It’s the final of the World Snooker Championship, at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. Ronnie O’Sullivan has taken command of his match against final debutant, Alistair Carter. But Ronnie seems frustrated. Slightly ill at ease. It’s as if he is desperate to play the flowing, magical snooker that put paid to Stephen Hendry’s title challenge. But somehow, he can’t quite seem to attract the snooker gods to the table. In his Hendry semi-final, O’Sullivan clearly had moments when he was in the zone. When, everything he did, was perfection. Effortless. At one with the game. It’s the state of sporting nirvana, that all […]
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.
Football: Didier Drogba – Disrespect Me!
Basketball legend Michael Jordan used to thrive on opponents taunts and abuse. He would use them as motivation to prove them wrong. To throw their words right back at them. For Jordan that abuse was critical currency in his desire to find an edge. That extra something, to take his game to another level. Cricketers around the world would never, for example, get under Australian legend Steve Waugh’s skin. For they knew, that if they wound Waugh up, with ill-advised sledging, it would only serve to increase his focus and determination. So wisely, opposing fielders learnt to keep quiet when […]
Read More...Football: Frank Lampard – Mental Strength
So, a week after the death of his mother, Frank Lampard returns to the Chelsea side, for the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool. As the game goes into extra-time deadlock, Chelsea are awarded a penalty. It’s presumed that Michael Ballack will carry on spot-kick duties. So, there’s a real sense of surprise, when Lampard steps up to take the pressure kick. With remarkable coolness, he outwits Reina, and places the penalty, with aplomb, to the keepers left. It’s a great demonstration of mental and emotional strength from Lampard. For, from his reaction after scoring, it’s obvious that the goal is […]
Read More...Football Psychology: Manchester United – The Cause
So Manchester United are through to the Champions League Final. Despite a nervy last ten minutes, their spirit was simply greater than that of Barcelona. The Spaniards had the artists and technicians, but what they didn’t seem to have was a powerful sense of purpose. A cause. United, on the other hand, had two powerful causes to support their endeavour. The first was the fiftieth anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster. To play for a place in the Champions League Final, on behalf of those who lost their lives in honour of the football club. That, in itself, would get […]
Read More...Football: Watford – The Aidy Effect
At the beginning of the Championship season, Watford were strong favourites for a swift return to the Premier League. And their form at the start of the campaign, confirmed that optimism in Hertfordshire. Runaway leaders of the division, it was assumed that everyone else was playing for second place. Now, with two games of the season to go, they are competing for a play-off place. It’s unlikely, on current form, that any of their potential play-off opponents will fear them. Watford have lost the critical momentum and authority they once had. Hornets fans are scathing in their criticism of their […]
Read More...Football: Liverpool – Us v Them
It’s the period just before the Champions League semi-final against Chelsea. Rafael Benitez has silenced the critics, as his settled side produce their best form of the campaign. All is looking good for a cracking end of season. Then along comes Tom Hicks. Firstly, the American co-owner makes his displeasure of Rick Parry’s performance in marketing the club, public. Then a war of words breaks out between Hicks and fellow co-owner George Gillett. Whatever Tom Hicks’s views are, he should be keeping them to himself. Opening up a public debate about boardroom matters, is naive and unprofessional. And disruptive. For […]
Read More...Football: David Bentley – Addiction
“It is so easy, I could have 50 to 100 bets a day no problem. I was betting on anything. It starts off from pounds, then it’s a hundred, then it’s thousands. I was addicted to betting on everything. I would wake up and the first thing I would think about would be to have a bet rather than play football”. David Bentley speaking frankly about his gambling addiction. Happily, he is not longer subject to this problem. But when a footballer becomes consumed by gambling, it can have a serious impact on their form. What happens is, when a […]
Read More...Diving: Tom Daley – Lost Move Syndrome
In a few months time. Plymouth’s Tom Daley will be competing in his first Olympic Games. At the age of thirteen, Tom is already European Diving Champion. Clearly this is a talented young sportsman with a bright future ahead of him. And one with an abundance of mental strength. For as well as having to deal with his fathers cancer, he has overcome a psychological problem that troubles both divers, gymnasts and trampolinists. It is known as Lost Move Syndrome. It means that the performer has forgotten how to execute a specific move. Tom describes it in this way: “Two […]
Read More...Boxing: Martin Rogan – Desire!
He went into the final of Prizefighter as the underdog. Up against the fancied Commonwealth Games gold medallist David Dolan, it was presumed that Dolan’s class would shine through. That the ‘boxer’ would outwit the ‘slugger’. But that would be reckoning without one thing. Martin Rogan’s desire. Rogan had Dolan down twice in the fight. The three judges had no option but to award the Irishman the contest. He fought as if his life depended on it. This was a man who had seen an opportunity. A chance to transform his career. Change his life. Earn 25,000. Make a name for […]
Read More...Football: Colin Calderwood – Dare To Lose To Win
Only one shot on goal. Disgruntled fans chanting for the managers head. Another bleak night for Nottingham Forest as they go down to a single goal defeat at The Keepmoat Stadium. With automatic promotion out of the question, and even the play-offs by no means certain, it’s make or break time for Colin Calderwood. Following last season’s dramatic play-off choke to Yeovil Town, the Forest board showed loyalty and patience by giving Calderwood another season to deliver promotion. It would be hard to imagine them showing similar faith, if Forest fail this time around. Which means the pressure is definitely […]
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