How to Not Get Nervous Before a Basketball Game | Tips

Many of us who play basketball believe basketball is actually life (ball is life). We play basketball because that’s a part of who we are. So it’s no surprise when a basketball player plays an important game they become nervous, sometimes too nervous.

How do you control your nerves before a big basketball game? It may not be possible to eliminate that nervous feeling before a basketball game, but having a pre-game routine will help you control your emotions and your mental state before tip-off.

Being nervous is completely normal and healthy. It activates a basketball player’s senses and focus. Many players will actually play better with some butterflies in their stomach.

But if you get too nervous that it’s affecting your game then you will want to stick around. I am going to provide some remedies and solutions to control those goosebumps before a basketball game. The idea is to keep you level-headed with just enough butterflies in your tummy that it won’t mentally psyche yourself out before the basketball game starts.

Why do we get nervous before a basketball game?

Our mind has a way of playing tricks on us, there is that voice in the back of our head that tells us what we should or shouldn’t do. Some say it’s the voice of reasoning, I guess?

But how many times have you listened to that voice and you were actually wrong about what you were thinking? I am sure it’s plenty.

We get nervous before games because it’s a natural feeling we create, an image in our minds of ourselves of how we need to perform for that particular game.

You then are fighting with thoughts of failure, underperforming, and blaming yourself if you lose the game.

That’s a lot to think about and can make anyone nervous if they put that much pressure on themselves.

Ask yourself…

What is making you nervous? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself? Are your thoughts negative or positive ones?

What exactly is your pre-game routine?

If you get so nervous before a basketball game that it is making you not perform to the best of your abilities, you really need to evaluate yourself.

Basketball is just as much mental as it is physical, if you believe you will fail you will self-fulfill that prophecy.

 

Be Careful what you think because your thoughts run your life.

Proverbs 4:23

The above bible scripture basically states you are what you think you are. If you believe that you won’t succeed chances are you won’t.

Having confidence in yourself is crucial. Start thinking about positive thoughts before the game, negative thoughts will have you playing poorly.

 

Pre-Game Ritual or Routine

Having a pregame routine is a great way to balance your mind and body to prepare for the battle that is taking place on the basketball court.

This not only helps with being consistent with preparation which might include visualization and music but will also put you mentally at ease.

If you can mentally prepare yourself before every game that allows you to score 20+ points a game consistently then it’s worth doing.

If you don’t have a pre-game routine or ritual it might be worth exploring, this may help you perform better in games.

Many players shoot before the game to get warm, eat their favorite meal, some work out, and others use visualization or a combination of a few things listed in this article.

Pre-game routines are nothing new, but don’t let them control you as a basketball player, otherwise, you will start to develop superstitions.

Because you had to go to the bathroom before the game started isn’t the reason you played the same reason you used the bathroom for.

Post-game Routines

Evaluating your game after it’s over is important for a couple of reasons. I like to think of the mistakes and shots that I missed and think about what I could have done differently if possible.

I then write down my mistakes on a piece of paper and throw them into the garbage and never allow myself to think about it again.

If you dwell on your mistakes this will be a fast way to sabotage your confidence and progress.

As basketball players we need to focus on the positive things, this builds up our confidence. I then think back to the game on all the positive things I did.

I replay those moments in my head over and over again. This really builds up my confidence as a player. Try it out, you will be surprised how effective it can be.

Remember don’t focus on the negative. Acknowledge what you did wrong and if there was a better decision do that next time.

Studies on Listening to Music before a Game

Listening to music is a great way to escape your own thoughts for a brief moment while helping you better prepare for a basketball game.

One study showed that endurance athletes who ran while listening to music showed they were able to run 18 percent longer while listening to music.

How does this relate to basketball? It’s not like we can listen to music and play. You’re right, but you may find that listening to music relaxes your mind or even better fire you up and get you ready for the big game.

Whichever type of music you prefer is up to you, you can reap the benefits by getting yourself in the zone, which in turn should improving your performance on the court.

I had a playlist with my favorite songs that I would listen to before every high school game which helped me get in the zone.

Confidence 

Why are some players more confident than others. Confidence is gained through experience and practice.

