Everyone says, "you need mental toughness." What does that mean? How do you get it? Does playing better improve your toughness or vice versa?
Garry Kasparov considers his greatest achievement surviving from game 27 to game 48 of his 1984 world championship chess series against Anatoly Karpov. He played on the ropes for months with the series abandoned with Karpov leading 5-3 with 40 draws.
"Compete against your own excellence."
Kasparov says, "mostly I lost games because I made terrible mistakes." He said that he had to recover because he felt, almost, a physical pain.
He discussed his preparation including his ability to sleep. Sleep is critical because our brain cells shrink and toxins are cleared. He was also the fittest player of his generation (he ran, swam, and could do over a hundred pushups).
He retired from the game when he felt he could no longer make a difference.
Researchers at the University of Miami compared mindfulness training (e.g. breathing exercises and body scans) to relaxation training (imagery, relaxation training, relaxing music) and found mindfulness training superior on standardized attention testing. NBA players and employees receive free access to the mindfulness app Headspace.
"Mindfulness is for pansies." That includes Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, and Zach LaVine. Or Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
What specific, practical applications are available?
Attend to process over outcome. Develop a consistent routine.
Mental toughness correlates with physical endurance. Exercise.
Have a mindfulness routine. UCLA has free, guided meditation here.
Learn more effectively through spaced repetition (multiple training periods)
Use short breaks (Pomodoro technique), e.g. 25 minutes training, 5 minute breaks.
Self-test. Self-testing reinforces progress.
"Performance science" applies proven methods to enhance outcomes. We either get on the train or get left behind. Performance tracks combined mindset and preparation.
Lagniappe: What did our players find hard to defend at practice last night?
Emptying the ball side and running staggered off ball screens created pace and space that challenged our defenders.