HAVING A NEXT LEVEL MENTALITY MEANS DOING WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE A MENTAL EDGE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO, WHETHER IT BE ON OR OFF THE COURT.

NEXT LEVEL MENTALITY is a content series dedicated to helping kids stay active and healthy while also learning the importance of mind-body connection and improving their mental approach to sports and life.

The Jr. NBA and NBA Academy have teamed up with professional mental performance coaches from the NBA and WNBA to help young people gain a mental edge using sports performance techniques.

• Overview

  OVERVIEW

  Our goal is to help kids TRAIN THEIR BRAIN, LIKE THEY TRAIN THEIR GAME.

  Next Level Mentality will cover a series of 10 mental performance topics consisting of a video and facilitator guide for each topic. The videos are targeted for kids ages 9-14, and the facilitator guides are targeted towards coaches and educators, to help them teach this content to their youth.

  • Each video episode features tips and resources from a mental performance coach, personal insight from NBA and WNBA players, and associated warmup and basketball drills.
  • The facilitator guides will help deepen your knowledge of the subject matter as well as provide additional resources and ideas for both individual and group activities.
  • Check back here for a new episode every week!
  • If you are interested in additional mental wellness resources, please visit nba.com/mindhealth.

   

  **The health and safety of the entire youth basketball community – including players, parents, coaches and staff – remains paramount. Any in-person activities should be conducted in accordance with local and state guidelines. We encourage all coaches and educators to continue to consult with medical experts and local officials to determine the health and safety guidelines that must be met when conducting in-person activities, if deemed safe to proceed. 

• Goal Setting

  GOAL SETTING

  Goal setting is the process of identifying something that you want to accomplish, and then establishing measurable ways and timeframes to accomplish it. It’s extremely important to set goals for yourself personally, academically, athletically – in anything you do!

  Check out the Goal Setting Facilitator Guide for more information on goal setting including how it can benefit you, how to utilize it daily and ways to practice it individually and as a group.

• Concentration

  CONCENTRATION

  Concentration is all about being present and in the moment. When you are focused, you can understand things more quickly and better ignore distracting thoughts. Having strong concentration skills can help improve your performance both in sports and in life!

  Check out the Concentration Facilitator Guide  for more information on concentration including strategies to train it individually and as a group.

• Teamwork

  TEAMWORK

  Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common goal. We use teamwork skills not just in sports, but in the classroom, with friends and at home. Learning how to be a good teammate can improve our own social skills, create stronger bonds of trust, and improve our productivity.

  Check out the Teamwork Facilitator Guide for more information on teamwork including steps to follow to improve teamwork among a group of students/athletes and the importance of an individual’s role in team settings.

• Effective Communication

  EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

  Effective Communication is the process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, and information both effectively and efficiently. When we communicate effectively, we are clear in delivering our messages while also actively listening to the messages of others.

  Check out the Effective Communication Facilitator Guide for more information on effective communication including ways to practice and improve it both individually and as a team.

• Contact

  CONTACT

  The staff of the Jr. NBA is happy to answer questions regarding Next Level Mentality. Please email JrNBA@nba.com and a representative will be available to assist.