EP139: Unlocking Mental Performance in Basketball with Jon Giesbrecht (Part 1)
In this episode, George is joined by Jon Giesbrecht, founder of Play Free Basketball, Director of Mental Performance for the Vancouver Bandits, and author of Free Your Mind: Overthinking Athletes. Jon shares how mindfulness and emotional regulation can transform both coaches and players. He explains how to bridge the gap between basketball coaching and mental performance, build player awareness through breathwork, and use journaling as a tool for self-discovery and growth.
Chapters:
00:00 β Jonβs journey from coaching to mindfulness and mental performance
02:00 β How Alex Sarama influenced his shift toward holistic coaching
03:30 β Developing personal identity as a coach & embracing growth
05:00 β Integrating psychology and spirituality into coaching
07:00 β Why self-awareness is key to helping athletes thrive
08:30 β The connection between mental state, perception, and performance
10:00 β Tools for mindfulness: breathing, awareness, and regulation
14:00 β The pendulation principle: balancing stress and relaxation
17:00 β Inside the Free Your Mind Journal: nervous system mastery & growth mindset
21:00 β Building emotional regulation into team culture and daily routines
26:00 β Practical techniques for grounding athletes before practice or games
30:00 β How touch, safety, and co-regulation impact team connection
32:00 β Why mental performance is essential for modern basketball
34:00 β Transformative Tip
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Links:
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