The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes as Doncaster Rovers' Paul Heffernan. is sent off in the league One play-off encounter at Roots Hall.
Football: Paul Heffernan - The Red Mist
It's five minutes from the end of the Southend United - Doncaster Rovers, League One play off first leg. Doncaster have defended smartly to keep out The Shrimpers, when, suddenly, Paul Heffernan head-butts Southend's Charlie Mulgrew. And it's directly in front of the referee.
It's a straight red card, and Heffernan's season is over. No second leg. And no play-off final, should Doncaster progress to Wembley.
It looks as if Mulgrew has said something to Heffernan, to provoke a Zinedine Zidane style response. But the Doncaster player will be regretting his impulsiveness right now. So why does a player, suddenly and unexpectedly, succumb to the red mist?
Often, tiredness can play a big part in it. When a player is tired, they can stop thinking clearly. Energy is directed into tired muscles and limbs. And the mind can go blank. So, if an opponent, utters a slanderous or provocative remark, instead of simply walking away, the player gets emotionally involved. Something has offended them and they want retribution.
That's because, the brain's filter system is not as effective as usual. Normally, a disciplined player would be thinking, 'Stay away from trouble'; 'Be a team-player'; 'He's trying to wind you up. Ignore it'.
However, in the presence of tiredness, the mental filters that would usually be active, can become ineffective. The sub-conscious mind, picks up and feels a sense of threat and verbal attack from the slander.
It instantly searches in its databank for a suitable response to the threat. And will draw on any references and images that it can find - from TV; the movies; books; newspapers and everyday life. Perhaps the freshest response imagery you have to draw on, is Manchester United's Nani head-butting Lucas Neill at Old Trafford.
Before you know it, you put your head in the defenders face, and you are off. It's only when you get back into the dressing -room, do you think, 'What have I just done?' It's all happened so fast. An emotional flare up has occured, that you cannot control.
If you are a player prone to emotional flare-ups, your mental preparation should take into account, how and when you might be provoked, and what you will do about it. And should also take into account, the moments when you are at your most vulnerable.
Paul Heffernan won't get chance to put right his indiscretion this season. He has just been taught a valuable lesson in the art of restraint. And the high price he has had to pay for it, means that it's a lesson the Dubliner should remember for the rest of his career.
