GDYBL Home

Team
- Choose a Team
  - BOYS 5/6
  - BOYS 6
  - BOYS 7/8
  - BOYS 8
  - GIRLS 5/6
  - GIRLS 7
  - GIRLS 8
- Schedule
- Multi-Schedule

My my My my

For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.

How to focus in basketball

Developing Focus and Fun at Basketball Practice

In my coaching education workshops, I always asked coaches if they thought sports should be a fun experience for their players. Should there be fun at basketball practice? Of course, everyone said yes. So then I would make them the following offer: “If you can give me an adequate definition of ‘fun,’ I’ll sign off on your certification right now and you can leave six hours earlier than everyone else.” I made that offer for almost 15 years running and there were no winners.

Focus & Fun at Basketball Practice

Since the majority of your athletes’ time is spent in practices, it is vital that practice time be a fun, enjoyable experience. If it’s not, it’s not going to be effective. Unfortunately, some coaches feel that, because learning sports skills require discipline and focus, it’s incompatible with fun. But focus and fun are not incompatible at all.

In fact, focus is necessary for fun to occur! Just think of some of the fun experiences you’ve had in your life. You probably remember them very clearly. And that’s because you were very focused on what you were doing, who you were with, and what your surroundings were like.

It’s the same with sports. Sports are fun when three things are happening:

Kids are deeply involved in what they are doing
They feel closely connected to their “mates” (e.g., teammates, coaches, parents)
Kids feel like they are performing to the best of their ability

All three of these items require focus on the part of the athlete. And, as a coach, you can make all of these things happen in your practices and your games. There are ways to maximize your time as a coach. Here are some suggestions.

Developing Focus and Fun

Encourage your players to participate with all their senses.

For example, if you’re outside on a beautiful summer day, take a deep breath, pound your chest and say, “Don’t you just love the way the grass smells on a day like this?” If you’re poolside, you could say: “I love the ‘swoosh’ sound you guys make as you glide through the water. It’s better than therapy!”

Help your players to get to know each other better.

When everyone is pulling for each other, even the hardest drills become more enjoyable.

Focus on skill development.

Improved skills lead to feelings of competence, satisfaction, and accomplishment. These feelings, in turn, create enjoyment and fun at basketball practice.

Provide realistic challenges.

Kids learn and grow through a progressive series of challenges that are appropriate for their skill level and development.

Emphasize personal successes.

Playing well, or the feeling that a person has played well, is an essential part of the fun in sport.

Keep winning in perspective.

Being on the winning side is less important than striving to win. By striving to win, your players learn to concentrate, try hard, and be the best they can be.

Look for ways to energize kids and jazz up your practices.

Be creative. Cal Ripken saw a mannequin in a ski lodge and got the idea to use old mannequins to help kids learn to hit the cutoff man in the infield grass while practicing throws from right field. Just imagine how entertaining (and educational) it was when someone hit the mannequin in the wrong spot.

Other ways to incorporate fun into your practices might include ending a week as ”crazy socks day,” and doing fun, teamwork-oriented drills like “follow the leader.” Don’t think that just because your coach always made you run laps, you have to do the same thing to your players!

Dr. George Selleck, Stanford University Basketball Hall of Famer, Founder of Lead2Play, and author of Kian and Me: Gifts from a Grandson.

A former Hall of Fame athlete and coach, Dr. Selleck—a retired psychologist, organizational and management consultant, and sports education specialist—is the founder and director of Lead2Play, a comprehensive program that encourages youth participation in sports while promoting healthy living and the development of key life skills, such as organization, management, and team-building.

Dr. Selleck was inducted into the Stanford University Basketball Hall of Fame, the Pac-12 Hall of Honor, and named one of the “100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America” by the Institute for International Sports at the University of Rhode Island.

If you found this useful, don’t forget to check out additional blog posts at TeachHoops.com. Also, check out TeachHoops on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Play Present - Unlimited Potential Basketball

November 09, 2017

The word “focus” is thrown around a lot, but to be consistently focused on the right things takes great awareness and a trained mind. The most locked in players put all their energy into the present, they ruthlessly play present and focus on the task at hand.

