Mental Toughness
What coping skill is being used when you tell yourself: “I’m tripping. Let me calm down.”
Answer: What is positive self-talk/cognitive restructuring?
What is the FIRST step before reacting impulsively?
Answer: What is stop/pause?
This NBA player is famous for saying “I took that personally.”
Answer: Who is Michael Jordan?
A teammate misses the winning shot. What’s the supportive response?
Answer: Encourage them/support teammate.
This NBA legend won 6 championships with the Chicago Bulls and was known for his competitive mentality.
Answer:
Who is Michael Jordan?
Name one physical sign your body gives when angry.
clenched fists, hot face, fast heart rate, shaking, etc.
Name one coping skill you can use before an explosive reaction.
Answers: deep breathing, walking away, basketball, journaling, self-talk, music, etc.
How many points is a shot worth behind the arc?
Answer: What is 3 points?
Coach benches you and you feel angry. What CBT skill helps most?
Answer: Self-talk/reframing/emotional regulation.
This player was nicknamed “Black Mamba” and played most of his career for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Answer:
Who is Kobe Bryant?
True or False:
Walking away from conflict is weakness.
False
Your peer bumps into you at school and laughs. What’s the BEST first response?
Answer: Walk away/check intent/use self-control.
What is something you wish people told you more often?
Personal Response-
A peer keeps trying to provoke you. What’s the long-term consequence of reacting physically?
Answer: Loss of placement, probation issues, suspension, consequences.
This current NBA superstar is known for long-range shooting and plays for the Golden State Warriors.
Who is Stephen Curry?
What CBT skill helps you challenge negative thoughts?
What is cognitive restructuring?
What emotion is usually underneath anger?
Possible answers: hurt, embarrassment, rejection, sadness, frustration.
What basketball skill requires focus, repetition, and emotional control?
What is shooting/free throws? (Allow multiple answers.)
You’re stressed and want to isolate. Name one healthy behavioral activation activity.
Answers: basketball, exercise, journaling, walking, music, cooking.
This player is often called “King James” and became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Answer:
Who is LeBron James?
If someone insults you and you choose not to react, what are you taking away from them?
Answer: What is power/control over your emotions?
You feel yourself getting overwhelmed. What should you do BEFORE you lose control?
Answer: Use coping skills/seek space/talk to support person/regulate body.
Name one NBA player who openly talked about mental health struggles.
Possible answers: Kevin Love or DeMar DeRozan
Complete this statement:
“Strong people are not people who never struggle. Strong people are people who…”
Answer: keep going/use coping skills/get back up/adapt.
What basketball skill usually improves the most through repetition, discipline, and practice?
What is shooting/free-throw shooting/ball handling? (Accept multiple answers.)