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How to boost your confidence in basketball
Ultimate Hoops - Build Confidence on the Basketball Court in 2022
Play like a superstar in 2022
In basketball, confidence is the key to your success. Conversely, lack of confidence can stifle your growth and lead to giving up or quitting altogether. Let’s break it down to help you develop unwavering confidence on the court.
Preparation
Put in the work! The first step to building confidence is putting in the work on the court. Practice, practice, practice, work on your game, study your opponents, and prepare your mind.
Confidence is increased when you have hit that shot hundreds of times in your driveway and know you can do it again in a game.
Set S.M.A.R.T goals! Goal setting is important to your basketball success. S.M.A.R.T.is an acronym for the five important elements in goal setting. Learn about how create your own S.M.A.R.T. goals for on and off the basketball court. Click here to get started with our goal setting guide.
Measure your progress in practice. How many shots did you make? How quick did you dribble through the cones?
It’s important to measure your results to see where you are week-after-week to show your improvement. Keep a practice log. This helps you see the progress you are making to quiet the doubts that you aren’t getting better or seeing progress.
Assess your game, what are your strengths weaknesses and know which ones can be used in the game. Don’t try out that new move when the game is on the line but first in practice, or in a game situation which wont be as costly if it goes poorly.
Add consequences to your practice to add game like pressure. If you miss a shot run a lap, do push ups, or skip 10 minutes of screen time.
Practice at game speed. Catch and shoot as if you were in a game setting. Workout with higher skilled players to add increased pressure.
Positive Thinking & Mindset
Post game, don’t focus on all the bad moments you had. Reflect but be productive, what could you do different the next time? What progress have you made? What did you do well?
Increase Your Positive Thinking & Mindset
Listen to podcasts >> Life Time Talks - The Power of Mindset
Create a basketball journal or blog - write about your journey, your goals, the progress and your obstacles
Work with a Sport Psychologist
Read, watch videos and practice strengthening your mindset
Write down positive attributes about your game, post them on your mirror and read them every day as a reminder
Environment - surround yourself with positive people. Attitude is infectious. Build a tribe of people who believe in you and who encourage you to accomplish your goals.
Growth Mindset
This growth mindset is based on the belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts. Although people may differ in every which way in their initial talents and aptitudes, interests, or temperaments, everyone can change and grow through application and experience.
— Carol Dweck, Stanford Psychologist
How to develop a Growth Mindset
Trust the process - value process over the end results
Acknowledge and embrace your imperfections
View challenges as opportunities
Cultivate grit (hard work/determination)
Place effort before talent
Try different learning tactics
Replace the word “failing” with the word “learning”
Destroy Your Fear of Failure
It’s impossible to go through life without experiencing some kind of failure. Losing and failing to meet goals are inevitable parts of basketball. Great players are not afraid of failure, they know they occasionally fail on the road to getting better. Use your failure to motivate you to your successes.
People who have a fear of failure might be reluctant to try new things or take on challenging projects, they may procrastinate, may have excessive anxiety, and may not follow through on goals.
Don’t strive for perfection, a perfectionist is someone who has a willingness to try only those things that they know they will finish perfectly or successfully or gets upset when their actions are not flawless.
Remove Your Fear of Failure
Set S.M.A.R.T goals
Visualize
Think positive!
Implement new skills in low risk settings
Play like it doesn’t matter
Discover why you play and use that as your focus
Create an Alter-Ego
The “Black Mamba”, Kobe Bryant’s alter-ego got him through his lowest points of his career. In his documentary “Muse” he reveals his self given nickname was to get him through the struggles he was going through off the court which were distracting him on the court.
The Black Mamba’s job was to take care of business on the court. This ruthless mentality helped gain his confidence on the basketball court and to overcome some of his most difficult times in his career.
Visualize
Of Steph Curry’s 10 rules for success, visualization is number one on his list. Visualize the ball going in the net, hitting the game winning shot, and accomplishing your goals.
Find more visualization tips here.
Increasing In Game Confidence
Be ready – most athletes are under prepared; practice, study, and mentally prepare to play
Want the ball, be ready to catch the ball and know what you are going to do after you receive it
Take higher percentage shots
Choose less risky pass options and be sure to add enough force to get it to your teammate
Set in game goals (reasonable goals)
Focus on the role you play on your team, is it providing great defense? Rebounding?