“You got to stay in the moment..when you stay in the moment, good things happen, because everybody’s just wrapped up in the process.” -Stephen Curry

Don’t show up to your practice or competition hoping to be focused. Here are four ways you can start training your focus right now.

Focus On What You Can Control

Your attitude, effort, and focus on what is happening right now are the only things you can control. When you are locked in with what’s in your control, you become fully present, that is the only moment where you can make a play. You aren’t worried about a past play or future play, so you are free of the stress of results. Go all in with a tremendous attitude and effort each play and you give yourself the best chance win.

On January 22nd 2006, mindfulness and performance expert George Mumford told Kobe Bryant not to try to score, but just be in the moment and let the game happen. That night he scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors.

“You get in the zone and just try to stay here. You don’t think about your surroundings, or what’s going on with the crowd or the team. You’re kind of locked in.” — Kobe Bryant, on his 81-point game

Refocus Fast: Next Play Speed

When you are aware that you lost your focus, make sure you refocus FAST and move onto the next play. That doesn’t mean trying to forget about the last play. See what’s in front of you, take a breath, and take action with what is happening in the current moment. Don’t get caught up in your feelings, you can take action no matter how you feel. Or not, and see how that works out.

Savagely Trust Your Skills

Go all in with trusting your skills in the present moment with a great attitude and effort and the MJ moments will happen.

If you have trained for it, trust it. As you train mentally, you must trust your physical skills in the present moment. There will be failures and challenges but they are there to help you grow. Trust that being in the present moment will maximize your potential and refocusing fast will prevent you from stopping yourself. Focus on being present, not perfect.

Rep This Process Out Relentlessly

Your process is to focus on what you can control, play present, and move onto the next play relentlessly. It is easy to be present and have laser focus when things are going well, but it takes savage work to be present and trust your skills when you aren’t getting the results you want. If you keep showing up no matter what and don’t stop yourself, you can’t be stopped.

Comments will be approved before showing up.

Also in Mental Game Media

Dealing with The Unknown

March 21, 2020

Dallas Mavericks' Mental Skills Coach Mike Franco offers concrete tips and exercises for addressing the world in a time of such unknown.

A Player's Journey

February 02, 2018

Human > Hooper

January 26, 2018

Delonte West: 'I want to focus on basketball and the team right now' were caused by the fact that he stopped taking his medications.

“There is a lawsuit going on and we need to treat it with respect. I understand that everyone has many questions regarding this situation. Now I want to focus on basketball and on the team. When the details become known, you will understand that the case is not as big as it is being made. Something often happens to athletes, it just happened to me, unfortunately, at the wrong time, before the start of the training camp. Now I'm back on my meds and feeling great," West was quoted as saying by AP.

