In my previous two articles on TheSportinmind, adequate rest (napping) and sufficient sleep are discussed as two of the most commonly reported methods for managing fatigue and enhancing recovery (Hausswirth et al.; MyllymÄKi et al., 2011; Samuels, 2008). I discussed how research supports napping as a prophylactic strategy to supplement the physical and psychological rejuvenation […]
Impressions that people hold of athletes commonly change in response to media reports. The phrasing of these can also affect how athletes consequently view themselves, which in turn affects their performance. Indeed, the effect that words can have on athletes is starting to be recognised. Team GB triathlete Hollie Avil retired from elite sport in […]
Further to my last article on “attention” I decided to come back to the more specific aspect of concentration. Despite it being one of the more obvious mental skills that athletes utilise to perform at their best, a loss of it is often blamed for poor performance. On the other hand athletes also contribute a […]
High performance athletes spend a crucial amount of time into skill development, physical conditioning, and nutrition. However at the high performance stage there is a thin line between winning and losing and the ever sought after consistency of performance. The mentally tough aspect could be the advantage point that allows you as an individual or […]
You begin your journey from the pavilion to the middle. Maybe you’re a club cricketer, you’ve been waiting all week to play your favourite sport, been standing in the field all afternoon watching the bowlers do their thing, waiting for the opportunity to do yours. Maybe you’re an international cricketer, you’re playing in a test […]
The role of parents in youth sport has recently been thrown into the media limelight following Gary Lineker’s article for the Newstatesman (link to the article available below). He apportions part of the blame for England’s lack of international footballing success to a negative culture at grass roots level, specifically involving “pushy parents”. It is […]
Practitioners within sport are required to deal with a range of emotions. These emotions can relate to both positive and negative experiences. Good practitioners will be able to notice emotions amongst their performers and have the ability to deal with them accordingly. Three key elements related to emotions are provided within this article. Identify emotions […]
Within our society, youth sport participation is continually growing and recent figures have shown that 90% of American children participate in at least one sport before they leave high school (Salva, 2004). Team sports have now become an important place for our youth as they become a learning context in which people are taught a […]
Optimal performance requires the balance of stress and recovery in response weekly and annual periodised training. Athletes need sufficient physical stress to maximise positive adaptations in terms of physical qualities such as strength, power and speed as well as skill based qualities such as increased decision making ability. To optimise performance, these qualities need to […]
Ronan O Gara and Jonny Wilkinson, among many others place the ball, set themselves, say something to themselves and then go about their business and put the ball between the posts. So what exactly are they saying and why? Research has shown that the use of psychological techniques can enhance sporting performance (Krane & Williams, […]