Everyone struggles. A great pitcher can't find the strike zone. A great golfer 'loses' his short game. Three-point shooters go cold. How do we cope?
Growth requires leaving our comfort zone. Carol Dweck, author of Mindset, headlines the latest MasterClass.
Leaving our comfort zone means doing hard things. It means "too many" repetitions of footwork, on-ball defense, shot release. It means watching video to see what went well and what didn't. It means lifting weights, stretching, increasing your strength, conditioning, and quickness. It means learning mindfulness, learning how to breathe all over again.
Don't fear asking, "what am I struggling with?" to seek solutions.
Excellence means asking for help. That's hard, because often when we struggle, we erect defense mechanisms. "You don't get it" or "you don't understand me."
As coaches, ask "how does that make you feel?" The player may describe feeling anxious, losing confidence, or say, "you don't like me." More often, they'll say, "I'm fine." Restoring their positive outlook is our job. "You're starting and leading the team in minutes, right? How can we get you feeling better?"
Here's a screenshot from MasterClass. Ask better questions.
