Mental Toughness

What is mental toughness? It appears to be this mystical enigma that everyone talks about and wants in their athletes. I witnessed a great example this year in a regional championship game. A player got called for a charge with only 25 seconds left in the game and they were down by 1 point. The player got up from the floor; handed the ball to the official, and ran to her position on defense. Not only was she the first player from her team to get to her defensive assignment; she did it without one word or one emotion. To me that is mental toughness! It is confidence, pride, and humbleness in one's persona. It is doing everything you are capable of doing to the best of your ability, and no matter the outcome; you keep your head held high; your emotions inside, and the future in mind. What happens in the past stays in the past. You are a selfless and tireless worker. You walk like a champion; talk like a champion, and think like a champion. You surround yourself with successful people, and you lift those up who are in need. Mental toughness is a combination of all of these things. You can teach it to your kids. Here are some ways you can begin to instill this in your players.

It begins from the very first second you walk into the gym for your first practice of the year. Your players are evaluating everything that you do. You cannot allow anyone to exceed your enthusiasm for the game. You must be prepared with a plan, full of confidence, knowledgeable in your philosophy, know what your teaching and why your teaching it, teach everyone, teach equally, and don't let negativity ever get in your way. You are positive and you are punctual. You make each practice your best practice ever. Are you with me? Great, and now so are your players.
STEP #1: GIVE...AND YOU WILL RECEIVE.

Now that your kids are on your side; you can start to teach the ways of a champion, and champions are mentally tough. This involves holding each one of them accountable for all of your non-negotiables. This might include things such as: sprinting back to defense, diving on the floor for a ball, defeating every screen, or talking on every possession. The very second you see a head go down, you lift it back up. The second a player gives up on a play, you lift them back up. You must inspire each one of them, so they will aspire to be something greater.
STEP #2: ACCOUNTABILITY WITHOUT DISABILITY.

Teach them about competition. They need to know what it feels like to win. Involve them in drills where they will succeed, but they must respect the game and the opponent. However, they also need to know what it feels like to lose. Put them in situations where you know they cannot win. When they lose, they run, but you must embrace their efforts, encourage them, and teach them that winning and losing are processes. Neither one of them are final. There will always be another game, another day, and the rest of your life. It doesn't stop there; you must get up and do it again. Life is about tenacity and it's about being engaged in the present. Make the most of every opportunity, and more opportunities will find you.
STEP #3: COMPETE...EVEN IN DEFEAT.

Never assume they are supposed to do anything for you or for themselves. Be thankful for what you get, but continue to teach them what you want. Mental toughness is a state of mind...you either create it in your practice, or you destroy it. If you believe in them they will rise up and they will play for you. No harsh words for officials and no unnecessary emotions. Just the game; the players, and the outcomes. Fair or unfair; it's all a part of life; it's all a part of the game, and it becomes a part of them.

Yours in Hoops,
Josh Williams
Head Girls Basketball Coach
Clinton High School