Keeping the core engaged

 This is something that I don't do consciously. I may be keeping my core tight or maybe I'm not. I don't know because I'm not thinking about it. 

You need to keep your core engaged almost the whole time you're playing, because The core stabilizes the hips and keeps a lot of different muscles under control. In some situations if the core is not working other muscles try to cover up for the core, and that could lead to overloading those muscles. Think of the core as the... well... core, the center of the muscles, the powering unit. It is the muscle that makes sure everything else is doing it's job well, making you more efficient. 

You have to keep it in mind while exercising, because it's easy to shift your awareness to the muscle you're working at the moment. I forget it quite often and the exercise isn't as efficient. Keep thinking of keeping the core tight or whatever other driving muscle is working. By driving muscle I mean the muscle that's pushing the whole movement. For example it could be the glutes during side squats. 

That's it