Control your nerves
Create a game day routine or ritual. Pack your bag the night before, eat the same pre game snack, listen to the same songs during warmup, create your game day routine
Play like it doesn’t matter
Get out nervous energy by hustling on the court
Meditate or visualize before the game
Eliminate distractions - laziness and jealousy
Remove fear of failure
Don’t get caught in your last bad play - give yourself a physical cue to wipe it away, finger snap, a clap or a jump, sprint back on defense, etc.
Recall positive moments and the reasons why you love to play
Positive affirmations vs negative thoughts
Share your workout on social with hashtag #KeepPlaying
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How to Build Permanent Confidence on the Basketball Court
Basketball Video Tip
NBC Basketball Camps train athletes from the inside out. If you want to be a great player, you have to have confidence that no one can take away.
Picture a moment when a coach commented on something you did well. You felt like you could rule the world. Then, maybe even in the same practice, your coach said something that sapped your confidence and you felt like getting angry or worse, giving up. This roller coaster of temporary confidence causes us to feel out of control. Permanent confidence is something no one can take away because compliments don't inflate us and criticism doesn't shake us.
We are calling permanent confidence a skill because it requires purposeful effort to develop. The difference between permanent confidence and temporary confidence is temporary confidence means confidence which can be given quickly and taken away quickly.
Here are three ways to help you build permanent confidence.
1. If possible, especially when developing a new skill, choose an encouraging environment. Not all environments are equal. The best place to grow is in an environment where you are given grace for mistakes, kind correction and courage to keep going. It's possible to survive in Antarctica with harsh wind and violent weather, but it's very tough and few make it. Similarly,confidence has a hard time becoming permanent in an environment of criticism, perfectionism and/or insult. One of the key pursuits of NBC Camps for 40 years has been to create an environment where maximum growth can happen. A climate where athletes feel "believed in." An environment of encouragement is especially crucial when confidence has not become permanent.
2. Practice, practice, practice! The truly confident person loves hard work and is willing to do the work necessary to become great. The difference between a confident person and a cocky person is that the confident person is able and open to looking at, talking about, and working on his or her weaknesses. When you have permanent confidence, you don't become crushed by mistakes. You can grow and learn and even be thankful for mistakes because they will show you ways you can improve.
3. Not all thoughts are equal. A person with permanent confidence doesn't allow certain thoughts to have any time in his or her head. Thoughts of bitterness, self-pity, condemnation or grandiosity are met at the door of the mind. If they are destructive thoughts, they are not allowed entrance. Truly confident people understand each of us has a choice to think something or throw it out.
7 Ways to End Games with Greater Confidence
Confidence, execution, fitness level and skills are key to the final moments of a game but above all you have to have confidence. You have to have the type of confidence that knows you are going to win, the type that wills the ball into the basket. You have to be able to execute what is necessary in the final moments. You need to be fit, don't let fatigue cost you the game. Finally, you need the skills in place to make the split second choices when it matters most--that means being a student of the game. Watch film, study, and know what the great play makers do when they are behind, when they are up, when they need to foul, when they need to score. Here are several practical ways to end the game well.
1. Be ready to catch the ball, be mentally focused and 100% dialed in. Slips happen near the end of the game through too much confidence or lack of confidence.
2. Make certain your passes are easy to catch and are thrown with strength and precision. Avoid dangerous passes. Give your teammates confidence in your passing decisions.
3. Monitor your level of nerves. If you are nervous, you will have the tendency to shoot hard, to pass too hard. When the tempo and pressure increases, remain calm. Discipline yourself to stay mentally alert.
4. While on defense, interrupt your opponent. Don't make anything easy . Give them no rest, hound every shot, block out every time. Mentally tire them out.
5. Take only a quality shot, never a risky or suspect shot. Make your bunnies (short shots near the basket).
6. Speak confidence. Focus on feeling like you are a great shooter, say mentally to yourself that you are on fire, you love to score, it's going in.
7. Go get the ball and secure it. Love the ball, want the ball, protect the ball. Your confidence and the confidence of the team will remain secure when you take care of the ball.
Confidence is a mindset skill that requires discipline to protect and maintain. Work on it every practice and protect yourself from mentally letting down your guard which comparison, assumption, or negative thinking. As you think, so you become.
About NBC Basketball Camps NBC Camps has grown to become the largest overnight basketball program in the world with locations around the United States, Canada, the UK, Austria, Italy and now Thailand. Campers have gone on to play in the NBA, WBNA, professionally overseas, and play or coach at many colleges and university programs. NBC Camps is a member of US Sports Camps network of outstanding summer sports camps throughout the world. Players, coaches, parents and members of the media interested in learning more about NBC Camps are invited to visit www.nbccamps.com or phone 1-800-406-3926.