Related materials

My team news

Choose your favorite team

Select the type of sports futolhockeibiatlobiathlibox/mmormusla-1 Tennis

Latest news

23:11 "Portland" signed a bilateral contract with Olivier Sarr
22:45 9001 round of the Eurocup 1
22:15 Zoran Lukic: “We made at least ten mistakes out of the blue, which I can’t explain”
22:10 Alexander Gallyamov will attend the Zenit vs Avtodor basketball match and take part in a master class on free throws
22:10 Velimir Perasovich: “We controlled the match from start to finish”
21:27 Evgeny Pashutin - about the defeat from Astana: "This is a serious lesson for us"
21:23 Oleg Kiselev: "The key to our victory today is defense"
21:09 Photo Russell Westbrook quoted Bible verse on Instagram 10
20:57 Kevin Durant on Greene and Poole fight: "I've been in the league for 16 years and I've never seen anything like this on video" 3
20:25 Ilona Korstin: “MBA is a young team, the players are motivated, their eyes are on fire” 1
0124 19:40 Miami signed a two-way contract with Drew Smith
18:06 Steven A Smith: "Kyrie Irving plans to go to the Lakers" 10
17:5 Arturas Milaknisa signed 1
5:30 pm Video Giannis Antetokounmpo pushes Ben Simmons away after dunk 8
5:14 pm Lawyer: Brittney Greiner not sure if America can bring her home 49
4:53 pm Video Westbrook didn't attend the on-court meeting Beverly tried to set up 15
4:40 pm Jeff Van Gundy on the Warriors' decision not to suspend Green: "They did it because what's best for the team 1
16:23 Lillard met with LeBron and Davis before renewing with Portland 9
16:03 Steven A Smith: "Pool was knocked out by Draymond's hit" 13
15:55 The Celtics have no plans to renew Grant Williams this year 2
15:47 Red Star Stars 2
15:42 Mark Cuban: "We are working on organizing a match between Dallas and Real Madrid" 1
15:36 even harder than in the past."0021 2
to focus on basketball" | Articles
BC Gran Canaria is making its debut season in the Euroleague. While the Spanish club cannot boast of outstanding results, it has only won once in five matches. But the leader of the team, Anzhey Pasechnik, is doing great. The 22-year-old Latvian center, who is considered one of the most talented players in the Old World, is gaining 9points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

After the match with Khimki, Izvestia managed to talk to Andzhey Pasechnik and ask him about a possible departure to the NBA, giving up social networks, as well as about the pros and cons of long flights from the Canary Islands to the mainland.

— Izvestia wrote about the Basketball Without Borders camp held by the NBA in Russia in 2012. You then performed well, winning a three-point contest against Danny Green himself (one of the leaders of Toronto). Which of the players from that squad do you still communicate with?

- With Spaniard José Ignacio Noguez, who plays in Joventut. Nevertheless, when we meet somewhere with one of those players, we will definitely chat. That camp brought us decently closer.

- Bosnian Nedim Buza, who then became the most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament, now plays in the Belgian Ostend. How do you assess its prospects?

- I remember that at that time he performed very well, and many experts highly rated him. In recent years, I didn’t encounter him at all, so it’s hard for me to say something about his game.

— Do you remember any of the Russians?

- At one time we talked with Sasha Martynov, he seems to be playing in the Super League now (the ex-defender of CSKA plays for Novosibirsk. - Izvestia). I also remember one player with long hair, he played under number 23...

- This is Vyacheslav Fedorchenko. He ended his career and became a coach at CSKA. Conducts camps, children appreciate him very much...

— Well done! At this age, it's not easy! (Vyacheslav Fedorchenko is 23 years old. - Izvestia).

— You lost your last Euroleague game to Khimki rather easily. Due to what the Russian club won?

- They managed to make us make mistakes often. They regularly beat us one on one. We can say that in every quarter they were better than us and won a natural victory.

— How do you think, how can Gran Canaria improve in the Euroleague regular season?

- Our main problem is that each player has too much possession of the ball. When the pass follows, there is less time left to shoot or create a more favorable situation for the attack of the ring. We should add to the team game.

Is this a cry from the heart or a thorough analysis of the situation?

- All players understand their mistakes if they want to do it. We regularly discuss all our problems and carefully analyze all the games. Naturally, we want to improve team performance.

- They say about your team that it is exclusively "home". What is the magic of your arena?

— Our main advantage is that it is far to fly to us. After such a long flight, it is hard for any club to play against us. But this is a double-edged sword. Because we have complicated logistics. For example, on a charter flight, we flew to Moscow for the game with Khimki for about eight hours. We spent a whole day on the road and didn't even manage to have an evening workout. If we draw an analogy with the geography of Russia, we are like Vladivostok of the Euroleague.

— What do you think about the dispute between the Euroleague and FIBA?

