The Offering: Part 6 Mental Toughness
First and foremost, I want to take a moment to send my heartfelt condolences to the Bryant family and all the other families who were affected in the events that took Kobe and his young daughter away from us. Kobe was an inspiration to us all and if there is anything that I have learned from this tragedy is to take time to love your family. Kobe was the epitome of a professional and he showed the world how to have a Mamba mentality. Everyone should have that level of mental toughness to their craft. RIP Kobe.
I am extremely excited about the new decade and this fresh opportunity to bring you the 6th installment of my series “The Offering” here on AllThingsHoops.com. With a new year always brings New Year’s resolutions; things we hope to change or correct, and improvements we feel we should make to our current situations from the past 12 months. Anything that can make us better moving forward.
Jarrett Lockhart is a coach who teaches from experience. He’s been through the things that he teaches his players. That’s why his words resonate with his players so much. Photo J. Lockhart IG
I recently had a conversation with one of my former players about Mental Toughness; something that he hopes to improve this year, and it sparked me to write this article, as the mental component of the game we love has always played a major role in the success of players and teams around the world.
I’ve heard many coaches at different levels over the years say: “If He/She isn’t mentality tough, they can’t play for me”
Lockhart is not only a coach, he serves as a mentor who builds his guys up and is there to support them at all cost. Photo J. Lockhart
But, what does being mentally tough actually mean, and why is it important in the game of basketball? What does the mental part of the game demonstrate about a person’s character, and can you really be considered a winner without being mentally tough to a certain degree?
To me the main characteristics of a mentally strong person are: resiliency, integrity, selflessness, fearlessness, competitiveness and vision. It is well-known that the best players usually possess all of these qualities and many times times develop them through experience. Either through losing, trial and error, or personal hardships, an athlete’s mindset is based on the things he or she has gone through and ultimately how those situations are handled. Many times when we loose or face some sort of adversity, we learn from those times, which in turn makes us more equipped to handle our next hurdle either on the basketball court or in life. It all goes back to the saying “What doesn’t kill you always makes you stronger”. I truly believe that, as I have had many scenarios in which the lessons I learned from my “losses” helped me to build and prepare for future battles, games, and struggles.
Lockhart always gives his players the real deal. No sugarcoating, no protecting egos. He tells it like it is. Photo J. Lockhart
On the basketball court there are a few points I want to touch on as it relates to mentally strong player, and the attributes one must have to not only play the game at a high level, but also be successful while competing……..
The first one is fighting through fatigue (not quitting or giving up while you are tired). As coaches, we always say that if you don’t go hard in practice, you won’t give your best effort when it’s game-time either. This tends to be true of someone who can’t understand that the mind is telling the body what it can and cannot do, so ultimately a having a strong mindset can create tremendous gains physically. As a teammate you have to trust the individual you are lining up with and vice-versa. So, if you are not demanding the best of yourself or the others around you, how is that trust created and sustained? How do you go to battle with someone that is out of shape, or not touching the lines in a sprint because they are “too tired”? And, how do those same teammates put their faith in you if you cannot make time or can’t catch your breath in the final seconds of a crucial playoff contest when the game is on the line?
When Jarrett Lockhart speaks… People listen. Photo by J. Lockhart IG
The next point is pushing past adversity……..when the going gets tough on the court, do you step up to the challenge or do you fold against competition and difficult situations? When you make a mistake on the court, either in practice or in a game, can you fight through your errors and move on to the next play? If you can’t, your mental toughness will definitely be questioned. Basketball is a game of highs and lows, adjustments and changes, and if you can’t adapt quickly to the speed you will most certainly get left behind. Reacting positively and leaving your mistakes behind as fast as you can is the key with any adversity you may face on the court. Do not dwell on the negative for too long, as that lost-time will interfere with creating new success moving forward.
Lockhart uses every moment as a chance to teach the game he lives. Photo courtesy of J. Lockhart IG
Three things That We have to “Get Over” to be mentally Strong when speaking on adversity……….
1) Losing a championship game-
Concentrate on getting better and improving, being a better teammate, and focus your energy on controlling what you can, as opposed to worrying about the things that are not actually in your control. Not winning on such a big stage has to motivate you, not break you! Come back a much better version of yourself and always compete to win.
2) Missing a game winning shot-
This is a heart-breaking felling, but with repetition in the gym; possibly visualizing yourself making that exact same shot the next time, you will gain confidence in and be more prepared for that situation the next time. Understanding why you actually missed the shot, working on your game, and being ready is the key!
3) Getting dunked on, or someone making you fall from a dribble move-
Understand that the game continues. You can’t get stuck in a negative moment too long, because you lose sight of the goal. When you really play hard, you are always going to give up something on the other end because you are competing. Pick yourself up and don’t worry about embarrassment.
*The world’s best players fail or have weak moments……..the difference is they are confident in their abilities and believe enough in themselves, that they come back even stronger after any adversity they face.
Lockhart strives to get his players to the next level. Here he is with Markhi Strickland who is on his way to the University of St. Louis. Photo courtesy of J. Lockhart IG
And, my last point is working on your game and doing the right things when no one is watching. Only a strong-minded person can continuously maintain the focus and discipline necessary to work on his or her goals everyday without anyone telling them what to do. Understanding that the things you do now will only benefit your future-self, and not giving into the temptations of your peers or other distractions is not an easy task. Waking up early to do extra conditioning on your own, shooting or working-out after practice, and getting in the weight room on your team’s day off, are all things that equal the mentality of a strong-minded player. Good basketball players are built in plain sight, but great players are created when no one is actually watching. To reach a certain level, you must find your own inner drive and motivation to eventually obtain success at anything, and as basketball players having a mental advantage over the competition can play a huge role in the advancement of your career…………
All in all, I would say the game of basketball is 70 percent mental and 30 percent physical. Many players have the ability to be successful and to be good; even great at their craft, but are not mentally strong enough to push past the fatigue or battle through the adversity that comes with playing at a competitive level. Basketball teaches you discipline, but if you are not determined or dedicated, you will never reach your highest potential. You have to think you are the best, you have to really believe you’re going to win that game, or make that next shot. That inner confidence has to come with a mental fortitude built by only work and consistency.
Keep dreaming, limit the distractions, and stay focused on your goals!
#LOVE
Jarrett T. Lockhart
Basketball Coach & Author
“Cheers To Fears” available on Amazon NOW!