Perceptual-Cognitive Processes in Basketball—Individual and Team Aspects

The role of psychological processes in team sports has been studied extensively. The chapter focuses on the psychological factors that are unique to basketball. These factors include the following: (a) free throw shooting—examining the role of gaze behavior in enhancing shooting percentages, (b) “the hot hand”—the underlying mechanisms leading to a “hot streak,” (c) clutch performance under pressure—why some players choke in critical game situations while others flourish, and (d) team decision-making—team performance as a unit which operates with optimal coordination and communication. This chapter consists of research findings and theoretical insights to capture the mechanisms leading to enhanced psychological skills and expert performance. Furthermore, this chapter provides guidelines for improving performance by transferring the knowledge gained from research to the applied domain. General psychological skills such as preperformance routine, decision-making, and attention are examined throughout the chapter. A final summary of findings including limitations in the current literature and future directions to enhance the domain are provided.