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10-steps to elevate your game and get in the zone
Step 1: game preparation
Information is useful if you can put it into action. There is a ton of information on this website about becoming a better player, elevating your game, and getting yourself in the zone.
We've put together a list of 10 things you can do to put yourself in a position to play at a very high level. These are well researched, proven methods for getting the mental edge, for creating the mindset that it takes to play at peak levels, and for extended periods of time.
Game prepration is a key to helping you play your best and get in the zone. If you don't have a well-planned warm-up routine, you're not giving yourself the best chance of playing your best. And the good thing about this step is that it's pretty easy to put in place.
Why is a good warm-up in preparation for a game so important? Because it gets you ready to play. If you're not ready to play, you're not going to play your best. It's as simple as that. By getting yourself prepped and ready to play, you put yourself in a position to perform at your best right from the start of the game.
Another key to remember is that your game preparation is both physical and mental, and that it should take place well before the start of the game. Let me explain.
Game prep includes the standard physical preparation (getting warmed-up, stretching, shooting lay-ups, practicing your jump shot, etc.), but you also need to include mental prepration as well. Your mental preparation should include knowing who your opponent is, having a full understanding of your team's offensive and defensive schemes, and making sure your confidence level is high.
Only by preparing yourself both physically and mentally are you really able to take the court and be ready to play at your best.
Some of the best players in the NBA go through very extensive pre-game preparations to get themselves ready to play. Most players arrive well before tip-off (usually several hours before) to stretch, gets lots of shooting in, and watch game tape to prepare themselves for that night's opponent.
It just doesn' make much sense to think you can just walk onto a court and play at your best unless you've gotten yourself prepared to play your best. Put together a well thought out routine you can do before a game to get yourself physically and mentally ready to dominate right from the tip. If you do, you'll be far ahead of most of your competition, and you'll put yourself in a good position to play at a high level and get in the zone.
Click here to go back to the Zone section of the site and get more information, tips, tricks, and techniques to improve your level of play and get yourself playing in the zone.
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