In a continuation of last week’s conversation, David Charlton and Duncan O'Brien discuss the impact of shame on athletes, particularly footballers.   Self-esteem, the self-recognition of multiple-selves and self-compassion are also features of the conversation.  They go on to discuss the impact of poor performances on an athletes’ mood.  Solutions to shift perspective are discussed to aid the understanding of sport coaches and parents to support athletes effectively.  They also touch on other strong emotions, such as anger and how to harness it.

Key Learning Points:

·        Explore ways to normalise emotions and have open conversations about them.

·        Developing an openness to learn more about yourself, your athletes or children is vital.

·        Understanding and connect with the state of being at you best can transform your mindset.

·        Potential dynamics where an athletic identity can become entangled with self-esteem and confidence resulting in negative mental health implications should be considered.

·        Athletes should be aware of their own triggers and to have strategies for managing anger effectively.

Connect with Duncan O’Brien

LinkedIN

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

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Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Ep287: Duncan O’Brien - Is A Blame Culture In Team Sports Helpful For Performance?

Ep286: Nathan Sherratt - How To Understand Neurodiversity Better In Football Refereeing

Ep285: Adam Batstone - Football Coaches: How To Help Neurodiverse Players Thrive

Ep249: Dr Edward Hall – Understanding Workplace Collaboration In Coaching In Team Sports

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

Other Valuable Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Podcasts for Sport Coach Development

Cricket Psychology Resources

Hockey Psychology Resources

Rugby Psychology Resources

Soccer Psychology Resources

David Charlton and Duncan O'Brien discuss the emotional challenges in football, focusing on blame, shame, guilt, and anger in this week’s episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness.  Duncan, influenced by Brene Brown's work, emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and collaboration in coaching.  He highlights the need for coaches to create supportive yet challenging environments, using tools like Clean Language to foster self-awareness and resilience.  They explore how emotions like shame can manifest in players, affecting their performance and behaviour.  The conversation underscores the significance of coaches communicating effectively and setting clear expectations to help players navigate stress and criticism, ultimately fostering a more supportive and effective coaching dynamic.

Key Learning Points:

·        Explore using clean language techniques in football coaching to help players develop self-awareness.

·        Encourage players to ask questions of each other rather than giving direct orders or criticism during challenging situations.

·        Educate coaches and players on the difference between shame and guilt, and how to address feelings of shame in a constructive way.

·        Mistakes are common in football and pointing the fingers, blaming can lead to guilt, impacting players' confidence and bravery.

·        Vulnerability is essential to encourage courageous behaviours and collaboration, however it is dependent on the relationship and trust developed between coaches and players.

Connect with Duncan O’Brien

LinkedIN

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN

Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Ep286: Nathan Sherratt - How To Understand Neurodiversity Better In Football Refereeing

Ep285: Adam Batstone - Football Coaches: How To Help Neurodiverse Players Thrive

Ep249: Dr Edward Hall – Understanding Workplace Collaboration In Coaching In Team Sports

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

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

Other Valuable Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Podcasts for Sport Coach Development

Cricket Psychology Resources

Hockey Psychology Resources

Rugby Psychology Resources

Soccer Psychology Resources

Today, the conversation delves into the experiences of a neurodiverse referee, referee educator and coach, Nathan Sherratt, the owner of The Third Team.  We discuss the challenges faced in education, the workplace, and on the pitch, highlighting the importance of structure and accountability.   David and Nathan also emphasise the need for understanding and support, particularly from clubs, organisations and governing bodies such as the FA, to better accommodate neurodivergent individuals in sports.   Nathan goes on to share personal strategies for managing sensory challenges and the significance of self-care, including physical activities like walking and golf.   The importance of continuous learning, adaptability, and the value of support networks in achieving success is also a feature of the episode.

Key Learning Points:

·        Explore ways to manage the sensory challenges, such as the cold weather or noisy crowds.

·        Neurodiverse traits can change over time.

·        Every individual’s experience of living with autism is different.

·        Adapting the use of comms kits in professional games and the difficulty of managing multiple conversations simultaneously should be considered by the FA when thinking about supporting Neurodiverse referees and assistant referees.

·        It is important for governing bodies to invest in supporting and educating people who are neurodiverse to future-proof specific individuals in sports.

Connect with Nathan Sherratt

Instagram

Website - The Third Team

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN

Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Ep285: Adam Batstone - Football Coaches: How To Help Neurodiverse Players Thrive

Ep249: Dr Edward Hall – Understanding Workplace Collaboration In Coaching In Team Sports

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

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

Other Valuable Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Podcasts for Sport Coach Development

Cricket Psychology Resources

Hockey Psychology Resources

Rugby Psychology Resources

Soccer Psychology Resources

In today’s episode David Charlton and his colleague Adam Batstone emphasised the importance of psychological support in football and sport coaching with children.  They particularly acknowledged the need to foster rapport with parents to address their concerns about disclosing their child's challenges.   David and Adam highlighted the need for adaptability in coaching methods, especially for neurodivergent children, who may require more personalised approaches.  They discussed strategies like framing sessions, providing clear routines, and using non-confrontational prompts to maintain engagement.  The conversation also touched on the significance of life skills development beyond football, noting that coaches can help children build resilience and emotional flexibility, crucial for their future success in various fields.