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9 ways to increase the effectiveness of shots without changing their structure - All about basketball
9 ways to increase the effectiveness of shots without changing their structure. Jay Wolf (Basketball Shot Specialist)
To be honest, it's not a good idea to change the mechanics of shooting during the season, if only because it entails a decrease in performance. What can be done to prevent this from happening? Here are a few tried and tested recommendations.
Improving short distance and basket shots
1. Require all short distance shots to the right and left of the basket to have a bounce and point of aim.
This forces the striker into position to use the shield when throwing. The upper half of the vertical line to the right and left of the basket is the aiming point for these types of shots. The ball should touch the line softly and bounce straight into the basket. Misses that occur when throwing from these positions are the result of insufficient concentration. To increase attention to the aiming point during training, draw a dollar sign - $, or some other sign, on a piece of adhesive tape, and attach it to the line.
2. Practice CLEAN basket shots and CLEAN bounce shots from the second mustache.
CLEAR throws require the ball to drop into the basket without touching the metal hoop. To achieve this, the ball must touch the backboard very gently. This requires a much greater concentration of attention and calculation of the trajectory. To achieve consistency, make 5 throws from under the hoop (or rebound jump) in a row, 3 of which must be CLEAR. Make it harder if you feel the need to.
NOTE: It is important to match the mission to the abilities of each player. The mission should challenge the player's sense of pride, requiring greater focus, but should not be unattainable.
Perfecting Medium Distance and 3-Point Shots
3. Practice CLEAN throws - make 5 shots in a row from the same spot.
This task develops stable accuracy as it requires great concentration and persistence. Five throws in a row from the same point improve accuracy, since all the components of the throw - form, effort, trajectory - must be the same each time and repeated over and over again, over and over again from the same distance. CLEAN throws automatically force the player to choose a high trajectory. High trajectory shots are harder for a defender to block, and the ball is more likely to go into the basket if it hits the metal hoop. In the game, due to the excess of adrenaline, there is a tendency to apply a little more effort when throwing. If CLEAN throws are habitually improved in practice, in play the ball may lightly touch the back of the hoop BUT the higher trajectory increases the chances of hitting the basket. In addition, on a miss, a higher trajectory generates a shorter bounce, which increases the chances of hitting the ball into the basket.
IMPORTANT: If 5 CLEAR rolls in a row is too difficult, lower this requirement.
Coach's note: Players who repeatedly hit the back of the basket when shooting are overexcited. To correct this error, explain it, and start practicing CLEAN throws right away, encouraging them to be used throughout the season.
4. Make several free throws in a row before leaving the court after practice.
This requires repetition of all throw elements and builds confidence. Each batter must pick up the ball himself after his throw. Emphasize the importance of repeating the same set-up routine before each throw. Taking a deep breath and exhaling before the throw relieves excess tension. Modify this exercise by adding more playful tension due to time constraints. Those who do not fit in the given time must make jerks, etc.
5. Make 200 free throws per day for 5 days, or 500 free throws on one day, and 200 on the next four days. Target: 25/25 of which 15 rolls are CLEAR.
This develops confidence and exceptional consistency in shot form, ball release and trajectory. In addition, it improves the accuracy of 3-point shots. Reward the player for: 25/25, the most hits in a row, and the most CLEAR hits in a row. NOTE: 100 throws require approximately 15 minutes of time.
6. Determine the spots from which you have to shoot regularly in the game, and practice shooting at least 5 consecutive shots from each of these spots.
This develops confidence and coordination when throwing. When a player shoots from one of these positions in a game, they feel comfortable and confident because they have been successful shooting from these positions so often in practice.
7. Perform all throws on a correctly marked area using a correctly marked backboard. The court must have a line for 3-point shots.
Court markings are an important factor in reducing the number of misses as it is easier for the player to judge the distance to the basket. For the same reason, additional confidence develops. A marked backboard gives the player a point of aim for a bounce shot from the backboard or for a shot from under the basket.
8. Keep your hands in the position of tracking the ball until it touches the basket.
Tracking the ball during the shot allows for better control of movement and improves performance.
9. Choice of throw type.
A good throw is one that remains uncovered during training in 60% of cases.
Emphasize the importance of learning about your abilities. ‘Good players use good shots’.
