3rd quarter to get going. Advice?  

Answer


Hello J. Knapp,

It sounds like its more mental then anything. I have had players like that where they get comfortable with or used to the game after the first half. He might need to be a little more confident in his game. Maybe you can point this out to him and make the point; let him know he can accomplish what he did in the second half just as well as in the first half. If you believe it is because lack of preparation or warm-ups you can try to have him go harder in warm-ups or shoot more before a game. Everybody is different and we each have to find what works for us. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson used to shoot for hours before a game. Have your son try a different routine before the game and see if that works. Shoot more, go harder, whatever he can do to change his routine. You can always go the Phil Jackson route and have him meditate before the game. This might help him focus and be more confident. Phil as a player use to find a quite spot in the gym all by himself and visualize the game. He used to suggest this to his players when he became a coach. That might be a little much for a teenager but like I wrote we all have to find what works for us.  Good luck and I hope this helps.