Reflection on performance plays an important role in athletic development and adherence to training programmes. Therefore our reflection needs to be accurate and informative for athletes, coaches and sport psychologists. Franks and Miller (1991) highlighted that coaches can accurately remember only 40% of performance. This statistic may shock some coaches, and this is not unique to […]
There is a theory (K Anders Ericsson) that it requires 10,000 hours of ‘deliberate practice’ or 10 years (1,000 hours per year, 2.75 hours per day!) to become an expert in a given field. Although there are big holes in this theory (namely individual differences in acquiring skill and the environment that the learner is […]
How it is that an expert footballer can play a perfectly weighted 50 yard pass cutting through the oppositions defence when under immense pressure. Swap them with a considerably less skilled player like myself more often than not I would play a ‘wrong’ pass or get caught in possession. Questions are asked as to what […]
Creating and developing an internal self-awareness within athletes is, for me, the most important job a sport psychologist has within applied work, and is something I care a great deal about when working with others. When it comes down to it, it is not we – the psychologist who will be scoring goals in the […]
Whether its recreational or professional, injury is a common occurrence at all levels of sport and exercise. Evidence has shown that physical factors such as over-training, equipment and playing conditions are the major contributors towards an athlete’s injuries. However, there are many other psychological factors that play a huge role in the gaining, prevention and […]
Either as an athlete, coach or business we all aspire to be successful. We want to be noted in the same breath as excellence. Even as an individual trying to convince yourself to go to the gym to prepare for your next race, you are chasing excellence. However where does this culture of excellence begin? […]
The majority of sport aficionados were sad to hear the announcement of Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the most successful football managers of all time. However, there may have been a slight sigh of relief from one particular group: football referees! Ferguson, along with other managers, players and of course fans, often criticised the performance […]
Within psychology the topic of leadership has been extensively studied over the last hundred years. Leadership is defined as the process by which an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. Leaders have two main responsibilities: to ensure the demands of the organization are satisfied and to ensure the needs of […]
In my experience, the term resilience is becoming an extremely prominent term used within sport, whether it is in relation to coaching, physiology or psychology. This is partly due to the rise and use of positive psychology and the benefits it can have on well-being and vitality within individuals (See Seligman for a full conceptualisation […]
Approximately 60% of men, 70% of women, 30% of boys and 40% of girls do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of death in developed countries, responsible for: 22-23% of CHD 16-17% of colon cancer 15% of diabetes 12-13% of strokes 11% of breast cancer By increasing levels […]