Psychological Factors in Sports

The “yips” is a term commonly used in golf.  It describes sudden and unexplained losses of fine motor skills which impact on putting strokes and golfers chipping action.  It is argued that somewhere between 32 and 47% of serious golfers have been affected by the yips at some point.  The yips can be a very complex challenge to overcome where many golfers simply change technique and equipment numerous times.  Sports psychologists are advocates of the use of hypnosis, relaxation and visualisation techniques, as well as carefully thought out practice routines to help golfers regain confidence and trust in their putting stroke. 

In this bitesize episode #163 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, my colleague Dr Alessia Bruno tells you more about the yips, what happens in the brain as well as offering you some hope if you experience this debilitating condition, where she refers to techniques such as Brainspotting and EMDR as a way to help you enjoy your golf or sport again.

Key Learning Points:

• The yips is a type of performance anxiety where motor skills are impacted.
• Golfers tend to become very rigid and controlling when performing a skill.
• The yips is a serious problem which can seep into other areas of your sport.
• The yips can cause many athletes to quit their sport.
• When the yips occurs, a fight or flight or freeze response occurs.
• The limbic system is activated when we’re fearful, especially the amygdala.
• Brainspotting and EMDR are techniques that allow us to process the memory without getting activated when we play golf or sport.

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To Listen to Other Useful Podcast Episodes

Ep013: Karl Morris – How to stay present like a major champion

Ep012: Alessia Bruno – The Yips, Crashes, Trauma in Sport there is hope for Athletes

Ep092: Dr James Hegarty – ACT in Sport, Improving Performance through Mindfulness

Ep101: Compilation – 25 Mental Game Secrets to Improve Your Golf

Ep156: Ruth Chiles – There is Hope: How to Overcome Focal Dystonia

For More Resources so You Can Shoot Lower Scores on The Golf Course

10 Mental Game Tips from Leading Experts to Improve Your Golf

Do you try too hard on the golf course?

Psychology of Golf Library

Today in episode #162 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast I chat with Sun Sachs and Ed Gibbins, owners of Rewire Fitness about flow states.  When you have a sense of control, are at peace, have a quiet mind and an inner calmness about you.  We discuss the characteristics and importance of flow states, as well as touching on how you can find “flow.”

Key Learning Points:

• Understanding self-care can help perfectionist athletes.
• The perfectionist can be relentless in their pursuit of excellence impacting negatively on their relationships and other areas of their life.
• Taking yourself and situations too seriously can be a trap perfectionists fall into.
• A flow state is where your mind is calm, your awareness is increased and you make quick smart decisions.
• When you are in flow you aren’t thinking about the past or future, it is the here and now.
• A quality of flow is a loss of self-consciousness and a task only focus.
• Visualisation, Mindfulness and Sports Hypnosis are great ways to get into the Flow.
• What is your “flow trigger?” If you haven’t got one, create one!

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To Listen to Flow State Related Podcast Episodes

Ep002: Steve Judge –  How to Deal with Adversity

Ep007: Toby Flood – How Elite Athletes Mentally Prepare

Ep063: David Charlton – 7 Reasons Why Golfers Should Visualise

Ep 081: Stuart Wade – Mental Toughness in Combat Sports

Ep099: Trevor Jones – How to Deal with Overthinking on the Golf Course

Blogs to read to induce a Flow State

3 Ways to use Visualisation so that You are Mentally Prepared to Win

How to Quieten the Mind when Fighting

My Child Can’t Find “The Zone”

Using ACT and Mindfulness to Improve Your Sporting Performances

Why You Should Meditate To Improve Your Sport Performance?

3 Great conversations to have with your kids that relate with flow states

Conversations with Kids – Relax and Unwind

Conversations with Kids – Gratitude 1

Conversations with Kids – Gratitude 2

In episode #161 I chat with Author, Coach Educator and Performance Rugby Consultant, Paul Phillips.  We discuss his experiences of developing high performance cultures in professional rugby.  Paul also shares some research on tackling and how to overcome fears with helpful triggers as well as other fascinating insights.

Key Learning Points:

• In Rugby at the lower levels fear is very prominent.
• Establishing values and behaviours that are coupled with a vision for the team and club is an essential part of culture development.
• Why can’t we generate behaviours before thoughts and emotions?
• James Clear’s two-minute rule in the book Atomic Habits is a good way to start to develop habitual behaviours.
• The size of the opponent in rugby can be a big factor in activating fear.
• Visual, kinaesthetic and auditory cues and triggers are helpful in dealing with fear when tackling.
• Using metaphors such as images of animals or superhero’s is a helpful trigger for adults and children.
• The development of positive relationships between players and coaches is a hallmark of high performing teams.
• Extrinsic environments are rife largely down to the way messages are communicated from senior staff and coaches in clubs and organisations.
• Too much focus on external factors results in lower emotional control.

Connect with Paul Phillips

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Book: How to Create Culture: In Rugby Union

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To Listen to Rugby Orientated Podcast Episodes

Ep039: John Fletcher – How to Develop Fearless Athletes

Ep094: Professor Adam Nicholls – How to Develop Mentally Strong Rugby Players

Ep104: Seb De Chaves –  The Psychological Demands of Elite Professional Rugby

Ep127: Paul Trainor – The Application of Mental Toughness Training in Elite Professional Rugby League

EP147: Aaron Walsh – The Application of Mental Performance Coaching in Elite Professional Rugby

Ep153: Rugby Psychology Compilation – 25 Ways You Can Improve Your Performance

Helpful Rugby Orientated Resources

Blog – Overthinking on the Rugby Pitch

Blog – Are You A Rugby Player With Perfectionist Tendencies?

