Training Habits That Will Separate You From The Pack At State Trials

With State Trials coming up it’s important to get your head in the game and focus on standing out from the crowd. As young and passionate basketball athletes, representing Queensland at the State Championships is a rewarding and exciting challenge that can help advance you in your future basketball career. At this point in time, you should have a competitive edge, be at the top of your training, be willing to learn and take in new information and apply it in your game. We have compiled a few key traits that our coaches will be looking out for at the upcoming state trials:

Competitive Edge

Having a competitive edge isn’t just a state of mind that drives you to win, it’s also about showing persistence and mental toughness. Whether it be a missed opportunity on the court or regaining focus after scoring a goal, athletes must be able to demonstrate their resilience and focus on the game. Self-discipline is important to ensure athletes can keep a cool head in high-pressure situations and ensure they stay motivated throughout a game.  Demonstrating these qualities will give you the competitive edge that you need to succeed in your trial.

Conditioning

To be in peak physical shape, basketball players must condition themselves for long-lasting endurance. This requires much more than just doing cardio and weights. Athletes should also focus on plyometric training (jump training), enabling them to change direction and transition between sprinting and defensive sliding. Since both of those skills are crucial for success on the court, it’s important to incorporate this style of training in your basketball conditioning drills. Your physical state should present stamina, endurance, strength and speed which are all attributes of a successful basketball player.

Attitude

To be prepared for the State Team Trials, you need to not only be physically prepared, but also mentally prepared. Having a positive attitude attributes to the overall culture of the team, and shows commitment to the game and also your other teammates. Having a positive attitude is contagious, and coaches are on the lookout for players who can listen to instructions, take responsibility for their mistakes and show initiative both on and off the court. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or clarification on something you don’t fully understand and support your fellow teammates. In the words of Patricia Summitt, an American women’s college basketball head coach “Attitude is a choice. What you think you can do, whether positive or negative, confident or scared, will most likely happen.”