Newsletter #346

Today's Theme... Reading the Court - Mastering the Moment

From Anthony Lanzillo, mental prep coach... players must learn to read the floor, the situation and the moment.

Making the best decisions as a basketball player on the court is all about learning how to assimilate, anticipate and act.  It is the "Triple A" formula to building a sharper mind, and knowing how to cut through anything that is a distraction, and destroys your concentration, composure and confidence.

It's training your mind to continuously ask - what do I see, what do I expect and what do I want?  When you do this, you will be able to focus, put things in a positive frame of reference and be a pro active player.  It's all about reading the court and mastering the moment.

Learn how to take in, on a visual and cognitive level, what the moment is offering you and then translate that into identifying your options and opportunities.  It's mentally conditioning yourself to be present and pro active.  Positioning yourself to respond to what is happening right in front of you and playing a pivotal role to help your team.  To set the screen, make the backdoor cut, block and rebound, initiate the fast break or go for the layup.  It's being in the right place at the right time with the right move.

If you want to read the court, master the moment and become the best basketball player you can be, practice thinking about the following:

• Think about your strengths.
• Think about your purpose.
• Think about what you control.
• Think about why you love the game.
• Think about how you can serve your teammates.
• Think about what you are learning.
• Think about what inspires you.

It simply involves being in the moment, seeing the opportunity in that moment, and believing that the moment belongs to you.

See more Mental Prep articles from Anthony Lanzillo.