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Practice makes perfect and entering "the zone" is the product of it. Stories have been told of muscle memory taking over for an athlete during an intense performance or game. That's because practice not only allows you to retain new information better but, it will also create automaticity. Targeting your training to your specific sport is paramount and developing the muscle memory required to perform at a high level takes many repetitions of the same exercise. This is automaticity and it will literally free your mind to help with other challenging tasks.
"Basketball isn't a game; it's an art form. You master the fundamentals so you can forget 'em, so you can improvise and just concentrate on what really matters: getting buckets." - Kyrie Irving
Visualize the performance you desire. Know your competition, yourself and the range of possibilities. Visualize every scenario that you can imagine happening. Paint a mental picture of what you plan to do and how you plan to execute. These mental rehearsals should involve all of your senses. What do you hear? What do you smell? Can you see the finish line? Running through these scenarios several times each in your mind will help you focus with confidence and ease any apprehensiveness you might have.
"A key basketball skill is imagery. The best players 'see' situations before they happen so they can be prepared." - Jack Ramsay
The body is a temple and you should treat it as such. Eat and drink appropriately before, between and after performances. Take rest when needed and do not overwork yourself. Giving yourself a break when necessary is not a form of weakness or quitting; it is a tactical strategy that helps prevent burnout, injury and other harm to your body. Active rest such as a brisk walk or bike ride is the best way to keep your body in-tune on days you are not training hard.
"Yeah, I am lazy. There's no doubt about that." - Usain Bolt
Nobody likes a sore loser... or a pompous winner either. Acting as if you have already experienced losing or the winner's circle before is actually a declaration of discipline. Its shows integrity and respect to your opponents and teammates. Sportsmanship proves a certain level of intelligence and that the athlete understands perspective. It's certainly okay to express frustration over a poor performance or celebrate after a win; however, understanding the right time and place is important.
"After I hit a home run I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases." - Mickey Mantle
Make it easier on yourself to be decisive when it matters most. Find the reason(s) for doing what you do. The purpose of clarity is to highlight direction and avoid any distractions. A positive daily routine and definition of goals are just a few ways to take action towards being coherent with your sport. An unobstructed and concentrated mind will enable you to push through doubts and fears while giving yourself a sense of ease to get things done. Clarity will also help you to see things as they are including small details that could give you an edge on the competition.
"You'll never know what you're capable of until you take that first step and just go for it." - Natasha Hastings
