Tip Off
Mental health
Did you know?
The Jr. NBA Youth Basketball (JNYB) is a national youth basketball program created by the NBA and Canada Basketball. It was created to help develop skills, as well as a love and respect for the game of basketball, for community sports groups and other groups and clubs.
Source:
NBA & Canada Basketball. (n.d.). About the Jr. NBA. About The Jr. NBA. https://www.jrnba.ca/the-program/about-the-jr-nba
Are you ready to learn about mind health? Let’s begin!
Try It
Breathe in and out
Our mind and body are connected, and it is important to take care of ourselves by listening inwards.
One way to listen in is to pause and focus on our breathing. This can help us to identify how we are feeling.
Check out the following audio clip to learn more about taking deep breaths.
You may follow along with the audio and focus on your breathing.
Safety reminder
Be sure to check that there is enough space around you before you begin.
Breathing Activity
Gametime
How do you feel?
Explore the following images. What do you notice, and how do you feel?
Our emotions are one way that we respond to the people and the world around us.
Sometimes we will go through positive emotions and other times we may experience negative emotions.
When someone is experiencing negative emotions, they might choose different ways to cope. For example:
- sharing their feelings with a trusted friend or adult
- moving or trying a sport or activity that helps release negative emotions from the body
- finding a comfortable space and taking deep calming breaths
- reminding themselves of their strengths
- reminding themselves of the ways they have overcome challenges or difficult times in the past
Pause and reflect
Think about a time when you experienced something that made you feel happy and/or excited. How did you express yourself?
Think about a time when you felt let down or disappointed. How did you express yourself? What did you do to help yourself accept the feelings and keep going?
Record your ideas using a method of your choice. If possible, share with a partner.
Everyone expresses their emotions in different ways, and that’s okay!
Take a moment and think about what you’ve learned so far!
Try It
Your turn!
One way to help us to figure out how we are feeling before we can communicate with others is to move. Moving the body helps to circulate or move blood to all the important muscles, organs, and areas of the body, including the brain.
Check out the following images for some movement ideas. You may also try creating your own movements.
Safety reminder
Be sure to check that there is enough space around you before you begin.
Let’s move!
Explore the following images and descriptions to access a few movement ideas.
Fun fact
Did you know that the NBA has an initiative called Mind Health?
NBA Mind Health reminds us to take a moment to pause and check in with ourselves. This might mean asking yourself how you are feeling, and to think about how you might support others in your life, on your team, or off the court.
One of their mental health highlights is the “Next Level Mentality” series. This video series is run by the Jr NBA and NBA Academy with the goal “to help kids train their brain, like they train their game.”
Source:
Jr NBA. (2021, May 25). Next Level Mentality - NBA.com: Jr. NBA. NBA.com. Retrieved from https://jr.nba.com/nextlevelmentality/
Positive self-talk
The Jr NBA suggests five steps to help a player to keep believing in themselves by using positive self-talk and surround themselves with positive people.
Self-talk is the way that you talk to yourself.
Press the following tabs to access these five steps for positive self-talk.
Pay close attention to the impact of your words. If you’re feeling upset after you made an honest mistake, it might be that you are criticizing yourself in that moment without even realizing what you are doing.
There are situations that may make you feel self-doubt and lead to negative thoughts. Slow down and pause during a stressful event or during a bad day and be kind to yourself.
If there are scenarios that lead you to negative thoughts and self-talk, keep that in mind so that you can pause and take a break, and/or reach out for support.
If you notice that you are in a moment of negative self-talk, try to reframe your thoughts and shift your language to something more encouraging. Remember – when you are trying your best, it’s always enough.
Exploring words or inspiring images can help you to shift away from negative thoughts.
For example, you might try putting a post-it on your mirror that says, “I am enough” or “Today will be a good day!” You might try and write a new note to yourself every week.
If possible, engage with a group that will encourage and support you. We often are affected by the emotions of the people around us, and if you are with others that you can trust and who work on being positive together, it lifts everyone up.
Sources:
Jr. NBA Leagues. (2022, July 13). Series: Improve Your Mental Game—Positive Self-Talk - Jr. NBA Leagues. https://www.jrnbaleagues.com/resources/series-improve-your-mental-game-positive-self-talk/
Profile
Puisand Lai
Puisand Lai, #10 Team Canada, moves across the court at the 2022 World Championships.
At 13 years old, Puisand Lai began to explore different sports, including sledge hockey, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair racing, and wheelchair basketball. Eventually, she decided to focus just on wheelchair basketball. It took her time to learn the game, develop her skills and confidence, but a few years later she was asked to try out for the 2018 National Wheelchair Basketball team, and she made it! She was nervous, but her coaches and team members encouraged her, helping her to see how valuable she was to the team. Puisand kept working hard, and in 2020, she played for Team Canada at the Paralympic Games and made it all the way to the quarterfinals!
Her advice for new athletes: “First and foremost, enjoy the game. If you
enjoy the game and keep working hard, it will take you places that you would
not have thought possible.”
– Puisand Lai
Sources:
Lai, P. (2023, July 24). My Journey: Puisand Lai. Wheelchair Basketball Canada. https://www.wheelchairbasketball.ca/news_press/my-journey-puisand-lai/
Wheelchair Basketball Canada. (2023, June 9). Puisand Lai. https://www.wheelchairbasketball.ca/players/puisand-lai/
Fourth Quarter
Let’s talk!
Check out the following phrases, and sort them as examples of positive or negative self-talk.
Spread the positivity
Mascot guide draws a self portrait, then writes positive phrases: I am strong and brave; If I make a mistake, then I will learn something new; I am proud of myself.
Once we recognize how we are feeling, it becomes easier to communicate with others and help to support and encourage them, too!
Pause and reflect
Imagine that you and your teammates just lost a basketball game or another activity or sports game.
Respond to the following:
- What is an action you could do to help support your teammates?
- What are a few encouraging words or phrases you might use to support your teammates?
Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.
Press Examples to access a few encouraging words and phrases.
We accept challenges and face them as a team.
We are brave enough to try new things!
We work together and learn together!
I’ve got your back!
Great job! Think about how you might use the mind health skills you’ve learned. Catch you next time!