How to Be a Confident Basketball Player

Co-authored by Ryan Tremblay

Last Updated: March 11, 2023 References Approved

Sometimes you really like playing basketball, but you are really afraid to make a mistake and everyone yells at you? Do you freeze up in a game and you don't know what to do? That happened to everyone, even to all the greatest players who ever played.

Steps

1
Go to the park a lot and practice your dribbling, shooting and passing . These will all help you once you have totally controlled these important parts of basketball.^{[1]
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Research source}
- Improving your basic skills will help you gain more confidence in the game.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ryan Tremblay
  Basketball Coach
  Expert Interview. 9 March 2021.}
2
Start your self improvement at practice. Try getting the ball, and shoot. Either with a lay-up or outside shot. Although, remember to not be a ball hog and force up a shoot, pass the ball around, too!^{[3]
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Research source}
- Pay attention to what's going on with your team, like who's open and where you should be on the court.^{[4]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ryan Tremblay
  Basketball Coach
  Expert Interview. 9 March 2021.}
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3
Don't worry about what everyone says to you. At the beginning, they will only notice your misses, but as you improve they will only notice what goes in! And that's what you want don't you?
4
Play like it doesn't matter, as if you are playing a video game and you are free to do what you want. You can shoot and do anything else when you feel necessary. The worst that can happen is that you will be taken out of the game or be yelled at.^{[5]
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5
Be confident in yourself! That is the most important part of it all! Don't let people step all over your confidence, because sadly we live in that kind of a world. Block out your teammates bad words and change them with good words.^{[6]
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Research source}
- Also,remember that it's normal to get nervous during a game—it means you really care about the outcome.^{[7]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ryan Tremblay
  Basketball Coach
  Expert Interview. 9 March 2021.}
6
Know that if you are considering yourself as a three (one is the lowest) try to get to five, and then ten! You will eventually get there. Take what Brian Scalabrine said after the Celtics kicked Laker butt: "In five years you won't remember my misses, in ten years I'll be an MVP of the league, in 15 years I'll lead my team to an NBA championship and in 60 years I'll be telling my grand kids about all my accomplishments." You may want to have written these words on my wall and read them to yourself every morning. These words are very meaningful and you should really think about them.
7
Try to hang out with the "better" kids on your team or in your class. Being with them and playing with them will really influence you.
8
Be willing to take constructive criticism, remember that it is only going to make you better.^{[8]
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Research source}

Expert Q&A

Question

What is basketball IQ?

Ryan Tremblay
Basketball Coach
Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ryan Tremblay

Basketball Coach

Expert Answer

Basketball IQ is all about your ability to think ahead during the game. For example, you'll have a higher basketball IQ if you learn where you need to be on the court along with where the ball is going.
Question

How can I be a better teammate?

Ryan Tremblay
Basketball Coach
Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ryan Tremblay

Basketball Coach

Expert Answer

First, improve your basic skills, so you can dribble and catch the ball consistently. Then, understand what's happening with your team, so when you catch the ball, you know your options and where you need to be on the court.
Question

Why do I get nervous before a game?

Ryan Tremblay
Basketball Coach
Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ryan Tremblay

Basketball Coach

Expert Answer

If you're nervous for a game, it means you're ready. If you weren't nervous, that would be a problem, because it would mean you aren't feeling anything.

Warnings

Do not become to cocky with yourself! Yes, you need to be confident in yourself, but if you become cocky people won't like you and you will expect too much of yourself.

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