The Sports
Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog looks at the improvement in form of Crystal Palace's Clinton Morrison since the arrival of new manager Neil Warnock.
Football: Clinton Morrison - Confidence!
Another goal today for Clinton Morrison. The Crystal Palace striker is rekindling the form that made him such a potent force earlier in his career. A player who oozed confidence and self-belief. A player that seemed to have no doubt. No uncertainty.
And now Neil Warnock has rekindled Morrison's fire. It is typical of Warnock. To focus on a players strengths. To build them up. To remind them of how good they are. To make them feel wanted. To give them a keen sense of belonging.
These are the conditions that promote the growth of confidence. Confidence thrives in the presence of warmth. In the presence of encouragement. Where a manager recognises the players uniqueness and champions it. Sees how good you are and lets you know in such a way that you know too. In the presence of the managers confidence, you have confidence too.
It's not a difficult managerial technique. But it must come from the heart. And be consistent. And unconditional. Neil Warnock has it in abundance. It transfers to the player like a transfusion of confidence. Injected directly. For the good player who has lost their way slightly, Neil Warnock's confidence remedy is the perfect boost.
