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 – Jon's journey from coaching to mindfulness and mental performance 02:00 – How Alex Sarama influenced his shift toward holistic coaching 03:30 – Developing personal identity as a coach & embracing growth 05:00 – Integrating psychology and spirituality into coaching 07:00 – Why self-awareness is key to helping athletes thrive 08:30 – The connection between mental state, perception, and performance 10:00 – Tools for mindfulness: breathing, awareness, and regulation 14:00 – The pendulation principle: balancing stress and relaxation 17:00 – Inside the Free Your Mind Journal: nervous system mastery & growth mindset 21:00 – Building emotional regulation into team culture and daily routines 26:00 – Practical techniques for grounding athletes before practice or games 30:00 – How touch, safety, and co-regulation impact team connection 32:00 – Why mental performance is essential for modern basketball 34:00 – Transformative Tip    Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/ Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball