The Impossibility of Perfectionism

The idea of “perfect” is often found in the vocabulary of athletes and coaches alike. “Perfect execution”. ”Perfect practice.” “Perfect shot”. While the concept of striving for perfection pushes players to achieve their ultimate best performance, problems occur when an athlete’s mental toughness is limited by “perfectionism” which leaves absolutely no room for failure of any kind.
The mental game of basketball requires a player to effectively encounter failure or any negative situation, then regroup, and refocus with a positive mindset and strong basketball confidence. The player that struggles with perfectionism constantly feels a sense of failure because they are unable to perform perfectly, thus crushing their basketball confidence and overall mental toughness.
Sports psychology for basketball advises players to establish goals as a means to strengthen focus and improve their mental game. These goals should always fit the player’s ability and allow for growth at their particular level.
Perfectionism allows for no growth, because there is nothing better than perfect, yet it is also clearly unattainable. Even the best professional athletes miss shots, commit fouls, and travel with the ball. Mistakes are part of the game of basketball, but the mentally tough athlete succeeds when they view mistakes as a means toward growth and not as a sign of weakness and failure.
Here are some signs a player may be dealing with perfectionism, and as a result a weakened basketball confidence.

• A sense of never being good enough. These players feel anxious when talking about their abilities and performance.

•  Never able to experience success. These players always minimize any success or goals they reached by focusing on negative situations. An example is the player who scored their personal best, but focuses on a missed free throw.

•  The game is no longer fun to play. Certainly practices are difficult, but mentally tough athletes enjoy the game. They enjoy getting better. Athletes suffering with a perfectionist mentality find no joy because each and every minute they play is simply an opportunity for failure.

• Constant frustration. When a perfectionist misses a shot it carries great levity, and it is easy to see in their body language that it crushes their confidence. Any mistake is accentuated to great proportions in their mindset, and as a result their focus remains negative with worry and anger.

• Nerves. Most perfectionist athletes get very nervous in game situations, because they are faced with situations to fail. Since they know perfect is an illusion, the only thing they can experience is failure to meet it.

The first step to overcoming a perfectionist mentality is to analyze thoughts and determine your focus. Ask the question, “Are my goals realistic and attainable?” If they are not, then it is time to reset some goals. Recruit the assistance of a trusted individual to create your goals, and determine if they fit your abilities. Surround yourself with individuals who strengthen your basketball confidence with encouragement, and not destroy it with perfectionist ideals.
Finally, analyze your thoughts and mental focus during practice and game situations to determine if you are strengthening mental toughness or creating a negative mindset when faced with adversity.