In a few months time. Plymouth’s Tom Daley will be competing in his first Olympic Games. At the age of thirteen, Tom is already European Diving Champion. Clearly this is a talented young sportsman with a bright future ahead of him. And one with an abundance of mental strength. For as well as having to deal with his fathers cancer, he has overcome a psychological problem that troubles both divers, gymnasts and trampolinists. It is known as Lost Move Syndrome. It means that the performer has forgotten how to execute a specific move. Tom describes it in this way: “Two […]
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.
Boxing: Martin Rogan – Desire!
He went into the final of Prizefighter as the underdog. Up against the fancied Commonwealth Games gold medallist David Dolan, it was presumed that Dolan’s class would shine through. That the ‘boxer’ would outwit the ‘slugger’. But that would be reckoning without one thing. Martin Rogan’s desire. Rogan had Dolan down twice in the fight. The three judges had no option but to award the Irishman the contest. He fought as if his life depended on it. This was a man who had seen an opportunity. A chance to transform his career. Change his life. Earn 25,000. Make a name for […]
Read More...Football: Colin Calderwood – Dare To Lose To Win
Only one shot on goal. Disgruntled fans chanting for the managers head. Another bleak night for Nottingham Forest as they go down to a single goal defeat at The Keepmoat Stadium. With automatic promotion out of the question, and even the play-offs by no means certain, it’s make or break time for Colin Calderwood. Following last season’s dramatic play-off choke to Yeovil Town, the Forest board showed loyalty and patience by giving Calderwood another season to deliver promotion. It would be hard to imagine them showing similar faith, if Forest fail this time around. Which means the pressure is definitely […]
Read More...GAA: Dublin – Thinking!
So a member of the Dublin management team has allegedly head-butted Monaghan forward Tommy Freeman in the tunnel, after Sunday’s high intensity Parnell Park draw. And this, after a number of incidents in last years competition, that drew attention to Dublin’s ‘physicality’. Both on and off the field, Dublin want it to be known, that they are not a side to be messed with. They go into this years football competition looking to better the 2007 semi-final defeat to Kerry. And they have every chance of at least matching that achievement. But can they go one better? Their power and […]
Read More...Football Psychology: Hull City – Momentum!
It’s perfect timing. With six games to go, Hull City have come on the rails. Three points behind the Championship leaders. Bang in form. And, they have momentum. Up till now, expectations will have been fairly easy to manage for Tigers boss Phil Brown. But from this point on, everything changes. Suddenly the focus will be on Hull City. Can they do it? Are they ready for the Premier League? What will promotion mean to the city? Now, they are no longer just another team vying for a play-off spot. The media spotlight will be on them. So how does […]
Read More...Cricket: Andrew Strauss – Confidence!
It’s been a disappointing return to the England fold for Andrew Strauss this winter. Today’s six-ball duck, a sign of a man struggling for confidence. Some players can rediscover their lost form in the test arena. But it is a high-risk strategy. The intensity of test competition, can also leave your confidence at rock bottom. Top bowlers will prey endlessly on your perceived weakness. Reminding you verbally as well as physically of your vulnerability. There is no hiding place for the batsman struggling for his touch. Maybe it would be best for Andrew Strauss to return to county cricket. Build […]
Read More...Rugby: Eddie O’Sullivan – What Might Have Been
So Eddie O’Sullivan steps down as Ireland coach. First a disappointing World Cup campaign. Then a series of poor performances in the Six Nations. Somewhere along the way, the Irish team had stopped performing for their leader. Whilst O’Sullivan can look back on many successful sorties, his record will be blighted by a sense of what might have been. Talent, not matched by achievement on the world stage. Somehow, there was the sense with Eddie O’Sullivan, that he wasn’t able to step back and see the bigger picture. That is, better understand the dynamics that were causing his team to […]
Read More...Football: Keigan Parker – Wife & Kids!
It is one of the best goals scored at the New Wembley. Blackpool’s Keigan Parker chipping Yeovil keeper Steve Mildenhall, from the edge of the box to put Blackpool into the Championship. It was widely thought that this would be Parker’s season. Blessed with pace to burn; an ability to turn a man; and an eye for goal. Surely he would be able to make the step up into the Championship. Yet with seven games to go, Keigan Parker has scored precisely no Championship goals. And in the transfer window he turned down a move to Barnsley! On the grounds […]
Read More...Football: Plymouth Argyle – The Mental Approach
“It’s a crazy, crazy thing. We’ve got the same players here. Definitely it’s the mental approach that’s the problem.” The words of Plymouth Argyle manager, Paul Sturrock after an unexpected 1-0 reverse at Scunthorpe. No wonder Sturrock is perplexed. A few games ago his team were the division’s form team. Not anymore. Three defeats in four have cast doubts on the Pilgrim’s ability to make the play-offs. So what’s gone wrong? It is not an uncommon occurrence for a team to hit a reversal of form when they are in sight of a goal or target. In the Pilgrim’s case, a coveted […]
Read More...Rugby: Johnny Wilkinson – Take A Break
So Johnny Wilkinson is dropped for only the second time in his career. This after being substituted during Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield. Four years ago, Wilkinson carried the England team to World Cup glory. He was at the top of his game. The world’s best. But there was a price to pay for his herculean efforts. Injury followed injury. As if carrying the weight of England on his shoulders, was more than his body could tolerate. The same happened to Andrew Flintoff. When England broke a stop situation and reclaimed The Ashes in 2005, Flintoff was the spiritual […]
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