We, as athletes, are all guilty of doing this. We end up stereotyping our opponents before even playing against them. We hear that they are tall, haven’t lost a game all year because of their skill, where they grew up, etc., which can really create some serious mental blocks.
This can go the other way as well. What I mean is, just because a player is short, doesn’t mean s/he can’t ball. Just because someone is heavier set, doesn’t mean they can’t run. Just because they have a brace on their knee, doesn’t mean their defense will be bad.
To avoid these mental blocks from affecting your performance, eliminating this stereotyping will reduce this made up prediction of your opponents in your head.
Here is a list of typical characteristics that most people stereotype: (If you catch yourself doing this, quickly convert your thinking!)
- Experience level
- Body type
- Gender
- Race
- Height
- Weight
- Socioeconomic status
- Education
Written by:
Sarah Grippi
Basketball Mindset