Conclusion
Self-assessment of shooting ability is closely related to the actual shooting potential. By getting athletes to hit the ball over and over again on their shots, you increase their confidence. They know that no one can stop them, as the training proves it.
Jay Wolf is a basketball shooting specialist, summer sports camp organizer, publisher, and owner of Star Shooter, an equipment company that helps athletes of all ages improve their shooting skills. For more information, visit www.Starshooter.net
Based on: http://streetball.world-basket.biz
9 tips from Jay Wolf
Hello dear visitors of basketball-training.org.ua ! In this article, we will talk about one of the most important basketball elements - the throw. And not just about throwing, but about how to achieve a significant increase in the accuracy of your throws, while not radically changing their structure, that is, without retraining.
Of course, the correct throw, or, more precisely, the “classic throw from the forehead” is cool, correct and beautiful. However, it seems to me that what matters is not how you throw, but how effective these throws are. If your shot is difficult to cover and it regularly hits the basket, there is no need to change anything drastically: look at the throwing technique Larry Bird , Michael Jordan , "Magic" Johnson and Ray Allen . They all shot differently, which did not stop them from scoring well; so - draw your own conclusions.
Shooting Practice: Aiming Point
The tips you read below are recommendations from Jay Wolf - Shot Improvement Specialist, Summer Camp Organizer, Owner of StarShooter , you can read more about him on his website - starshooter.net . Well, now, in fact, advice, divided into 2 parts: how to improve throws from close range; how to improve mid-range and long-range shots (3-point shots).
Improving close range and under hoop shots
All short range shots both to the right and left of the basket must be shot with a bounce off the backboard and a point of aim.
In principle, nothing new, this is where all throwing training begins in every sports school: they learn to throw from the backboard, while the ball must touch the upper corner of the “square” drawn above the ring. The ball should softly touch this corner (remember about reverse spin of the ball on throw) and bounce into the basket. In order to focus the thrower's attention on the aiming point, you can stick a dollar sign or a picture of the sight there. Remember: the shield is your best ally, be sure to learn how to bounce off it.
Practice clean throws from under the hoop and clean throws off the backboard from the second tendrils.
So, let's figure it out. A clean throw is a shot where the ball is dropped into the basket without touching the ring itself. To achieve such a throw, you need to throw very softly, with reverse rotation, finishing with a brush. Such throws require the maximum concentration of attention from the basketball player and a change in the trajectory. So, we make 5 throws from under the ring in a row, 3 of which must be clean. If it's very easy, then add the number of throws up to 10, trying to get everything clean. Throws can be made with a rebound from the backboard, but the ball must not touch the ring hoop itself. Challenge yourself - and pass this test with honor!
Improvements to medium and long range shots
Again perform clean throws : 5 shots in a row from one spot.
By the way, for me, clean throws are a big problem: the peculiarity of my throw is that I kind of load the far bow, “striking” which, the ball falls down. But here's the problem - if the ring is a little higher than usual, then almost all the balls go into the near bow, and while I get used to it, I smear a lot.
This job allows develop stable throw accuracy . Five throws in a row help improve accuracy, because the shape of the throw, the effort applied, the trajectory - all this must be the same and repeat all the time. Clean shots make the trajectory “lift up”, which is also good: they are more difficult to cover and, as a rule, when the ball touches the ring, the ball will fall into the basket. And one more thing: a high trajectory gives rise to a short rebound, for which it will be easier for partners to compete.
Make multiple free throws in a row before leaving the court (practice).
Such a move will allow you to repeat all the elements of the throw again and develop self-confidence. After the shot, you pick up the ball yourself, return to the free-throw line - and shoot again. It is important to repeat all the routine that occurs before the free throws in the game. In order to recreate the game situation even more realistically, simply add jerks to the exercise: throw the ball, perform a jerk after the ball (to the middle of the hall, etc.), return to the line again - throw it. Players can be stimulated by some kind of competitive effect: who spends more time on 5 (7, 10) executed free throws in a row - runs, pushes up, carries a partner to the locker room, etc.
Shoot 200 free throws daily for 5 days, or 500 on the first day and 200 on the next 4 days. Goal: 25/25 rolls, of which 15 will be clean.
Here you need to understand that you will need at least 1 partner who will “bring the cores”. In America, of course, this is not a problem, there are personnel who receive money for this kind of service. But with us it will be more difficult, we will have to look for like-minded people. According to Jay Wolf, such a series of shots will help to hone the form of the shot, the moment of release of the ball and the trajectory; and also - they will increase the accuracy of 3-point shots. Again, according to Wolf, 100 throws will take 15 minutes.
