Basketball on the Edge – 7 Tips to Making High Performance a Habit

Published March 9, 2018 | By Mike Klinzing

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Every player wants to consistently play at their best and yet many players fall short of that goal. Here are 7 tips to help you turn high performance into a habit.

1. Practice the fundamentals

The fundamentals of the game and your performance are closely linked. You must master the fundamentals through repeated deliberate practice over time. Great players never get bored with the fundamentals. They understand the need to put in the time on the basics so that the performance of those skills becomes automatic. When the fundamentals are automatic, other more creative parts of a player’s game can begin to develop.

2. Lead with your strengths

Know what your strengths are and maximize them every time you step on the court. If you are a good shooter in catch and shoot situations, learn to move without the ball to get yourself open for those opportunities. Games are the time to do what you do well. Training and practice are the times to work on your weaknesses.

3. Maximize your teammates

Learn the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates. You need their help to be at your best. When you understand the skills they bring to the team, you can help put them in position to be successful. Here’s an example. If a player on your team is not a good ball handler, don’t give them the ball in the backcourt against a press if you can avoid it.

4. Be receptive to coaching

Take the feedback that you receive from your coach and respond in a positive way. Don’t take your coach’s criticism personally. A coach’s job is to help you improve and criticism is part of the process. How you respond to coaching determines how quickly you will improve your skills. Great players understand that they must continually strive to get better and a coach’s guidance is critical.

5. Focus on what you can control

Effort, attitude, and energy are all things under your control during a game. You cannot control your opponents, the officials, the crowd, or your coach. If you come into every game determined to give your best effort, have a positive attitude (even when things go poorly), and bring a high level of energy you will have more control over your performance.

6. Hone in on the moment

You cannot control the outcome of the game. Your opponent may be a lot better than you and your team. If you are focused on the outcome of the game (most likely a loss in this case) you are likely to forget what you should be doing in the moment. Having a “next play” mentality means focusing on the moment at hand and not worrying about the ultimate outcome. Think “What should I be doing right now?” to maximize my chances of success. Concentrate on the process and the results will take care of themselves.

7. Motivate yourself

If you’re looking for your coach, parents, or teammates to motivate you for a big game, you’re looking in the wrong place. The best players are intrinsically motivated. They know their “why”. They understand why they play the game and why it’s important to them. You should take responsibility for being ready to play rather than relying on something external to motivate you to be at your best.

Follow these 7 tips to make high performance a habit and unlock better performances out on the court.