Confidence in the game

It happened more than once that players shared information with me about not playing well in certain games. When I try to ask about the reasons, his answer is usually the same: “I don’t know.”

So I ask: “Did something happen in your last training sessions? In your last game? Are there circumstances outside the field that affect you?

The answer I hear frequently is: “I had no confidence, I was not focused.”

In most cases, the reasons why a player showed up to the game lacking in confidence or lacking in focus can be attributed to their way of thinking and that is precisely why you can do a lot to change this situation.

Before I continue, I ask each of you who is interested in making a change to pause at this stage and write down the thoughts that usually go through your mind a few days before the game.

Finished, he puts the paper aside and only then continues reading.

Thoughts that come to the mind of the players before a game

A. This is a game we have to win.

B. If I don’t get 15 points, then I didn’t do anything

C. It’s time to put on a show people won’t forget. I need to rise to this occasion.

D. A lot of people will attend; I must not disappoint my parents, friends, etc.

If the examples above represent your thought pattern, these goals are likely to cause you to fail rather than boost your confidence. The reason for this is simple:

The goals you have set for yourself depend on external factors, which you can only partially control, and as such are not reasonable goals.

Discouraging Thinking Dynamics

A. This is a game we have to win. If the team loses a game that I’ve marked as a must to win (this can happen), will it really help me to be confident and focus on the next game…or just more anxious?

Does winning only depend on my motivation and that of my teammates? Doesn’t the other team want to win? Is it possible to play nice and lose anyway?

B. If I don’t score 15 points, then I didn’t do anything – If you score 5 points, play a good defense, set and grab 3 rebounds… did you really not contribute to the team’s game? Maybe the opponent ordered his best defender to mark him and in this game it makes it difficult for him to score, but this situation makes another player more open to shoot. Will you identify this and make the adjustment, or stick to your game plan for the points you’re supposed to score?

C. It’s time to put on a show people won’t forget. I need to rise to this occasion: each game is a spectacle in itself. You aspire to improve your performance in every game. There is no reason for you to change this approach in this game or any other.

D. A lot of people will attend; I must not disappoint my parents, friends, etc. –

Does it really matter what your friends, parents or other people, sitting in the crowd or at home, think of you during the game? Will this really help you focus more on the game?

The principle of individual control.

Every player wishes and aspires to win the game. But if the individual player has no way to control the atmosphere of the game (home or away game), the injured players, the judges, the motivation of his opponents, the number of points he scores, other people’s thoughts about your game, so what is it? the point of wondering about all these issues before the game?

Once we focus on goals that are beyond our control, we actually intensify our own stress level and thus cause ourselves to fail.

Legendary NCAA coach John Wooden* said he had never told his players they had to win a game; he just required each of them to get the most out of it to stay focused and play with confidence. This involves first practicing, sleeping, eating, being strict with the small details and moving on to thoughts in the days leading up to the game.

Setting reasonable goals will help you appear in the game focused and confident. The difference between reasonable goals and unreasonable goals stems from the extent to which you can control meeting these goals.

Examples of positive thinking

A. I am a tough defender. I don’t take easy shots.

B. I am positioning myself for the rebound every time the ball is thrown into the basket.

C. I jump over every loose ball that rolls near me.

D. I keep moving all the time and cutting to the basket.

E. I pass the ball a lot without dribbling too much

All of the above are significant actions that a player may be responsible for, because he is the one in control. If a player takes these actions, they will become a factor in the game. As such, they can be used to build confidence and help the player stay focused. A player who grabs 3 rebounds, passes an assist or two and defends well will also drive to the basket and shoot whenever he sees the opportunity.

Dynamics of success promoting thought

A. I am a tough defender. I don’t take easy shots. – This depends only on me. It will make the opponent lose confidence and it will affect his entire team

B. I am positioning myself for the rebound every time the ball is thrown into the basket. This depends only on me. Every rebound my team wins is one less ball for the opposing team. I can influence the outcome of the game in this way.

C. I jump over every loose ball that rolls near me. This only depends on me and reflects my character.

D. I keep moving all the time and cutting to the basket. Doing that will significantly increase my chances of scoring.

E. I pass the ball a lot without dribbling too much – I concentrate in favor of the team and contribute to the good atmosphere. My colleagues will support me later.

To sum it up: Instead of thinking about the results of the game even before it starts and putting too much pressure on yourself, focus on the right actions, which will lead you to feel confident and focused on the game.

All this is in your hands!

Earn the right to be proud and confident

(Coach John Wooden)