Devin Booker ends every workout with the same drill.
He has to make seven consecutive 3-pointers from five different spots on the court.
It doesn’t sound terribly difficult for a great shooter, until you miss on the sixth and seventh shot a few times. Then it becomes terribly taxing on the mind and performance.
This particular day he drilled seven in a row on his second try from the first spot.
Next spot he hit six in a row then missed in-and-out.
A couple more makes, followed by a miss.
And again.
The inconsistency was taking its toll.
The frustration was building.
5 minutes later.
10 minutes later he was still on the second spot.
Then Coach stopped him. Talked to him about not being so critical with every miss. About finding his flow and letting it fly.
Book re-engaged, restarting from the beginning. He drilled seven in a row on the first spot.
Second spot he missed once but it didn’t faze him. We were off and running!
Our 19-year-old rookie, Marquese Chriss, was shooting a similar 3-point game. He just had to make 10 from the same five spots.
By his fourth spot he hit 5-out-of-7.
But then made just 2 of his next 10.
Frustration was boiling.
Coach stopped him. Reset his mind and re-engaged.
‘Quese hit five straight and moved to his final spot.
There are two elements in optimal performance:
1. High level of attention and focus
The task is challenging, not boring or redundant. All of your attention is here.
This was me last weekend during my first mountain biking ride. The novelty and danger required my full attention to every rock and crevice.
2. Surrendered motor control
When you release your motor control to instincts.
Nerves and anxiousness don’t tighten your muscles. It doesn’t cause you to willfully overpower or hesitantly participate.
This was not me two weekends ago playing Saturday 2s volleyball.
After enough reps, Devin and Marquese can get bored. Their minds wander.
Something has to bring their attention back to the now.
After enough misses the fear and critical voices become louder and more convincing.
Something has to help them relax and surrender again.
Pay attention to your focus. Are you here, now? Or is your mind wandering?
Pay attention to your action? Is it uninhibited?