Being part of a basketball team provides too many advantages to count, including the opportunity to learn many important life lessons that will help us for years to come. One such life lesson centers on how to deal with change and let's face it if there is one constant in life (and basketball) it's that it is continually changing. So the next time you face some change either on or off the court. F.A.R.T. until you get back on track:

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F.A.R.T-a Powerful Formula That Helps Athletes Deal with Change in Their Lives-hoopskills.com
F.A.R.T (A powerful formula that helps
athletes deal with change in their lives)
-by Coach Dave Stricklin
http://www.hoopskills.com
Being part of a basketball team provides too many
advantages to count, including the opportunity to
learn many important life lessons that will help us for
years to come. One such life lesson centers on how to
deal with change and let's face it if there is one
constant in life (and basketball) it's that it is continually
changing.
So the next time you face some change either on or off
the court. F.A.R.T. until you get back on track:
Face the facts. The first step is to honestly realize and
admit that your circumstances have somehow
changed and an adjustment needs to be made. Maybe
it's something obvious like you are injured or your team is facing an inevitable
coaching change. Maybe it's something not as obvious such as why your playing
time has rapidly decreased over the last few weeks. Denying what has happened
or even avoiding the truth is only going to prolong the pain and so the sooner you
can face the facts the sooner you can improve the situation.
Accept what is happening. I realize that this is often very difficult to do and you
certainly don't have to like the change. However, you do need to accept it before
you can deal with it and get on with your season and/or career.
Given the choice, we would all much rather live securely in our personal comfort
zones, but now that things are different we need to suck it up and demonstrate
some mental toughness no matter how emotionally difficult. Sometimes
acceptance means acknowledging some personal responsibility. Is it possible that
YOU have caused the change because of your work ethic, attitude, or
commitment?

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F.A.R.T-a Powerful Formula That Helps Athletes Deal with Change in Their Lives-hoopskills.com
Research other options and possibilities. Now that you have faced the facts and
accepted what's happened, you need to find the best way to deal with the new
changes. Start by brainstorming and writing down every possible option regardless
if it is realistic or ridiculous. The bigger the list the better - quit playing, see another
doctor, improve your speed and agility, ask for a different role, etc. Each situation
is going to generate a separate and distinct list and so while brainstorming be
more concerned with quantity of options than with quality.
Once your list is completed begin reviewing and eliminating each option one by
one until you are left with the most realistic, most feasible option possible.
Remember though, the goal is not to find the option that you like the best but to
find the option that will work the best.
Take care of business. Any time a decision is made the very next step is always
execution. This is the time where you have to do whatever it takes to make your
new option your new normal.
For example, let's say you recently tore your ACL (knock on wood). You've faced
the fact that your knee is injured and it's going to be awhile before its back to
normal. After a few unsuccessful attempts to get cleared by an orthopedic, you've
accepted the fact that your season is definitely over. You make a list of all options
and possibilities and decide that you're going to have surgery and be ready to play
by the time fall practice starts. To make the best of your new situation and to
improve your future, your new "normal" needs to include hour after hour of
physical therapy and rehab.
This same formula can be applied to any change you are faced with during your
career. Every basketball player and coach, whether they are in middle school or in
the NBA, is hit with a steady stream of change. How you handle those changes is
going to largely determine your success and happiness. When those changes
come, don't panic - F.A.R.T.