So Stephen Ireland drops his shorts. A few weeks after informing the FAI his grandmother had passed away, when in fact she hadn’t, we shouldn’t be too surprised by this development. But why would Ireland do such a thing? Surely, after recent shenanigans, he should be keeping his head down, not his shorts? The chances are the shorts-dropping caper was a bet. A bet from the dressing room, daring the impressionable Irishman. A bet he wanted to win to curry favour with his team-mates. To feel one of the lads. An act to get easy laughs. To feel wanted. Either […]
Read More...Sports Psychology Blog
Welcome to the Sports Psychology blog. Here you will find insights on current sporting events, from the perspective of a sports psychologist.
The purpose of this blog, is to get inside the sporting drama…why the player or team do what they they do…their thinking…mindsets…attitudes…their fluctuating state of confidence…and all the other mental and emotional pieces that create the psychology of sports.
The most recent articles are at the top of the List Of Sports Psychology Blogs Index.
Football: Chris Hutchings – The Challenge of The Number Two
So Chris Hutchings and Wigan part company. After a mere twelve games at the helm. On a downward spiral after a promising start, Dave Whelan has been ruthless. He has seen the Championship trap door and acted. And once more it highlights the challenge that comes with making the Number Two into the Number One. Sammy Lee. Peter Grant. Now Chris Hutchings. All excellent Number Two’s. All failed to make the step up this season. In fact there are very few good Number Two’s who make the successful transition. Geraint Williams at Colchester. Phil Brown at Hull City. Steve McClaren of course. […]
Read More...Golf: Justin Rose – Beyond Frustration
I’ve never ached so much in my whole life. I picked up some sort of bug, had a bad night and was throwing up too – I’m delighted with one-under, to be honest with you. I didn’t have the energy to get frustrated out there, so that worked well in my favour.” The words of Justin Rose after his opening round in the Volvo Masters at Valderrama. ‘I didn’t have the energy to get frustrated’. It’s not unusual for a golfer to play at their best when under the weather. Here’s why…when you feel unwell, say at a 1 or […]
Read More...Rugby: Lawrence Dallaglio – Lifting The Lid
First it was Lawrence Dallaglio. Then Mike Catt. Followed by Duncan Fletcher. Now Peter Ridsdale. All with books to sell. And stories to tell. Stories from inside the dressing room. Juicy stories that we usually don’t get to hear unless we were there. All apart from Catt appear to have unresolved issues. Dallaglio – frustrated at being a bit part player in the 2007 World Cup. Fletcher – anxious to distance himself from an under performing England team. Ridsdale – keen to redirect some of blame for Leeds United dramatic fall from grace. Using the medium of a book as […]
Read More...Football: Tottenham Hotspur – Core Values?
So Martin Jol is sacked. By text? By emergency meeting? Via the fans? No one is quite sure. Suffice to say the manner of his departure is totally unsatisfactory. Dismissing a man who, throughout his tenure, behaved with dignity. This the man who refused to blame the officials after Pedro Mendez long range strike was scooped out of his own net by Man. United’s Roy Carroll. Successful organisations strive to create clear, agreed-to values than run throughout the organisation. Values that are not just fine words on a piece of paper. Values that can be measured. That are measured. Measured […]
Read More...Football: Jimmy Armfield – What He Wasn’t
It’s half-time in the Championship clash between Blackpool and Colchester and Blackpool legend Jimmy Armfield is invited onto the field to make the half-time draw. The interval is nearly over before Jimmy is able to even begin making the draw. The time has been consumed by applause. Wave after wave rolling down the North and West Stands. Applause in honour of the former England captain. 568 appearances for one club. Loyalty and dedication to the core. Fighting illness. And now it’s payback time. Payback from those who were witness to his loyalty. And those who know of it. It’s recognition […]
Read More...Rugby: Johnny Wilkinson – Buddha!
It should come as no surprise that a top sports professional like Johnny Wilkinson should be extending his reading. The worlds of business, art and spirituality carries many philosophies that sports professionals can apply to improve their mentalities. It is easy to see how the principles of Buddah can be effective in a sporting context. Especially the doctrine of learning to be in the moment. Being in the moment means not being subject to the failures of the past, or the possibilities of the future. It is about being fully in the here and now. Senses alive. Senses alert. Senses […]
Read More...Rugby: England – Beyond 36-0
As England prepare to face South Africa in the World Cup final, one of the big questions being asked, is how do England put behind them the 36-0 defeat imposed on them by their opponents, a few weeks ago? Surely it will have shaken them psychologically? Surprisingly, it may turn out that the 36-0 has benefited England more than it has South Africa. 36-0 saw England at rock-bottom. The World Champions faced returning home – embarrassed; ashamed. No ticker tape welcome this time. No Heathrow airport jammed to overflowing. The fear of that shame galvanised the squad into action. Rock […]
Read More...Rugby: England – Supreme Belief
The bookmakers have spoken and South Africa have been installed as 3-1 on favourites for the World Cup Final. Unbeaten in the tournament, 36-0 victors over England in the group game and beating Argentina in the semi’s with plenty to spare. Surely they justify the status of favourites? On paper – yes. But this is the World Cup Final. And England are the holders. And now the holders have discovered a way of playing that suits them. This is a team who will relish the status of underdogs. They may be favourites, but will South Africa be able to match England’s […]
Read More...Rugby: France – Fear Of Failure
It was the chance of a lifetime. Hosts of the Rugby World Cup. A semi-final against a beatable England. Confidence high after beating the All-Blacks. Surely France would break through their stop situation and win the World Cup? Or at least make the final? No – this was a team that could not break free of the shackles. The shackles of fear of failure. A team that went against it’s DNA. The code by which it tries to play the game. The French got sucked into England’s way of playing. Dragged down. As if playing a game of fear. The […]
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