— I don't want to get involved in this argument. My job is to play basketball, let the rest be on the conscience of officials. Believe me, I would really like to help the national team, but when the games of the club and the national team coincide, this becomes impossible. We have half of the team playing in the Euroleague or the NBA, so we have to play with a semi-reserve squad. This is the situation for many teams, and it is very sad. I hope that in the future the parties will come to a consensus. Politics should not prevent the best players from playing for their national teams.

— Do you think Alexey Shved, who was your mentor in the Basketball Without Borders camp in 2012, deserved the title of the most valuable player (MVP) of the last Euroleague season?

- It is very difficult for me to talk about this, but I will answer as others think. The best player should definitely be on the highest-placed team, and Khimki couldn't make it to the Final Four. I do not diminish Alexei's talent in the least, this is already clear to everyone. I'm just saying how the average viewer thinks. And to give or not to give awards is up to specialists.

— What does the Euroleague lack in order to achieve even greater popularity in the world?

- We made it to the Euroleague for the first time in history, so we are only learning and learning the basics of this tournament. Of course, we would like more match attendance, but this is rather the work of each club. We have no problems with this - 8-9 thousand spectators come to every home game.

- Do you get recognized on the streets of Las Palmas?

— We have a small island, so many people know all the Gran Canaria players by sight. Very positive people live in the Canaries, they always come up to you with a smile, take pictures, wish you good luck. It doesn't bother me.

- At the end of this season, your contract with Gran Canaria ends...

- Yes, that's right.

- You are owned by Philadelphia. Is it likely that you will play in the NBA next year?

— Negotiations are underway, but it's hard to say anything concrete yet. Toward the end of the season or already in the summer, we will decide whether I will join Philadelphia or stay in Europe.

Does Philadelphia suit your style of play?

— I try to watch almost all the team's matches, even though it's hard because of the time difference. I see myself in this club and I think I can fit into their game.

- Philadelphia has three strong centers - Joel Embiid, Mike Muskala and Amir Johnson. How will you compete with them?

- Nobody said it would be easy, but it's even better for me to train with those who are stronger than me. Only in fierce competition can progress be made. After this season, I will work hard in the gym and I think I will be ready to fight them under the basket.

— There are three Latvians currently playing in the NBA: Davis Bertans, Rodion Kuruc and Kristaps Porzingis. Do you communicate with them? When can we expect Porzingis to return to the court?

— We communicate very well with Kristaps, as we played in the same national team (U-18). I think he will be back in action very soon. Rodion in general, one might say, spends the first year in big basketball. Before that, he played in Barcelona, but in the second team. He is a good man that he decided to go this way and left for Brooklyn at an early age. Bertans and I spent the whole summer in the same hall, preparing for the new season.

— What is Bertans lacking to get a foothold in the Spurs?

- If Davis waits for his chance, and he certainly will, then he will use it to the maximum. I am sure that he will have a long and successful career overseas.

— Tell me, are you an older player or not yet?

Very funny question! I think that in a month I will become old (on December 20, Pasechnik will turn 23 years old). Although, when I was 17, I thought that players at 23 were already old.

— It's just that in Russia there is such a stereotype that at the age of 22–23 a player is “young and promising”, but in the USA it is already considered to be of age. Are you still at the border stage?

- When I have a beard, then it will be possible to say that I am old.

- Your height is 218 cm. Are you still growing?

- No, I have already stopped growing. Every year I think that I grow 1-2 cm, but when I stand against the wall, I understand that I need to calm down (laughs) . 218 cm - and so a good indicator.

— Are you an active user of social networks?

- This year I decided to give up social media to focus on basketball. Any social network takes a lot of time, and I need to think more about my main job. Perhaps I will return to my Instagram, but not in the next year.

— You speak excellent Russian, which cannot be said about today's youth in Latvia. How did it happen?

- My father is from Russia, so we always speak Russian in the family. Quite often I practice the language, although sometimes I still confuse the endings.

— What is your impression of Russia?

— I would really like to stay longer in Russia, get to know Moscow better. However, we usually come here in the evening, the next day there is a game. Therefore, it has not yet been possible to visit any important places in the city.
Learn more