The transfer rumour mill is starting to crank up as Premier League and Football League clubs prepare to return for pre-season training in the very near future. Successful recruitment is generally accepted in the professional game as the no.1 critical factor with regards to success on the pitch. So, clubs work feverishly to sign the […]
“No one formula can provide effective and meaningful interventions for all athletes and teams in all situations” (Anderson, 2002). It is critically important to keep individual differences in mind when considering sport psychology interventions. Research in the field of sport psychology has been able to examine techniques and reveal what is most helpful for performance […]
Self-talk, or our internal monologue, often has contrasting effects; used correctly self-talk is one of the most effective methods of instilling self-confidence. Negative self-talk involves thinking or saying anything that reflects a lack of confidence or a defeatist attitude. Circumstances where negative self-talk is common amongst athletes, are situations where they have previously failed, or […]
This article focuses on the process of appraising stressors and the impact this may have for sporting performance. It will provide an overview of the theoretical assumptions of stress appraisal and highlight relevant research that has applied this theoretical framework with athletes. Within sport, athletes experience a variety of stressors that may impact their performances. […]
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might not get there.” The words of baseball legend Yogi Berra might be carrying particular resonance with Sir Bradley Wiggins right now. With the Tour De France well underway, there is a notable absentee and there is a feeling that Wiggins isn’t quite sure where he is […]
In the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs there is always talk about resiliency and the necessity of this tangible attribute in order to succeed. What makes resliency more of a psychological component to success is the fact that it is difficult to measure (as is the case with most psychological componenets of sport). Resiliency in sport […]
Successful performance in elite football does not usually show itself until the early 20s due to unpredictable factors during a player’s development, particularly the effect that the growth spurt (puberty) will have on them physically and psychologically (although there have been some prodigies to prove the exception (e.g. Wayne Rooney or Michael Owen). However, it […]
I think that it is fair to say that a team is far more than a collection of athletes. The term ‘cohesion’ is often used to describe a team that works together towards a common performance goal. A truly cohesive team becomes more than just individuals, and their performance equates to more than they could […]
Recently, I was fortunate enough to be on a skiing vacation in Austria, and it was within this majestic setting that I found the inspiration to write a small piece on what I believe is a fundamental psychological element of performance, or lack thereof. The element of FEAR. Anyone who has been on a skiing […]
This is an extraordinary exercise to show fellow coaches and your players the power of mindset and positive thinking. I won’t claim it as my own, but will thank Susan Jeffers, author of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway. Have a member of your team stand in front of the group. For effect, choose […]