As athletes and coaches at all levels become more sophisticated, using a team of people to support and help the athlete and coach is becoming more commonplace. Using a strength and conditioning coach to develop the physical side, a physio or sports therapist to stay healthy, a nutritionist to work on what they eat and […]
The above is the title of a book by Guy Claxton that I read recently. At the time of publishing the author was Director for Real-World Learning at the University of Winchester. After teaching for a few years the book was a revelation about how poor and old-fashioned some practice in education really is, but […]
Imagine yourself walking up to the tee box on the 18th hole of the PGA Championship. You are leading the field, and simply have to make par to win the trophy. However, you are only up one stroke on your competition, and you must make the perfect tee shot to ensure you set yourself up […]
‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit’ – Aristotle Novices and experts alike are all, or at least should be, aware of the vital physiological benefits of a warm up. They are crucial to performance by preparing the body for action, whilst minimizing the risk of injury. […]
Performance can be broken down into many different aspects. These aspects are psychological, technical, physical, and nutritional. Performers alongside their coaches need to be mindful about these aspects and write down what has gone well for them this year and what improvements could be made from January onwards. Essentially, performers who wish to fulfil objectives that were […]
“Mental health has a stigma that is tied into weakness and is absolutely the antithesis of what athletes want to portray. ” (Dr. Thelma Dye Holmes) When an athlete experiences physical injury, there is often a team of medical personnel including doctors, trainers and physiotherapists employed to ensure a speedy recovery. However, when an athlete […]
We have all seen pictures in the media of sports stars huddled together taking a dip in an ice bath. The hugely successful Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and Andy Murray have all used ice baths but why do they put themselves through the pain of cold water immersion (CWI) and does it have any beneficial […]
There are many variables that impact on the success of a team. One variable widely acknowledged is the contribution of a coach or manager. Across time we have seen two models of progression to coaching jobs through a variety of sports. 1. The quick progression of a recent former player to head coach. 2. The gradual […]
As a physically active population, athletes are typically viewed by the general public as healthy and strong, and so are not considered to be an at risk group for suffering from eating disorders. However this perception is part of the reason that eating disorders can be overlooked in sport. The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) […]
“With special populations, especially those who are particularly goal-oriented, particularly high achievers and particularly focused, there is still a sense of stigmatization, a sense of shame…One strategy for reaching out to athletes is to frame mental healthcare as a way to improve their performance in their sport.” (T.L. Schwenk, 2013) Student-athletes are often subjected to […]