Psychological Factors in Sports

Today is the second part of a 3-part series, where I share 2 more clips, this time from former England Cricketer and Senior Leadership Coach, Jeremy Snape and multiple World Champion Martial Artist and Clinical Hypnotherapist, Stuart Wade.  Jeremy highlights the importance of the psychological side to sport and Stuart defines Mental Toughness in Combat Sports.  

Again, I go on to share a case study and another tool that a lot of my clients have found useful, from compassionate focused therapy to help you or your clients manage the voice in their heads.  

Key Learning Points

• Jeremy states “how my biggest opponent wasn’t India, or the crowd or Harbhajan Singh’s doosra, it was actually the voice in my head which was louder than all 100000 people put together.”
• Stuart mentioned how “if you take a good shot, it hurts, immediately we’re hard wired to retreat and protect ourselves and not go forward”
• When we’re activated by fear, it’s similar to the sight of a predator, which goes on to trigger a fear response in the amygdala.
• It then messes with our motor functions, our heart may beat crazy fast, our breathing speeds up and our mind can go into overdrive. 
• In this state a lot of people’s thoughts are self-defeating where they get caught in the past thinking about what has happened, and focus on their weaknesses or they flip forward to the future worrying about what may happen, again looking at it from a negative angle. 
• Some people get into blame mode too, blaming themselves and have a very harsh thought process.    
• Self-compassionate focused therapy and some of the tools from this approach can come to their rescue such as the one I discuss in this episode, when looking at releasing thought balloons. 

Connect with David Charlton

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Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep129: David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – PT1

Ep115: Jeremy Snape – Mental Strength to Succeed: Learning Lessons from International Cricket

Ep081: Stuart Wade – Mental Toughness in Combat Sports

Ep072: Tom Jones – Mastering the Mental Side of Cricket

Ep083: Billy Schwer – Life Lessons from a World Champion Boxer

Other Relevant Blogs and Resources

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

Do you focus too much on your opponent before or during a boxing match?

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Bowl Every Delivery

Perfectionism in Cricket

Kristin Neff Website on Self-Compassion

This is a short solo episode and the first of 3 episodes where I share 2 reminders of what Mental Toughness is and apply it to different domains.  The first clip is from Mental Toughness pioneer, Doug Strycharczyk which was recorded in our very first episode and the second clip comes from Sebastian De Chavez an elite professional rugby player for Newcastle Falcons who appeared in episode 104.  

I then go on to share a case study and one helpful exercise taken from compassionate focused therapy to help people who experience self-criticism and are very hard on themselves off the back of failing or making mistakes in sport or life.

Key Learning Points

• Doug states that Mental Toughness is about “how we respond mentally to things that happen to us.” 
• Seb confirms this in a professional rugby setting and considers mental toughness as “being able to get your job done, when things aren’t going your way.”
• In sport when someone makes a mistake, often as an onlooker or spectator we are better placed to say “they’re only human” and display compassion.
• Yet, when we are the culprit making the mistake, we often find displaying self-compassion very tough.  For many it is virtually impossible, especially in sport when you and your performances are being judged or at least you think they are.  And your emotions are so up and down because you are striving for competence.
• A common thing people get wrong when thinking of being self-compassionate or being kind to yourself is that it equals self-pity or that you are being “soft”.  
• Self-compassion doesn’t mean that you are lacking in motivation either.
• Understanding the pain that you are put yourself through by being self-critical is vital and by trying to feel compassionate you can empower yourself to make better decisions.
• Encouraging, loving and supportive language is a much more powerful motivator than negativity and fear which is often a habit a lot of people can slip into, especially in a sporting environment.

Connect with David Charlton

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Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

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Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep001: Doug Strycharczyk – The Importance of Mental Toughness

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

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

Ep128: Paula Eddy-Wilcox – Can You Show Vulnerability and Be Mentally Tough? Yes!

Ep105: Hannah Bromley – Overcoming Psychological Challenges in Professional Women’s Football

Other Relevant Blogs and Resources

Blog – 5 Coaching Tips To Develop Mentally Tough Footballers

Blog – Coach Development Helping Athletes Overcome Fear Of Failure 

Blog – Mental Health Guidance For Coaches When Supporting Athletes

Blog – 5 Ways To Create A Psychological Safe Sporting Environment

Blog – 3 Tips To Deal With Bullying In Sport

Kristin Neff Website on Self-Compassion

In today’s episode #128, I speak to a well respected leadership coach, The Natural Leadership Coach and host for The Game of Leadership Podcast, Paula Eddy Wilcox.  Paula and I discuss how you can regain clarity on your purpose and passion when you’ve lost your way, we chat about vulnerability and how being true to yourself can be frightening, we also touch on links between mental toughness, vulnerability and psychological safety too.  It’s a great listen for those interested in leadership, and the business world though it does roll over to life in general and sport too.

