The Transforming Basketball Podcast

EP98: Mental Performance with Andy Bass

Jan 29, 2025

Dive into the mental world of sports as a Major League Mental Skills Coordinator shares his journey through baseball and overcoming challenges like the yips. Discover innovative techniques like errorless learning and mindfulness that help athletes thrive. Explore vital aspects of sports psychology such as concentration, composure, and resilience. Learn how positive self-talk can enhance performance, and uncover the importance of tailored communication and experiential learning in boosting player motivation.

30:40

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Quick takeaways

Andy Bass emphasizes the significance of mental skills techniques like errorless learning and differential learning for overcoming performance anxiety.

The podcast discusses the importance of tailored goal-setting and fostering shared accountability to enhance athletes' motivation and commitment.

Deep dives

Ecological Dynamics in Basketball

The podcast emphasizes the application of an ecological dynamics framework to enhance basketball performance and skill acquisition. This approach encourages coaches to consider how the environment and context influence player behavior and decision-making. For example, instead of traditional drills, the focus shifts to small-sided games that replicate real-game scenarios, promoting adaptability and fluidity in play. This perspective is crucial for developing contemporary coaching strategies that align with evidence-based practices.

Intro

2min

Overcoming the Yips: Insights and Strategies

2min

Exploring Differential Learning and Mindfulness in Sports Performance

3min

Exploring the Pillars of Sports Psychology

2min

Understanding Beneficial vs Detrimental Self-Talk in Sports

2min

Tailored Communication and Mental Conditioning in Sports

20min

In this episode, Adam Omiecinski is joined by Andy Bass, a Major League Mental Skills Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andy discusses his background in sports psychology and his journey through college baseball, addressing the mental challenges he faced, including overcoming the yips. He delves into mental skills techniques such as errorless learning, differential learning, and mindfulness. Andy also explores key pillars of sports psychology like concentration, composure, and resilience, and offers insights into effective self-talk, motivation, goal-setting, and visualization.

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