The Confidence Coach's Sports Psychology Articles
On The Couch With Dr. Martin - 442's Resident Sports Psychology Expert
The Confidence Coach's monthly Sports Psychology article in 442 magazine. This article was triggered by England's performance in the 2004 European football championships.
England
It's only two days after England have arrived home from their failed Euro 2004 mission, when thoughts turn to the next World Cup. 'We can win it', Rio Ferdinand is quoted as saying. Whilst Rio's sentiment cannot be argued with, what remains uncertain is whether England, under the leadership of Sven Goran Erikkson, have the acumen to learn from their recent tournament failures.
When he initially took over the national team, Eriksson set about resolving the team's persistent under-achievement. World class players failing to deliver on the world stage. One aspect of his diagnosis suggested that fear of failure was undermining achievement. Perhaps 20% of his team's potential was encased in a cage of fear.
Sven, temporarily, dissipated that fail-safe inhibition. The team were no longer afraid of losing, manifesting itself in a 5-1 triumph in Munich. But the Germany result wasn't a fluke. Finally, England were tapping into their latent potential.
However another, subtler fear, lay in waiting. The fear of success, which can strike when least expected; usually when attainment is in sight. Think of Newcastle United's Premiership collapse in 1996. When you've never reached the top, the thrill of always having something to chase remains. But when you make it, when you've achieved your goals, where else is there to go? Onwards and upwards, or down?
Invariably, the fear of winning manifests itself in an act of self-sabotage. Self-sabotage has its own cycle of behaviour; it begins with optimism, is followed by the pursuit of an identifiable goal; then nervousness at the smell of success; and is completed by an act of self-destruction.
To succeed means no longer to taste the chemical high of hope; to succeed means that new, higher goals must be sought; to succeed, for some, means that failure cannot be far behind. For those addicted to hope, who want to live within their emotional and physical comfort zone, it is better to lose and, therefore, be safe.
Self-sabotage can be seen as uncertainty in action. It might help to explain the last minute collapse against France. Heskey's needless challenge on Makelele, Gerrard's careless giveaway to Henry. Not deliberate, but subtle acts of self-destruction working through the collective DNA.
Against Portugal, Beckham's penalty miss, Rooney's injury, the last minute disallowed goal are evidence of a team out of synch with destiny. But, as demonstrated by Greece,when collective hearts and minds can be focused on a common cause, when impregnable belief surges through the veins of every individual, and the team feels truly ready to take the next step, to leap the final hurdle, then the breaks and the breakthrough follow naturally.
The Sports Psychology Summary...
If and when England qualify for the 2006 World Cup, we can expect another breakout of hope and expectancy. However, unless the senior England management team engage in a lucid appraisal of the mental and emotional factors behind the Euro 2004 underachievement, the cycle of hope and disappointment will live on.
Martin Perry: Confidence Coaching & Sports Psychology - 0044(0)77897 56425