Key Learning Points:

• When you face challenges and you come out the other side it’s important to recognise what strengths you used.
• Being around people who are aligned with your values aids your sense of well-being.
• Having the guts to show up as your true self can be daunting.
• Putting yourself out there, showing your true self makes you vulnerable.
• As you get older, a lot of people seem to care less what others think.
• Some elements of Mental Toughness, eg, risk orientation and interpersonal confidence will explain whether you make yourself vulnerable in different situations.
• A fixed mindset can prevent you from showing vulnerability.
• There are links with showing vulnerability and psychological safety.

Connect with Paula Eddy-Wilcox

LinkedIn

Connect with David Charlton

Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

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Other Useful Podcast Episodes

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

Ep075: Grant Phyphers – How to Rebuild Your Identity

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

Ep114: Tim Bradshaw – Because I Can – How To Get Out Of Your Own Way

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

Other Useful Resources linked to Mental Health

Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment

Blog – 3 Tips to Deal with Bullying in Sport

Blog – How to Find Your Why 

Blog – Mental Health Guidance for Coaches When Supporting Athletes

In episode #127 I chat with fellow Mental Toughness Licensee, Paul Trainor.  Paul is a former professional rugby league player, currently a director for Super League team, Salford Red Devils Rugby League Club and a director for Positive Synergy.

We go on to discuss Mental Toughness in professional rugby league, how Mental Toughness applies to his current role as a director. We also touch on his consultancy work.  If you’re looking to learn more about Mental Toughness, the 4 C’s model and its application, this is a great podcast episode to listen too.

Key Learning Points:

• The definition of mental toughness has changed over the years in Rugby where it was more about bravado, not being seen to be injured, seeing how many knocks you could get through to now where it is viewed as the ability to respond well to challenges that we face in the game, to be fully prepared for the challenges, to have trust in the process and to be able to take risks.
• When injured it’s very important as a player to be honest with yourself and others around you.
• Salford Red Devils reached the Super League Grand Final in 2019 and pride ourselves on the way as a club, both on and off the field that we approach what we do. We have a very strong culture of maximising everything you’ve got whether it be players on the field or the resources we’ve got off the field.
• I lead on building future strategy, which looks at developing the next generation of Salford Red Devils players and leaving a legacy in different areas of work. We go into schools and community clubs and are not only concerned about rugby, but we’re also doing work around mental toughness, raising achievement and positive mental health.
• Mental toughness is a crucial life skill that we help develop in youngsters.
• Everyone plays a key role in creating culture and the key behaviours that are expected from people.   

Connect with Paul Trainor

Twitter

LinkedIn 

Connect with David Charlton

Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

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To Listen to Rugby Orientated Podcast Episodes

Ep21: Steve Hackney – How to Reach Your Full Potential

Ep29: Lome Faatau – How to Play Professional Rugby with Confidence 

Ep038: Taz Bricknell – Playing Professional Women’s Rugby 

Ep039: John Fletcher – How to Develop Fearless Athletes

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

Helpful Rugby Orientated Resources

Blog – How To Play Well When You Aren’t Feeling Great

Case Study – Supporting a Professional Rugby Player Rehabilitating from Injury

Blog – 3 Tips for Playing with Confidence Under Pressure

Blog – 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment

Rugby Psychology | Mental Skills for Rugby Resources 

In today’s solo episode I talk about golf and what my role as a Sport Psychologist or Golf Performance Psychologist looks like, common challenges that golfers bring to me, difficulties that we experience as Sport Psychologists when working with golfers and a case study to highlight more about my approach to helping golfers shoot lower scores and enjoy the game more.  

Enjoy tuning in!

Key Learning Points:

• Typical challenges that golfers bring to me are; hitting the ball well on the range however they’re not able to transfer this on to the golf course and score well, not being able to stay present and convert after good starts, dealing with feeling anxious and slow starts and temper tantrums.   
• Generally 6 hours+ support with a golfer can make a huge difference to them.
• Many golfers lack commitment when working with a Golf Psychologist.
• Learning from mistakes is a common difficulty for golfers who simply think that the answer is to try and improve their technique.
• I always ask myself the question, is this tool going to help the golfer attain their goals and shoot lower scores?
• It is possible to break through a glass ceiling and turn 69s into 65s.

Connect with David Charlton

Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

To Listen to Other Useful Podcast Episodes

Ep017: Gio Valiante – How to Play Fearless Golf

Ep047: David Charlton – Mental Game Tips For Putting

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

Case Study – Supporting a Professional Golfer Go Really Low

Golfers Mental Scorecard

Golf Psychology FAQs

Psychology of Golf Library