I once tried to throw such a series of free kicks. My execution technique is as follows: I squat a little, then straighten my legs and straighten my body at the same time I straighten my arms. As soon as the body is fully unbent (I also stand on my toes), the ball is released. It turns out - as if one movement. So, the calves quickly began to hurt from such lifts, the hands got tired, and the hand refused to twist the ball. But some results did appear, so the exercise is useful, even very useful.
Find out where you shoot most often in games – and practice your “signature points” by shooting at least 5 clean shots in a row from these points.
I already wrote about this in an article about how to develop a shot ( Shot training in basketball ), it turned out not quite the way I imagined it in my head, but still it is very informative and useful.
Practice throwing on correctly marked area , in a correctly marked shield. The court must have a correctly drawn 3-point line.
And again I will complain a little: why in our country do people who have no idea how it should be do everything? Why are basketball markings applied by people who have never played basketball and do not know what the front line is? As a result, it passes under the front bow of the ring. And the “three-ruble note” - why is it 6 meters on the right, and more than 7 meters on the left? Why?
So - try to choose good sites with correct markings. And another note: at first it is very difficult to throw with a rebound from the backboard, if the backboard is streetball, i.e. much less than standard.
Hold hands after throwing , as if following the ball into the basket until it reaches there.
Here it should be noted that in his video about the throw, the legendary Pete Maravich (lessons from which will soon appear on the site) recommends not to hold a fixed hand, but to wave 2-3 times after the ball , repeating the final stage brush work.
Build a tribe of people who believe in you and who encourage you to accomplish your goals. 
Losing and failing to meet goals are inevitable parts of basketball. Great players are not afraid of failure, they know they occasionally fail on the road to getting better. Use your failure to motivate you to your successes. 
In his documentary “Muse” he reveals his self given nickname was to get him through the struggles he was going through off the court which were distracting him on the court. 
Pack your bag the night before, eat the same pre game snack, listen to the same songs during warmup, create your game day routine
When you have permanent confidence, you don't become crushed by mistakes. You can grow and learn and even be thankful for mistakes because they will show you ways you can improve.
Finally, you need the skills in place to make the split second choices when it matters most--that means being a student of the game. Watch film, study, and know what the great play makers do when they are behind, when they are up, when they need to foul, when they need to score. Here are several practical ways to end the game well.
Mentally tire them out.
NBC Camps is a member of US Sports Camps network of outstanding summer sports camps throughout the world. Players, coaches, parents and members of the media interested in learning more about NBC Camps are invited to visit www.nbccamps.com or phone 1-800-406-3926.
The upper half of the vertical line to the right and left of the basket is the aiming point for these types of shots. The ball should touch the line softly and bounce straight into the basket. Misses that occur when throwing from these positions are the result of insufficient concentration. To increase attention to the aiming point during training, draw a dollar sign - $, or some other sign, on a piece of adhesive tape, and attach it to the line. 
The mission should challenge the player's sense of pride, requiring greater focus, but should not be unattainable. 
In addition, on a miss, a higher trajectory generates a shorter bounce, which increases the chances of hitting the ball into the basket. 
Target: 25/25 of which 15 rolls are CLEAR. 
For the same reason, additional confidence develops. A marked backboard gives the player a point of aim for a bounce shot from the backboard or for a shot from under the basket. 
For more information, visit www.Starshooter.net 
They all shot differently, which did not stop them from scoring well; so - draw your own conclusions. 
In order to focus the thrower's attention on the aiming point, you can stick a dollar sign or a picture of the sight there. Remember: the shield is your best ally, be sure to learn how to bounce off it. 
After the shot, you pick up the ball yourself, return to the free-throw line - and shoot again. It is important to repeat all the routine that occurs before the free throws in the game. In order to recreate the game situation even more realistically, simply add jerks to the exercise: throw the ball, perform a jerk after the ball (to the middle of the hall, etc.), return to the line again - throw it. Players can be stimulated by some kind of competitive effect: who spends more time on 5 (7, 10) executed free throws in a row - runs, pushes up, carries a partner to the locker room, etc. 
According to Jay Wolf, such a series of shots will help to hone the form of the shot, the moment of release of the ball and the trajectory; and also - they will increase the accuracy of 3-point shots. Again, according to Wolf, 100 throws will take 15 minutes. 
