Galen Harkness • December 4, 2023
Quiet the Inner Critic: How to Translate Practice Confidence into Gameday Poise
You shine in practice, moving with ease and dominating the court.
You shine in practice, moving with ease and dominating the court. But games somehow trip you up, draining your confidence. How do you translate your practice performance into confident, effective play when under the lights?
Shift your mindset.
View games as opportunities to test your skills, make smart decisions, and get incrementally better. Set small, measurable goals focused on your development, not comparisons with others. Achieve a bucket, a steal, two deflections - baby steps toward growth.
Ease pressure by visualizing success.
Picture game situations in your mind, nailing shots or locks down D. Visualization breeds confidence in your abilities.
Focus inward on controllables:
effort, attitude, preparedness. Pour your energy into hustling, making the extra pass, defending fiercely. With time, fulfilling your role will build comfort in your game skin.
You have the talent; now own it. Block out judgment and let your instincts guide you. Fully trust in your practiced capabilities. Allow your inner confidence to radiate through uninhibited play.
Stay patient and persistent. Rome wasn't built in a day; neither is confidence. But with small wins and an inward focus, you will shine bright under the lights.
When players are ready there are three ways EYG can help:
1. Camps
2. Training
3. Newsletter
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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