The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes as Fulham manager Roy Hodgson prepares his team for the Premiership finale at Portsmouth.
Football: Fulham - Over-celebrations?
Roy Hodgson has been preaching caution this week. Ahead of a vital game at Fratton Park, the experienced Hodgson, was troubled by the celebrations at Craven Cottage last Saturday, after Fulham beat Birmingham City.
Hodgson's players did a lap of honour in front of a euphoric home crowd, and Hodgson is rightly concerned. He is wise enough to know that premature celebrations and laps of honour, can send out the wrong message.
The sub-conscious mind of a footballer, can read the signals from such feelings of euphoria, and conclude that the job is done. That the season is complete and it's time to head for the beach.
Hodgson's job this week, will be to undo any such thoughts from his players mind. It will mean explaining to his team, that the lap of honour was a thank-you, not a celebration.
He will have been vigilant, to any dropping of intensity and lack of focus in training. Any small signs, that indicated that euphoria had overlaid reality.
It is fortunate that Fulham have someone of the experience of Roy Hodgson at the helm. For a less well travelled manager, may not have picked up the warning signs, from last weeks Craven Cottage party. Hodgson's acumen, may well make the difference, between The Cottagers staying up or going down.