Key Learning Points:

·         Seek to explore ways to incorporate more flexibility and adaptability in training sessions to better accommodate neurodivergent players.

·         Develop strategies to build trust with parents, encouraging them to openly share information about their child's needs.

·         Provide training for coaches on recognizing and supporting neurodivergent behaviours, and implementing effective intervention techniques.

·         Investigate the feasibility of creating designated "safe spaces" within the training environment for players to self-regulate when needed.

·         Factor in the psychological planning of training sessions to consider the emotional responses of players.

·         Utilise additional coaching resources to provide one-on-one support for players who may need it during sessions.

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN

Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Ep249: Dr Edward Hall – Understanding Workplace Collaboration In Coaching In Team Sports

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

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

Other Valuable Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Podcasts for Sport Coach Development

Cricket Psychology Resources

Hockey Psychology Resources

Rugby Psychology Resources

Soccer Psychology Resources

Podcast Episodes To Help Children Have A Positive Sporting Experience

Ep074: David Charlton – How Can I Make My Child Feel Confident?

Ep112: David Charlton – How to Deal with Physical Insecurities as a Young Athlete

Ep217: Chris Cook – How A Marginal Gains Approach Can Help You Perform Better

Resources To Help Children Have A Positive Sporting Experience

Helping Young Athletes Manage Emotions

Does Your Child Worry Too Much About What Others Think?

My Child Can’t Find “The Zone”

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches

Youth Sports Psychology Library

Conversations With Kids Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents

David Charlton introduces the next phase of the "Demystifying Mental Toughness" podcast, where episodes will address various contemporary issues, including diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly for underrepresented groups like BAME athletes and neurodivergent individuals.  The podcast will also discuss the impact of social media and the problematic cultures of blaming and shaming in sports.  David emphasizes the importance of recognizing individual differences and avoiding stereotyping, advocating for a more inclusive and supportive approach to enhance the everyone’s overall sporting experience.

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIN

Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Ep249: Dr Edward Hall – Understanding Workplace Collaboration In Coaching In Team Sports

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

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

Other Valuable Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience

Podcasts for Sport Coach Development

Cricket Psychology Resources

Hockey Psychology Resources

Rugby Psychology Resources

Soccer Psychology Resources

Today, the case study that David Charlton and his colleague Colm O’Donoghue discuss is connected to a 16-year-old swimmer who spends a lot of time online checking his rivals out, be that on social media or reviewing stats and results.  The implication is that his motivation and focus when training fluctuates and negative emotions such as jealousy and anxiety are triggered.   As well, potential challenges with his own self-esteem and how he feels about himself can be evident. 

David and Colm offer some ideas to shift his focus so that he is able to enhance his motivation and feel better in himself.

Key Learning Points:

• Social comparison theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, suggests that individuals evaluate their own abilities, opinions, and accomplishments by comparing themselves to other people.  This theory suggests that we have an natural drive to evaluate ourselves, and social comparison is a primary method we use to do so.
• Develop a pre-race routine to get into the right mindset, consider when you want to be online and not especially as the race draws closer.
• Set SMART goals focused on personal improvement.
• Review your emotional experience and self-talk when your online, how does it make your feel? What are you telling yourself about situations that you come across?

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN

Podcast Episodes To Help Children Have A Positive Sporting Experience

Ep074: David Charlton – How Can I Make My Child Feel Confident?

Ep112: David Charlton – How to Deal with Physical Insecurities as a Young Athlete

Ep217: Chris Cook – How A Marginal Gains Approach Can Help You Perform Better

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches

Youth Sports Psychology Library

Conversations With Kids Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents

Resources To Help Children Have A Positive Sporting Experience

Helping Young Athletes Manage Emotions

Does Your Child Worry Too Much About What Others Think?

My Child Can’t Find “The Zone”

In this episode, David Charlton and his colleague Colm O’Donoghue discussed a case study of a 12-year-old tennis player who struggled with her emotions on the court.   She often became overwhelmed by with anger and frustration or disappointment after making mistakes or losing points, leading to a loss of focus, poor performance and less enjoyment.  Her parents also found it very difficult to watch her play and contain themselves as a result too.  David and Colm go on to offer some advice for managing these strong emotional responses so that she can perform better and enjoy her tennis more.

 Key Learning Points:

·       Improving her emotional regulation is key to her success and enjoyment.

·       Find ways to focus on the present such as breathing techniques can be useful.

·       David emphasizes the importance of consistent practice and viewing breathing as a life skill.

·       Seeing the alignment of the parasympathetic nervous system as a vital component in playing your best by strategically finding ways to slow down can be helpful.

