The Time is Now: Strengthen Your Mental Game for the Upcoming Basketball Season

As a young basketball player, you’re probably already thinking about the upcoming season. The excitement of getting back on the court, competing with your teammates, and showing off the skills you’ve been working on all summer is building. But if you really want to stand out this season, there’s one area you can’t afford to overlook: your mental game. With a few months left before the season begins, now is the perfect time to focus on strengthening your mental performance.

The Power of Mental Preparation

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Basketball is 90% mental and 10% physical.” While that might be an exaggeration, there’s no doubt that your mindset plays a huge role in your performance. Mental preparation is just as important as physical training. It’s what separates good players from great players, and it’s what will give you the edge when the season starts.

Why Now? The reason to start focusing on your mental game now is simple: it takes time to build mental toughness, confidence, and focus. These aren’t skills you can develop overnight. Just like you practice your shooting, dribbling, and defense, you need to practice your mental skills every day. By starting now, you’ll be ready to perform at your best when the season begins.

Make Every Day Count

One of the best ways to strengthen your mental game is to make every single day count. That means showing up to each practice, each workout, and each drill with the intention to get better. Don’t just go through the motions—commit to improving every day, no matter how small the gains may seem.

Here are a few ways to make sure you’re making the most of each day:

1. Set Daily Goals: At the start of each day, set specific goals for what you want to accomplish. Maybe it’s improving your free throw percentage, increasing your endurance, or sharpening your focus during drills. Whatever it is, having a clear goal will help you stay focused and motivated.

2. Stay Present: Don’t worry about tomorrow’s practice or next week’s game. Focus on what you can control right now. Stay present in the moment and give your best effort to whatever you’re working on at that time.

3. Reflect on Your Progress: At the end of each day, take a few minutes to reflect on what you accomplished. Did you hit your goals? What could you have done better? Reflection is a key part of mental preparation because it helps you learn from your experiences and grow as a player.

Visualize Your Success

Another powerful tool in your mental preparation arsenal is visualization. Visualization is the practice of mentally rehearsing your success before it happens. By picturing yourself performing well, you can build confidence, reduce anxiety, and set yourself up for success when the season starts.

How to Visualize: Start by finding a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths to relax. Then, begin to visualize your upcoming season. Picture yourself on the court, playing your best game. See yourself making clutch shots, playing lockdown defense, and leading your team to victory.

As you visualize, try to engage all of your senses. Imagine the sounds of the crowd, the feel of the ball in your hands, and the excitement of the game. The more vividly you can imagine these scenarios, the more effective your visualization will be.

Start Small: If you’re new to visualization, start with short sessions—just a few minutes each day. As you get more comfortable, you can increase the length and detail of your visualizations. The key is to practice regularly so that when the season begins, you’ve already “seen” yourself succeed countless times in your mind.

The basketball season may still be a few months away, but now is the time to focus on strengthening your mental performance. By making every day count and incorporating visualization into your routine, you’ll be setting yourself up for success before you even step on the court. Remember, your mental game is just as important as your physical skills—so start training your mind now and get ready to dominate this season!

Stay resilient,

Coach Dave

Founder Flow State Basketball

P.S. If you want to work with us in any capacity, there are 3 ways we can help you:

1 - TOGETHER with Coach Dave. www.flowstatebasketball.com
2 - ON YOUR OWN with our monthly membership platforms. www.flowstatebasketball.com
3 - FOR FREE on YouTube and our social media platforms.