There is no other way around it, you can be confident and still underperform. Some players are so confident they believe they can do anything even though their talent doesn’t match their confidence.

These players don’t fear anyone and exhibit traits that even good players wish they had.

Such confidence can take average players years to attain.  When your confidence is high, your game follows suit.

You believe you’re going to win. You believe that you’re going to make every shot that you take. You play with swagger on the court. There isn’t anything anyone can tell you differently.

If you are not feeling confident before games you need to get back in the gym and practice more or completely restructure your pre-game routines.

Do things that will help you relax and keep you focus before the game. If that doesn’t work I am willing to bet you need to work on your overall game.

Preparation

The best thing you can do before every game to counter being nervous and playing poorly is preparation. This just doesn’t mean practicing every day a week before the big game. I am talking about consistent hard work and practice to outclass the competition.

If there is one thing you notice about all the top players you play against is that they have a way to overcome any challenge that is in front of them. You can say they don’t get nervous which is untrue.

Most every player does, the difference is they are not as nervous as you are and they can embrace the challenge due to their long hours in the gym that has prepared them for moments like a big game.

They know what they are capable of on the court and they allow their basketball instincts to take over.

Visualization

Visualizing is so undervalued and underappreciated in the sports world. Think about anything you have done in life, it starts with a thought of yourself doing it.

It could be an activity, what you’re going to eat. You had to put that thought into your mind and then accomplish the small task

Prior to every basketball game, you should replay the game in your head as if you are watching yourself on a movie theatre screen.

See yourself shooting the basketball in the exact gym you are about to play in over and over again. See yourself making key plays, on defense and on offense. 

When you can visualize the type of player you want to be on the court you are one step closer to being that player.

The central nervous system is responsible for the control of most functions of the body and mind. The CNS  doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and what is fake.

This means you could actually work on your basketball shooting in your own head without actually touching a basketball. Don’t believe me? There are many studies that have backed this theory. 

I have used a form of visualization to improve my basketball shooting, and it has worked wonders to help me shoot the lights out in games.

Don’t overthink it, that’s the Nerves Talking

I’m going to play bad…

I need to score at least 10 points today or else…

I have to have a big game, scouts are watching…

Stop! Just Stop and Play!… You are already overthinking the game of basketball and creating obstacles in your mind that make it difficult for you to just play the game.

The game of basketball is complicated enough without this mindset. Now your adding roadblocks making it even more difficult, again if you think it, you become it.

The moment you believe that you are not sure you can win or are able to play the way you feel or want to you have already lost the battle.

You planted the seed of doubt. Just play don’t overthink it. Block the negative thoughts. Relax and let your basketball instincts take over.

Overthinking will lead to unnecessary thoughts of failure and painting a picture of a reality that has yet to exist.

Being worried is pointless, it serves no purpose. It either affirms your beliefs of you playing poorly or it is wrong about what you thought the outcome would be.

Embrace that Nervous Feeling

Having butterflies in your tummy before a basketball game is not a bad thing. You may even find that even though you don’t like the feeling you seem to play well after it goes away. Which is usually after the tipoff.

Embrace that feeling, being nervous is a way that the body is preparing for battle. Over the many years I have played basketball, I get worried that I am not nervous before a game as there is always a possibility that you could take the other team for granted and lose.

I have discovered anytime I am nervous I play very well…

You don’t want to be overly nervous that you can’t control your thoughts, this will lead to negative affirmations before the game begins.

Basketball players are more likely to choke during a game if they are too nervous. This can be a game in itself to control your emotions and feelings before a big game.

The right type of nerves to have before a game should be balanced, you want to feel a little nervous but not soo much it’s uncontrollable that it’s actually controlling your mind and body.

This is why a pre-game ritual is a good idea.

In conclusion, the most important way to deal with being nervous before a basketball game will depend on what you decide to alleviate the nervous feeling with.

This may include a few of the things mentioned above. While I do believe that being nervous is a good thing for the body as I feel that it prepares you to be ready and focused.

Just remember don’t shy away from that feeling of nervousness, the body has a way of adapting to such feelings as long as the mind doesn’t completely take over and psyche you out with negative thoughts.