Case Study – Supporting a Rugby Player to Overcome Self-Doubt

Blog – Playing Rugby at Your Best Under Pressure

Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment

Rugby Psychology | Mental Skills for Rugby Resources

– Golf Psychology is only for top, elite professionals such as Rory McIlroy or Jon Rahm. 

– Only work with a Golf Psychologist if you have a problem.

– A Golf Psychologist will fix you in one session.

– Working with a Golf Psychologist will take place on a “couch.”

These statements are all myths that some golfers believe are true yet couldn’t be farther from the truth.   The role of a Sport Psychologist who supports golfers is varied.  It includes sitting down strategizing and going “deep” at times with the use of psychological skills training.  However, it also includes considering more helpful ways to practice and how to manage your time on and off the golf course.  Sessions can take place in a club houses, in confidential spaces, on putting greens, chipping greens, driving ranges and on golf courses.

In today’s episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, Dr Brian Hemmings joins me  where we discuss his work as a Sports Psychologist in golf, the importance of the relationship between the practitioner, the coach and client, as well as frequent challenges faced by golfers, quiet eye training and a lot more.  Enjoy Tuning in!

Key Learning Points:

• There is less of a stigma of working with a psychologist in golf than a lot of sports.
• The golf environment is a lovely place to work for a golf psychologist.
• Many golfers lose confidence so quickly when playing competitively.
• The relationship you form with the golfer is critical.
• Experiential knowledge of working with players on putting greens and seeing them behave differently in practice has helped me in my work.
• Expectations that people place on themselves can mean they make golf a lot more difficult than it needs to be.
• Quiet eye training is very helpful for improving short putting.
• Many golfers find transitions very challenging, from the step up to national squads to, turning professional to moving up to the DP World Tour.

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Golf Psychology Coaching Certificate – PROMO CODE – David Charlton

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To Listen to Other Useful Podcast Episodes

Ep017: Gio Valiante – How to Play Fearless Golf

Ep068: Andrew Nicholson – How Hard Is It To Become A Tour Professional Golfer? 

Ep089: Will Shaw – How to Transfer Your Golfing Skills to the Course

Ep099: Trevor Jones – How to Deal with Overthinking on the Golf Course

Ep101: Compilation – 25 Mental Game Secrets to Improve Your Golf

Ep118: Dr Bob Winters – How to Help Golfers Overcome their Mental Game Challenges

For More Resources so You Can Shoot Lower Scores on The Golf Course

10 Mental Game Tips from Leading Experts to Improve Your Golf

Do you try too hard on the golf course?

Golfers Mental Scorecard

Golf Psychology FAQs

Psychology of Golf Library

If you’ve got to the point where you’ve experienced physical, emotional and mental exhaustion you may have experienced burnout.  This can happen to people who are subjected to high levels of stress and pressure over a sustained period of time. In elite sport prolonged and intense involvement as an athlete, coach or support member can push you in this direction where your motivation and performance levels can naturally decline.  In addition, your psychological well-being and mental health can also be a cause for concern where you can lack enjoyment in what you do, become more irritable with others and have difficulty sleeping at night.

In today’s episode Dr. Andrew Shafik, a club doctor at Millwall and Chelsea Football clubs goes on share some fascinating insights where we chat about what players, coaches and support staff, can go on to experience. We also share solutions to some of the challenges that people face.

Key Learnings

• Sports medicine side is connected with understanding injuries and illness.  As a doctor of performance medicine, Andrew seeks to work out how we can utilise our experiences of working within a multi-disciplinary team to maximise the performance and well-being of athletes, coaches or staff.
• Sports psychologists can be very helpful in assisting medical staff to manage players to an optimal level during their rehabilitation and recovery.
• Recent research tells us in the NHS, in healthcare settings, one in three practitioners at any one time often experience burnout due to the demands put on them.
• Culture and the environment can play a huge part in burnout and the well-being of staff.
• Your age, stage of career, gender, culture and relationships can impact your mental health.
• Understanding your levels of mental toughness and other characteristics can be helpful from a self-awareness angle and ensure that you make smarter decisions.

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Connect with Dr Andrew Shafik

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Football Medicine and Performance Association Podcast with Steven Reid

Burnout and well-being in football online event – 06 March 2023

Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky – Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport

Ep066: Marilyn Okoro – Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist

Ep113: Polly Brennan – The Relationship Between Mental Fitness, Mental Health and Mental Toughness

Ep123: Richard Dorney MBE – Supporting People: What Can You Learn About Resilience From The Military

Ep158: Dr Paul Gorczynski – How to Develop and Implement Mental Health Literacy Strategies

Relevant Blogs

Blog – Make Better Decisions to Help Your Sport Performance

Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment

Blog – 3 Tips to Deal with Bullying in Sport

Blog – Creating a Mentally Healthy Sporting Environment

Blog – Life After Professional Sport and its Challenges