“Basketball is a complex dance that requires shifting from one objective to another at lightning speed. To excel, you need to act with a clear mind and be totally focused.” Phil Jackson

Graham Betchart, a professional sports psychology consultant who trains athletes on the mental game and designs training pro-grams for BTI and the Feinberg Academic All American Game, explains how to practice and develop your ability to focus and concentrate.

Play In The Moment - Play Present

by Graham Betchart

Most basketball players and coaches will tell you that the game is at least 75% mental. The best players train mentally like they train physically: every day. They understand that mental skills must be developed and practiced just like physical skills. Nothing happens over night.

In the game of basketball there are roughly 100-150 plays during an individual game: Half on offense and half on defense. The best players are to-tally focused on the moment at hand because that's all they can control. They play in the present. The past and the future are meaningless because they are so focused on what they are doing in the HERE and NOW. The ability to play present is a skill that must be practiced, just like dribbling, shooting, and passing.

The Utah Jazz have been working with sports psychologist Dr. Keith Henschen for over twenty years and they train mentally at each practice. They practice what they call Forward Thinking. At each practice the players job is to remain focused on the task at hand for the entire practice. They are not to let their minds drift to past mistakes or future plays, they must stay present. If they are successful at this they are re-warded with their favorite candy bar after practice, no joke! They take it very seriously.

You should practice being present each play in practice. Make sure you are focused on the task at hand. Build your self-awareness so you recognize immediately when your mind leaves the present moment and bring it back to the here and now. You will develop your ability to sustain your focus and concentration despite all of the chaos that occurs during a game.

Another great training exercise is some-thing I like to call "100". Find a place to sit or lie down. Breathe in through your nose and say 1 in your mind, then breathe out through your mouth and say 2 in your mind. Repeat all the way up to 100. Your mind will drift to distracting thoughts but the goal is to bring your focus back to the present and the next number. Do this every day.

If the game is at least 75% mental, are you training your mind? Practice being present right now! Wherever you are – be there – Fully engaged in the now – own the moment because that's the only moment you control.

Graham Betchart is the founder and president of GB Performance Coaching Reach him at 415-724-9451 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

His website is www.gbperformancecoaching.com