Galen Harkness • January 6, 2026
Competition Creates Struggle
And That’s the Point.
Every player wants competition.
Until it punches back.
Here’s the truth most players don’t hear enough:
If you compete, you will struggle.
Not sometimes.
Every time.
That struggle isn’t a flaw in the system.
It is the system.
And what separates players isn’t talent.
It’s how they respond when things get hard.
Struggle Isn’t the Problem
Your response is.
Great programs don’t avoid adversity.
They expect it.
Bill Walsh believed excellence came from how you handled the moments that weren’t going your way.
Basketball is no different.
Missed shots.
Bad games.
Tough coaching.
Losses that sting.
None of those define you.
Your response does.
Five Things Players Must Do to Play Better
These aren’t motivational quotes.
They’re habits.
1. Expect Mistakes
Perfection is not an option in basketball.
You will miss.
You will mess up.
You will get yelled at.
That’s part of the deal.
The mistake isn’t the danger.
Letting it steal your confidence is.
2. Stop Looking Back
Dwelling kills performance.
Replay the miss long enough to learn.
Then move on.
Looking backward slows development.
And hesitation shows up on film.
3. Recover the Right Way
Bad game?
Tough loss?
Good.
Feel it.
Study it.
Learn from it.
Then get back to work.
Growth doesn’t happen by avoiding pain.
It happens by using it.
4. Get Back Up and Compete
Struggle should push you forward.
Not sideways.
Not backward.
Let it fuel your next rep.
Your next workout.
Your next game.
Compete again.
5. Prepare for What’s Next
Don’t hope it goes better next time.
Prepare so it does.
- Shoot more shots
- Get extra finishing reps
- Study game film
- Understand the situations that keep showing up
Focus on the fix.
The solution.
The plan.
Then execute.
And Just As Important…
Don’t Do These
These habits destroy players faster than any defender.
- Don’t ask, “Why is this happening to me?”
- Don’t look for sympathy
- Don’t complain
- Stop accepting apologies—start accepting responsibility
- Don’t point fingers
It’s not their fault.
It’s your opportunity.
The Big Idea
Competition creates pressure.
Pressure reveals habits.
And habits decide outcomes.
You don’t control every bounce.
You don’t control every call.
You don’t control every result.
But you always
control your response.
That’s where real development lives.
And if you commit to that…
The score takes care of itself.
When You’re Ready to Do the Work
Reading helps.
Understanding matters.
But improvement still comes from doing.
That’s where structure matters.
At EYG Basketball, we work with players who:
- Want to compete
- Are willing to struggle
- Care about getting better
- Understand that growth takes reps, not excuses
Our training and camps are built to:
- Reinforce confidence after mistakes
- Teach players how to respond under pressure
- Create game-like situations that challenge decision-making
- Develop habits that carry over to real games
No shortcuts.
No hype.
Just purposeful work.
If you’re a player ready to commit…
A parent looking for real development…
Or a coach who values growth over excuses…
You can learn more here:
EYG Basketball
Current Training & Camps
When the time is right, we’ll be here.
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