Confidence Start the game thinking you're a good basketball player.
You may be just starting out, or you may have been playing for a while, but regardless of your skill and experience, you can sometimes have an off feeling, which turns into lack of confidence.
If you start thinking you're a great player, and think you're going to have a good game, then this mental process will translate into your basketball game - and you should play better for it! Routine Many professional sports players get into a habit of things they do before the game.
Some call it a ritual, or even a routine.
They have realised out what works best for them, not only physically but mentally as well.
This can involve things such as eating the right meals, listening to music, or various warm-ups before the game.
Maybe you like to listen to your favourite music before the game.
Maybe you like to arrive at a game early to get into the atmosphere - whether it's a previous game or an empty court.
You may like to eat a certain meal for breakfast that day.
If so, get into a routine of doing this.
This will help you feel less nervous before a basketball game, as it feels like "just another day".
Don't Take It Too Seriously While you may really want to play well, you will probably not want to make any mistakes, as you may think it will have disastrous consequences.
Thinking like this will only get you more worked up and nervous before the game, as you'll be too focused on the mistakes you might make and the consequences.
If you miss a shot, the other team may get the rebound and score.
But, you know what? That's part of the game.
Good players realise this, and don't let it bother them.
Focusing on each play as it happens is a helpful thing.
Deep Breaths Sounds basic, but taking deep breaths before the game, or whenever you feel nervous, helps circulate oxygen around your body and has a calming effect.
It may be part of your routine, but either way you can try taking deep breaths any time you feel nervous before the game to try overcome these effects.
Think Positive This is related to the confidence point above, but if you focus on the negative parts of the game, or the mistakes, then you will not play as you should.
You'll be too caught up in thoughts like "What if this happens?" or "What if I make the wrong pass?".
Mistakes are part of the game, and everyone makes them.
If you make a mistake, learn from it, and move on to the next play.