We’re excited to kick off the Prime 5 series, highlighting the five essential mental skills every athlete needs for success. These foundational skills—developed through intentional mental training—help athletes thrive under pressure and perform at their best.
The Prime 5 skills include:
Focused on the Task at Hand: Developing the ability to narrow and broaden focus as needed.
Confident & In Control: Building composure and confidence under pressure.
Motivation & Expectation to Win: Cultivating internal drive and a winning mindset.
Optimistic Perfection: Striving for excellence while maintaining positivity.
Physical Control: Connecting the mind and body for peak performance.
This month, we’re starting with Focus Activities, a key part of Focused on the Task at Hand.
Why Focus Matters in Basketball
Basketball is a fast-paced sport that requires athletes to constantly shift their focus. Players need to narrow their attention during critical moments, like taking a free throw or defending an opponent, but also broaden their focus to read the court, anticipate plays, and make quick decisions.
Training the ability to adjust focus improves:
Performance Under Pressure: Helps athletes stay locked in during critical moments.
Adaptability: Enhances the ability to respond to changing game situations.
Situational Awareness: Enables players to read the court and make better decisions.
By training both narrow and broad focus, athletes develop greater mental agility and consistency in their game.
Watch the Focus Activities Video
In this video, we introduce three simple activities designed to train both narrow and broad focus:
Focus Grid Activities: Practice narrowing focus and tuning out distractions.
License Plate Activity: Develop broad focus by observing surroundings.
Room Scans: Balance narrow focus with broader awareness.
These activities are easy to implement and highly effective for improving mental performance.
Take the Next Step
Ready to help your athletes build mental toughness? Start integrating these focus activities into your training schedule. Encourage your athletes to practice consistently and discuss how focus impacts their performance on the court.
Stay tuned for next month’s Prime 5 resource. If you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you!
Contact Us:
Ben Carnes
Owner, Mental Training Plan
📞 (317) 557-3022
Learn more about our mental training resources at mentaltrainingplan.com
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