Cricket Psychology: England – Choking!

It’s the final of the Champions Trophy, and England finally have a fifty-over title in their grasp. Somerset’s Josh Buttler comes to the wicket with an achievable target of nineteen runs in sight. Buttler’s first delivery from Ravi Jadeja is ugly. He takes an agricultural swipe at the ball and misses. Bowled. From here on in, England lose all momentum, and India are crowned champions. It’s a classic case of a team being unable to handle the pressure, and not thinking clearly. When the pressure is on at the death in a sporting contest, it’s critical how you individually and […]

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Motor Racing Psychology: Sebastian Vettel – Bigger Than The Team?

So Sebastian Vettel wins the Malaysian Grand Prix. Ignoring Red Bull team orders, the German, unable to reign in his competitive spirit, passes his team mate Mark Webber, despite being asked by Team Principal Christian Horner to follow Webber home, and look after the cars. Vettel’s win opens up the argument about the dynamic between a team and strong minded individual. What does a team do, when an individual appears to be bigger than the team? Does the team try to bring them down to size, and suppress their competitive spirit. Or do they give them a free rein and […]

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Football Psychology: Michael Appleton – Sacked!

Under the knowing leadership of Sam Allardyce, Blackburn Rovers were a settled and stable Premier League club. Never likely to repeat their title-winning feats under Kenny Dalglish, Rovers could be pretty much guaranteed regular top flight football. Then everything changed. New owners came in. The Venkys. Owners not steeped in the history of the game. Owners seeing their investment as a high profile marketing campaign for their international chicken based business. And with new ownership came unsettlement. A mismatch of values occured. A community based football club steeped in the traditions of the English game. Owners with no understanding of […]

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Boxing Psychology: Bernard Hopkins – Mastery!

On March 9th, Bernard ‘The Executioner’ Hopkins defeated Tavoris Cloud for the IBF light heavyweight championship of the world at age 48 becoming the oldest man in recorded boxing history to win a recognized world boxing championship. It’s a phenomenal sporting achievement. But what’s the motivation for a warrior like Bernard Hopkins to stay at the top for so long? Hopkins was sent down at the age of eighteen. Upon leaving prison, his warder told him that he would see him again back in here sometime soon. Hopkins replied knowingly, that he would not be back. It’s pivotal moments like […]

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Football Psychology: David Moyes – Bouncebackability!

Last weekend questions were being asked of David Moyes’s leadership. His Everton team had failed to turn up for their biggest game of the season. With a place at Wembley beckoning, The Toffeemen took Wigan Athletic for granted and paid the price. So could Moyes motivate his team to deliver an Everton-like performance against Manchester City? The answer was evident after only a few minutes. They tore into Manchester City with intensity, passion and desire. And they never let up even with ten men. It was possibly The Premier League performance of the season. It would have been easy for […]

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Football Psychology: Brian McDermott – No Permission To Fail

On Monday evening Reading players received a group text message. It was to inform them that their manager and leader, Brian McDermott, had been relieved of his duties. Interesting. So no one in a position of authority, had the presence of mind to gather the players together, and explain this major leadership decision face to face. A decision that would have implications for all of the playing staff. A face to face meeting that would give clarity as to the reason why McDermott was sacked. And then provide an opportunity for the owner Anton Zingarevich, to lift the players mood […]

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Football Psychology: Barcelona – In The Presence Of Beauty!

They were under pressure. Questions were being asked. Defeats to Real Madrid, plus the two goal loss in the San Siro, had caused the critics to doubt Barcelona’s ability to progress further in The Champions League. But what do they know? When the best in the world are put under pressure in any sport, you see what they are really made of. The external doubts cause a gathering of internal focus and resolve, leading to a powerful desire to prove a point. Talent + Motivation = An Irresistible Force! Thus Milan were swept aside. This was no ordinary win by […]

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Sports Psychology: Australia Cricket – Leadership!

Once upon a time it would have been unthinkable. That the Australian cricket team, the standard bearers of everything Australian, would appoint a South African as Head Coach. It’s a high risk strategy and one that is looking flawed as we speak. For why would the self-reliant Australians need an injection of South African values? Have they become too soft and need a hard dose of external reality? This is an Australian team that has just suffered two heavy defeats in India. Defeats that caused the Head Coach Mickey Arthur, to ask his players to come up with solutions to […]

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Golf Psychology: Rory McIlroy – Unconscious!

‘Brain Dead’. ‘Unconscious’. It’s Rory McIlroy explaining away his eight over par, victory limiting opening round at Muirfield today. Coming into The Open, most golfers are usually very well-prepared. They see the tournament as the peak of their golfing year, and want to leave nothing to chance. So, they may spend time with a golf psychologist, working through a range of game dynamics that they could face and how they will deal with them. They will make sure their pre and post shot routines are in good order. They will check that they are seeing their targets clearly and committing […]

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Golf Psychology: Rory McIlroy – Pressure!

It’s not been the best of times for Rory McIlroy, since he signed his mega-bucks deal with Nike. The form which caused the sportswear giant to bring him into their superstar fold, has temporarily deserted the Irishman. Prompting many to question, whether his sudden course walk-off in Florida, is a sign of a golfer struggling to handle the intense demands upon him. Well it wouldn’t be a surprise if the pressure to deliver for his corporate sponsor, was affecting the way Rory plays. When you are being paid the sort of money he is, and positioned as a Brand Ambassador, […]

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