Why can't I play good?

[Anonymous]

i play basketball but whenever i get into a game it's like i forget how to dribble or anything like that i can't even catch the ball very well how can i make this not happen because i'm one of the best player on the freshman team but when i get in game can't really do anything but during practice i can handle the ball and do everything i need to do

[Punkbuster107]

Not sure why this is listed under the sexuality topic, but it’s very common for people to perform better in practice than in front of an expecting crowd/audience or when the stakes are higher.


For me it happens when I play piano in front of people. My muscle memory is still there, but it’s just harder when I’m thinking about the consequences of getting it wrong, as opposed to the low pressure practice environment.


The short answer is that you need to think less and let to us muscle memory / subconscious skills do their thing without letting your conscious brain get in the way and worry about things. Sounds easy, but it’s not nearly as easy as just deciding to stop worrying- truth is you’ll probably only get better at it by playing more in front of people during actual games.


When you mess up try not to dwell on it and beat yourself up, that will just make it worse. Just push past it and try not to think about your mistakes while you’re playing. You can’t just undo them, but you CAN give your whole focus to the rest of the game in front of you.

[Guy13]

That will go away the more you play. Get in a recreational league before you get on the middle school and high school courts. Recruiters start at middle school these days.

[EricJonesAB]

Mentally block everyone else out and just play like it's practice.