Galen Harkness • July 10, 2023
Developing a Growth Mindset to Enhance Your Basketball Performance
To excel in basketball and reach new heights, it takes more than just physical skills and talent.
To excel in basketball and reach new heights, it takes more than just physical skills and talent. It requires a growth mindset – a mindset that embraces challenges, perseveres through setbacks, and continuously seeks improvement. In this article, we will explore key steps that hard-working basketball players can take to develop a growth mindset, unlock their full potential, and elevate their performance on the court.
Embrace Challenges:
True growth begins outside of your comfort zone. Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Rather than fearing failure, view it as a stepping stone towards improvement. Embracing challenges will help you develop resilience, adaptability, and the ability to push past limitations.
Set Goals and Track Progress:
Setting specific and measurable goals is crucial to maintaining focus and motivation. Break down your long-term goals into smaller, achievable targets. Regularly track your progress to celebrate milestones and identify areas for improvement. This process will provide a sense of accomplishment and fuel your drive to keep growing.
Cultivate a Positive Mindset:
Maintaining a positive mindset is essential in the face of obstacles. Reframe setbacks as learning opportunities and choose to focus on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Develop self-belief and affirm your ability to overcome challenges. Your mindset has a powerful impact on your performance and the way you approach the game.
Seek Feedback and Learn from Others:
Be open to feedback from coaches, teammates, and mentors. Actively seek opportunities to learn from others who have achieved success in basketball. Constructive criticism can help identify areas for improvement and provide valuable insights. Embrace a growth mindset by seeing feedback as a tool for growth rather than personal criticism.
Practice with Purpose:
Approach practice with intention and purpose. Focus on specific skills or areas that need improvement. Break down complex moves or techniques into smaller components and work on them systematically. Consistent, deliberate practice will build confidence and refine your abilities, leading to enhanced performance on the court.
Conclusion:
Developing a growth mindset is an essential component of becoming the best basketball player you can be. By embracing challenges, setting goals, maintaining a positive mindset, seeking feedback, and practicing with purpose, you will unlock your full potential and elevate your performance on the court. Remember, hard work, dedication, and a growth mindset are the keys to accomplishing big things in basketball. Embrace the journey and watch yourself soar to new heights.
Every player wants to make an impact. Score. Steal. Pass. Rebound. Make plays. Help your team. That's the fun of the game. But what if you're not the biggest or the tallest player on the court? Don’t let size hold you back. What matters more is your effort, mindset, and willingness to work. Here are 5 ways smaller players can consistently impact the game: 1. Run the Floor Sprint hard every time. Even if you don’t get the ball, you put pressure on the defense —and open up opportunities for your team. 2. Cut with Purpose Move without the ball. Defenders relax when you stand still. Cut hard, look for gaps, and make plays from movement. 3. Push the Pace When you get the ball, go. Put pressure on the defense before they’re set. Play fast. Make good decisions. 4. Get Paint Touches Attack the paint. Great things happen when you get inside—draw defenders, finish strong, or kick out to teammates. The paint changes the game. 5. Hustle Plays Win Games Dive for the loose ball. Battle for rebounds. Take charges. Be feisty, relentless, and tough to play against. What Separates Players? Mindset. Do you believe you belong? Do you believe you can make a difference? Keep showing up. Keep working hard. Keep finding ways to impact the game. Your size doesn’t define your value. Your effort and mindset do. https://www.loom.com/share/0c0113c8b25c422ba7e10803b818d6b0?sid=ccecfb29-bc1a-4dc1-ac51-a0ba204e3d18 The video below is of TJ McConnell of the Indiana Pacers. The average height in the NBA is 6'7". TJ is 6'1" and has a MASSIVE impact on the game. He does all the things listed above and more.
Last night, one of our EYG players hit eight threes in a single game. Not because he got hot. Because he made the decision to shoot— And had the confidence to let it fly. That confidence came from 7 months of consistent training: 4 workouts per week 2 full seasons of 5-on-5 play Mostly group training, with a few private sessions He had a goal. He showed up. He did the work, even on the hard days. And when the moment came, he was ready. This isn’t the end of his journey. It’s just a stepping stone. If you know a player with a goal—someone ready to work— EYG is here when they are. Let’s keep growing. Keep working. Keep dreaming. Keep elevating your game.
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