Lucky!’ That was Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal’s assessment of Middlesboro’s Old Trafford shoot-out win last night. ‘It was more like the casino. Red or black’. It’s an old argument that you don’t hear trotted out too often in the modern era. The notion that what happens from twelve yards after extra-time, is seemingly in the lap of the footballing gods. A lottery. Out of the managers hands. So…the Dutchman is either putting a protective managerial shield around his players. Or failing to see the obvious. That the spot kick misses from Rooney, Carrick and Young weren’t unlucky. But […]
Read More...Sports Psychology Blog
Welcome to the Sports Psychology blog. Here you will find insights on current sporting events, from the perspective of a sports psychologist.
The purpose of this blog, is to get inside the sporting drama…why the player or team do what they they do…their thinking…mindsets…attitudes…their fluctuating state of confidence…and all the other mental and emotional pieces that create the psychology of sports.
The most recent articles are at the top of the List Of Sports Psychology Blogs Index.
Rugby Psychology: England – Fly Me To The Moon!
When the late Brian Clough managed Nottingham Forest, he was prone to conduct unusual team-talks. For example, he would go into the dressing room pre-match and say. ‘Right Lads. Close your eyes’. Then Brian would take a song from the Frank Sinatra songbook, such as Fly Me To The Moon and sing it. To the team. On conclusion of the song, he would say,’ I’m a good singer arent I lads?’ Now go out and show everyone what good players you are!’ Cloughie wanted his supreme confidence to become the players supreme confidence. His sense of freedom, to become their […]
Read More...Football Psychology: Blackpool – A Club Without Will!
One of the compelling features about Saturday nights England/Wales World Cup encounter was the total commitment the Welsh team gave in their desire to find a way to win. Commitment that could be seen in their energy, hunger, desire, collective spirit. Each player appeared to be giving his all for the cause. Digging deep into their well of resources. It’s like witnessing the best of the human endeavour. Seeing people build their character through acts of will. When we discover that someone has taken performance enhancing drugs to succeed, then it leaves a bitter taste, knowing that they have not […]
Read More...Rugby Psychology: England – Game Management!
If the Rugby World Cup was a competition determined by the singing of the National Anthems, then England would surely be crowned champions. In the pre-match ceremony v Wales, the hosts belted out God Save The Queen with the nationalistic fervour of a team about to go to war. Loaded with emotion and heartfelt desire. Tapping into the hype and expectancy, this was an England team who wanted to let everyone know they were up for it. But maybe that was the problem. An excellent first half hour showed them to have the measure of the Welsh. But then, as […]
Read More...Cricket Psychology: England – Drawing From History!
It’s the final game of the Ashes series, and its an opportunity for England to cement their dominance over this Australian team. One of the surprising things that we have learnt about England’s series preparation, is that there has been an new-found openness about them, which was not always the case in past, more insular self-protective England teams. An openness that has allowed current players to reconnect with England greats of the past and tap into their insights and know-how. For example, Stuart Broad admits that he has never really spoken with Ian Botham previously. Given that Botham is at […]
Read More...Tennis Psychology: Nick Kyrgios – Maturity!
After the on-court dramas at Wimbledon, tennis observers weren’t expecting the talented Nick Kyrgios to be back in the news so quickly. So it’s a surprise to some, that the Australian is back courting the headlines again. His on-court sledge to Stan Wawrinka appears to have shocked the tennis world. And if it was anyone else but Kyrgios, then it’s unlikely to have created such a storm. In a lot of sports, an insulting sledge is part and parcel of the mental games. Employed strategically to gain edge and throw your opponent off balance. So unto itself, it’s of no […]
Read More...Cricket Psychology: Michael Clarke – Confidence!
It’s the best thing that an opposition can hope for. They make their plans around it. It’s strategy number one. And sometimes, they don’t even have to try that hard to execute it. That’s exactly the scenario in this Ashes series. England would have targeted Australian captain Michael Clarke. If the captain and leader is dismissed cheaply, then it exerts extra pressure on the other batters. And sends out a strong message. What England didn’t know was be how easy it would be to take Clarke’s wicket. Once the best batsman in the world, Clarke has completely lost form and […]
Read More...Tennis Psychology: Rafa Nadal – The Champions Pain!
To see a great sportsman at the peak of his or her powers, is one of the reasons why top level sport can be so compelling. By the same token, it can be painful to witness a sporting great searching for one of their superpowers. And so it was with Rafael Nadal at the All England club yesterday. Rafa’s opponent, Dustin Brown, whilst talented, had only won four times previously at Wimbledon. But short of the vital champions currency of confidence and self-belief, Rafa was pushed aside by Brown playing the match of his career. Nadal didn’t fall short through […]
Read More...Cricket Psychology: England – The Transformation!
It’s been a remarkable turn-around. Only months ago England were playing a losing brand of cricket that was out-dated, tired and formulaic. A stats-based approach had inhibited talented players, rendering them incapable of responding, in the moment, to changes in game dynamics. Not any more. Freed of limiting inhibition, playing to their strengths, England are now in tune with the modern one-day game. England’s turn around, demonstrates how simple it is to transform the way a team plays. Charged with being positive and aggressive, the right players are played in their right positions. Fearlesness supports boldness and daring. One players […]
Read More...Snooker Psychology: Stuart Bingham – xxxx It!
He wasn’t on many people’s list of potential winners. A solid tour professional who had never got past the second round at The Crucible before. But against the odds Stuart Bingham was crowned 2015 World Snooker Champion. Bingham has always given the impression, that he didn’t feel he was good enough to beat the games best players. For example, at this years UK Open, he was four frames to one up against Ronnie O’Sullivan. The thought of turning over the games best ever player caught up with him, and he surrendered his lead, as if aware of the consequences of […]
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