MVP Lab - Guards

The cornerstones of MVP are meditation, visualization, and movement. Each cornerstone works to support the other, so MVP works best when all cornerstones are included.

When: I encourage coaches to use the combo meditation + visualization flows at the end of practice. Players have been moving, learning different concepts and skills, and then are able to cement them into their consciousness with MVP. You could also have players practices in their free time outside of team activities, like the night before a game. Or, you might practice 1-2 hours before a game but make sure to use some waking practices such as cold-water face wash or a couple of my somatic practices below to get energized before competition.

Where: on the court is my favorite place to lead MVP sessions. However, a locker room, training room, stage, or classroom will do. Ideally the space is quiet, somewhat dark, and athletes can spread out and lie down on the floor.

How: pull up the Homebody website, log in, and select the practice you’d like. Play it on a speaker so everyone can hear it clearly. If you’re diving in on your own, headphones and a place to lie down are all you need.

Here in the lab are various meditations to discover the power of aware breath. All are important, but I find the diaphragmatic breath and the uneven breath to be particularly vital. Why? They are cornerstones to the gametime breath, the ideal breath during competition.

Meditation is the cornerstone of accessing the flow state both on the floor and in the lab. Moreover, it’s the practice which helps us overcome frustration, let go of mistakes, quiet the inner critic, and remain calm under pressure.

Make sure to meditate before visualizing for best results.

The visualizations cover a multitude of skills, situations, and positional tendencies. Use them to sharpen your ability and dial in common decisions. You can develop different skills by trying out a visualization outside your typical game. Regardless, you’ll find yourself in the center of the action, making critical plays as you perform at a high-level and enhance the play of teammates around you.

Don’t forget: this is in addition to skill training, not a substitute.

Flow - my personal practice usually starts with movement first, then meditation, then visualization. That movement could be a full practice right into a combo meditation + visualization. Or, it could be a film session, a movement practice below, then the combo meditation and visualization.

This structure primes the muscles to open and relax, which helps prime the mind to calm and visualize clearly for an extended period of time. I strongly suggest this flow to maximize your practice.