Twan

What do you do about being nervous when playing basketball. I air my shots but when I play alone I swish them.

D5

I had the same problem in my first ever high school start (2nd to last game as a freshman), I was nervous out there and looked to keep the ball out of my hands and I made some stupid mistakes but after the 1st timeout, I was thinking to myself and realized that it's no different from practice with my teammates so I started settling in and relaxing. You just have to believe in yourself (if you think your shot is going to miss, it will; have confidence in everything you do) and not think too much, that doesn't mean to not think but you don't want to go out there thinking about what you want to do next; it should be natural. Try not to worry too much, as you practice more, your confidence sets in and confidence helps you A LOT.

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HKF

My advice to you, is to just have fun. When you start having fun (and not thinking so much), you'll start playing better. Overthinking (which turns into nervousness) will make you always tense up before ball games. I am not going to lie, when I was in HS I always would be nervous before game time, but once the ball went up, I realized let's have fun and play my game. That's how you should approach it.

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TheChampion

that is about the best advice there is that they have given you... i had the same problem you did as well... i could make just about anything i threw up at the rim in my driveway, but when it was time for the game, i was so nervous about what everyone was thinking about me when i was out there on the court. it really got to me. i always felt like the game was on my shoulders, even though it never was. i just needed to relax. that's what you need to do... don't worry about what your girlfriend up in the stands is doing... stay focused on the game, but have fun while you are doing it. keep your head in the game, and just relax. after all, it is just a game... keep that in mind, but don't lose your killer instincts. just stay sharp out there, do your thing, give maximum effort, and the rest will take care of itself. good luck out there...

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''Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'' - Muhammad Ali

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed." - Michael Jordan

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