So Rafa Benitez finally lets off steam. The pressure that had been building on him since first arriving at Stamford Bridge, finally came out at The Riverside. Yes it made great headlines for the tabloids. But was his public frankness wise? All leaders experience pressure and stress. But they generally learn to keep it private. They deal with things quietly in the background, refusing to show signs of weakness or emotional fraility to their team or group. For example, if Benitez didn’t feel a group of Chelsea supporters weren’t getting behind the team, then he should have met with them […]
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.
Sports Leadership: Dave Brailsford – The Marginal Gains
In a week that has blown the lid off the murky goings on inside the world of Lance Armstrong, one man has emerged as the undisputed leader in the sports post-Armstong future. Dave Brailsford took a principled stand against drug cheats some time ago, and it has informed his leadership. He recognised that drugs gave a rider and team a 15% advantage. And thus to make good this shortfall, he set about creating a leadership strategy called Marginal Gains. Marginal Gains is all about the 1%. The tiny things which on their own make little difference. But when added together, […]
Read More...Golf Psychology: Ian Poulter – Failure Is Not An Option!
It’s Ryder Cup Saturday. Europe are heading for what looked likes certain defeat in the Chicago heat. Then up steps Ian Poulter. Not since Stuart Pearce in Euro 96, has an Englishman showed such courage and defiance in sporting adversity. Poulter refused to accept the inevitable. Defeat for him, was not an option. He had already declared to his captain Jose Maria Olazabal, that he would return to base with a point. By confidently declaring his intentions, Poulter left himself with no options. He had to win. And thus under this personal pressure, he drew on all his ability, experience, […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Jonathan Fox – In The Zone!
Paralympic gold medal winner Jonathan Fox has an interesting pre-race routine to help him get into the zone before his races. He plays with a Rubik Cube. Fox looks to block out any distractions in the final minutes before his races by turning to the Rubik’s cube that has accompanied him across the world for the past six years. The 21-year-old was given a cube by his grandmother before his first World Championships in South Africa in 2006. Since then, it has travelled the world with Fox, who has honed his skill at solving the puzzle to the extent he […]
Read More...Tennis Psychology: Andy Murray – The Wimbledon Final!
So Andy Murray is one game away from his first Wimbledon title. In the past there would be plenty of reasons of doubt whether he could take the final step and secure his first Grand Slam. But this time feels different.And the sense that destiny awaits Murray comes from the presence of Ivan Lendl in his corner. Murray has brought Lendl in for one thing. To help him win Grand Slams.Lendl was an interesting choice as coach. He had run a junior tennis academy before, but had no portfolio of successful stars to show his coaching credentials to Murray. But […]
Read More...Tennis Psychology: Andy Murray – The Wimbledon Final Hysteria!
So it’s all over for Andy Murray for another year. Despite his best efforts, he was found to be not good enough against the masterful Grand Champion Federer. Yet this morning the story was not about the seven times Wimbledon champion, but about Murray. How his tears had endered him to the nation. How he ‘did us proud’, and other cliches. The outpouring of hysteria around Murray is strange. Images of men crying in the Wimbledon stands simply look wrong. Murray doesn’t represent them; their hopes; dreams and ambitions. He is a multi-millioniare playing for himself and his close group. […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Tom Maynard – A Warrior Spirit!
This morning Surrey cricketer Tom Maynard passed away. I had the pleasure of knowing Tom for three years, and he was a truly special individual. Tom had an unwavering sense of principle and deep rooted values, that he always held to, allied with a warrior spirit that loved a challlenge. Tom had no fear of failure, and loved to test himself against the best. I will always remember the joy on his face, when he leapt into the Lord’s crowd last summer after Surrey had won the CB 40 final, to hug his mother and gran. He had a quality […]
Read More...Cricket Psychology: Glamorgan – A Team Without A Cause!
On Wednesday at The Oval, Surrey and Glamorgan met in a CB40 over game, that was dedicated to the memory of Tom Maynard. Tom played with great passion for both clubs, and it was fitting to see both teams carry his name on the back of their shirts. However, only one of the teams played in a manner befitting his memory and it wasn’t Glamorgan. The Welshmen were thrashed in a performance that can only be described as abject. If they didn’t have Tom’s name on their backs, then you could dismiss the poverty of their display as that of […]
Read More...Football Psychology: Nicklas Bendtner – Misaligned Values!
It’s the Denmark / Portugal Euro 2012 group game, and striker Nicklas Bendtner has pulled a goal back for Denmark. He ‘celebrates’ by showing us his underwear, which is conveniently covered in the name of a bookmakers logo. It’s as tacky a celebration as you could wish to see, and unsurprisingly the Dane has been hauled over the coals by the games governing body. Just what was he thinking of? It matches England wicket-keeper Matt Prior’s behind the stumps mouthing the name of the energy company sponsoring the test cricket at Trent Bridge a few years ago, for lack of […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Rebecca Adlington – Fear Of Failure!
The London Olympics are fast approaching, and swimming gold medallist Rebecca Adlington is nervous. Rebecca is one of the poster girls for the Olympics. A public figure and focal point for the nation’s expectations. Expectations that can become a massive burden. Expectations that can lead to fear of failure. And when fear of failure holds sway, then under-performance can easily follow. For a champion like Rebecca Adlington, handling the burden of expectation is a familiar feeling. And one she should embrace like a champion. She admits to feeling scared ahead of the upcoming trials. And thats ok. A fear of […]
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