How to Jump Higher - Stay motivated

One key to being able to jump higher in basketball is to get the right motivation. This can be tricky because people are motivated by different things, but you need to find your source of motivation and use it as a constant source of fuel for your performance.

You will have seen many professional sportsmen preparing for the game with their headsets on. Some athletes use music, or motivation speeches to get pumped. Many others think about their doubters and haters to help fuel their desire to perform. Another way is to give yourself some pain, whether mental or physical. I'm not suggesting you hurt yourself but I'm sure you've seen weightlifters taking a few slaps from their trainers just before a lift. Researchers believe that the pain seems to in some way awaken the nervous system and allow you to perform at a higher level.

Another invaluable exercise is to visualize your performance. Go through what you are going to do, and how you will achieve it. You need to feel every move in your body not just imagine it in your head. Remember how your muscles feel as you jump higher than before, feel the floor with every step you take, appreciate the movement of the air around your body.

Choose a few short motivational statements and think about them every day. Make them your private coaches, and say them over to yourself whenever you feel low, or in need of a lift. Here are a few that you might have heard before, (if you hear them a lot that's probably because they work), but pick the ones you like and use them at the right time:
Practice makes perfect.
Quitters never win. And winners never quit.
Believe in your self, and in what you can do.
The harder you work the luckier you get.
Talk is cheap. Take action now.
Learn from your mistakes. If you haven't made mistakes you haven't made anything.
Follow through - finish what you start.
Tomorrow is a new day.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary.
You miss 100% of the shots you never take.
The Six W's: Work will win when wishing won't.
You can't make a great play unless you do it first in practice.
If you can accept losing, you can't win.
Once you learn to quit, it becomes a habit.
You can always become better.

But be careful here, don't use up all your energy getting ready for the performance. We've all seen these guys who look like they are ready to explode before the game starts but then burn out by half time and don't have anything left to give.

Knowing how to jump higher in basketball isn't just about getting the training exercises right. It isn't just about getting the nutrition your body needs to be able to perform the moves right. It isnt just about getting your head in the right place, with the right motivation. You will get the best results using the program that combines all three of these elements to make you jump higher.