The Sports
Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog comes after another defeat for Tottenham Hotspur finds them struggling to kick-start their season.
Football: Tottenham Hotspur - In Search Of Mental Strength
''Seventy per cent of the goals we have let in this season have been avoidable. We talk about set-pieces and everything like that but we need mental strength out on the pitch''. The words of Tottenham manager Martin Jol after defeat to Newcastle United.
So what is this mental strength that he speaks of and how do a team find it? Mental strength is a combination of qualities. Defiance; Will To Win; Courage In Adversity. It's shows itself in players who take personal responsibility for their actions. It's magnified in adversity. It's the players who refuse to accept defeat. In their presence others also believe that the inevitable is not inevitable.
It's way beyond playing for money. It's about the core reasons as to why you play the game. Your hunger. Desire. Thirst for success. Utter refusal to accept second best. It's about pride in performance. And most importantly self-leadership.
To start to put this problem right, Martin Jol should examine how his players communicate with one another in defensive situations. Who is keeping quiet? Why are they keeping quiet? What are the players saying too each other? Is the communication clear and to the point? Are the players listening to each other? If not why not?
Then look at their body language. Is it positive? Defiant? Upbeat? Energetic? If not, then he should get a Communications Coach to work with his team to focus on nothing else but the language of self-leadership. Get the communication and the body language right. Then the behaviour will follow.
Martin Jol should show his defensive players videos of leaders who embodied mental strength. Roy Keane. Tony Adams. Graham Souness. Look at their body language. How they communicate. How they react in the face of adversity. And winners like Steve Redgrave. Johnny Wilkinson. Tiger Woods. Give them books by Lance Armstrong. Eat, sleep, drink mental strength. Make his players experts on the subject. Invite mentally strong achievers to the club, to deliver inspirational talks. To his defence only.
Very soon his players will get the point. It may take them out of their comfort zone, but mental strength should come with the job description of every defender worthy of the name.