·       Plan B thinking by using visualisation, where she sees herself making mistakes and feels the emotions that comes with this, then recovering more positively can help her improve her composure in difficult moments.

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

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Podcast Episodes To Help You Regulate Your Emotions

Ep071 - James Lau: Mastering The Mental Side Of Tennis

Ep232 – Andy Elleray - How To Remain Composed As a Goalkeeper Under Pressure

Ep256 – David Charlton - The Immature Brain: How To Help An Emotional Child

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches

Youth Sports Psychology Library

Conversations With Kids Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents

Resources To Support Tennis Players Perform Better

How To Regain Momentum In Tennis So That You Win More Matches

How to Let Go of Mistakes when Playing Tennis

How Tennis Players Can Stay Confident Under Pressure

Does the perfect golf swing exist? NO.  Does the perfect golf swing equal lower scores in golf? NO – Yet many golfers continue to strive to attain the “perfect swing.”  This is the topic of conversation today, where David and colleague Colm O’Donoghue talk about the problem with this approach and the implications for your golf game.  They also share some advice on what you could consider doing to improve your scores and your enjoyment of the game. 

Key Learning Points: 

• Studies suggest that the variation in technique between low handicap amateurs and professional golfers is similar.   

• Consider how you practice your golf, if you practice solely in a technical manner it is likely to tie you up in knots and show in your golf scores. 

• Split your practice into technical, performance, process and creative practice. 

• Do you ever consider how you can access a flow state and what a flow state is for you on the golf course? 

Connect with David Charlton 

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub 

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN 

Podcast Episodes To Help Golfers Improve Their Scores 

Ep017: Gio Valiante – How to Play Fearless Golf 

Ep089: Will Shaw – How To Transfer Your Golfing Skills To The Course  

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

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Golfers, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches 

Youth Sports Psychology Library  

Conversations With Kids Ideas 

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents 

Resources To Support Golfers So That They Score Better 

Frequently Asked Questions on Golf Psychology and Golf Mental Skills  

Golf Psychology and Mental Skills for Golf Library 

8 Better Ways to Practice to Your Golf 

Do You Obsess over the Perfect Golf Swing? 

Are You Missing Shots Before You’ve Started Your Swing 

David Charlton hosts the Demystifying Mental Toughness podcast with his colleague and a fellow competitive amateur golfer, Colm O’Donoghue today.  Colm discusses his journey from playing golf as a child to returning to the sport in his mid-20s, driven by an interest in the psychological aspects of golf.  He shares his struggles with perfectionism and the importance of maintaining a present-focused mindset. Together they talk about a case study of a young golfer, who excels in match play but struggles with stroke play due to focusing too much on the score.  Colm and David emphasize the importance of a pre-shot routine in maintaining his focus and staying present, which can help manage his arousal levels, in turn, lowering his scores.

Key Learning Points:

·        Trying to play perfect golf and focusing too much on the score can impact enjoyment of the sport.

·       Colm explains the difference between match play and stroke play, emphasizing the reset nature of match play and the need to focus on the process in stroke play.

·        Self-awareness is critical, recognising and being able to reset when you are ahead of yourself and predicting future holes, shots or score and identifying when you are stuck in the past, dwelling on mistakes.

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN

Podcast Episodes To Help Golfers Focus On The Process

Ep243 David Charlton - How I Would Help Rory McIlroy Win The British Open

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

Ep167 Karl Morris - How To Manage Your Emotions To Improve Your Golf #BITESIZE

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Golfers, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches

Youth Sports Psychology Library

Conversations With Kids Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents

Resources To Support Golfers So That They Focus Better

Frequently Asked Questions on Golf Psychology and Golf Mental Skills

Golf Psychology and Mental Skills for Golf Library

Control Your Thoughts on the Golf Course

Play Your Best Golf More Often

Today, in episode #279 David and Gerard discuss the challenges faced by a 12-year-old cricketer named Amir (pseudonym), who is a leg spinner struggling with inconsistent selection due to the club's preference for pace bowling.  Amir's fluctuating motivation and confidence, as well as the potential for dropping out of cricket are attributed to poor communication from coaches and his own difficulty in expressing frustrations. 

Key Learning Points:

·         Helping the cricketer develop psychological flexibility to separate his self-worth from the selection decisions made by the coaches is key.

·         Encourage the cricketer to focus on the controllables, such as his attitude, effort, and the key ingredients that make up a good performance, rather than the uncontrollable factors like the perfect delivery.

·         Coaches should consider carefully how they communicate to prevent young cricketers and athletes from feeling undervalued and potentially quitting the sport. 

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

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Podcast Episodes Related To The Youth Sport Experience

Ep176 Camilla Knight: How To Help Enhance The Psychological Wellbeing Of Children In Sport #BITESIZE

Ep168 - Andrew Simpson: How To Navigate Youth Sports So That Children Enjoy The Experience More

Ep141 -David Charlton: How to Help a Child Who Wants to Quit Sport

Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches

Youth Sports Psychology Library

Conversations With Kids Ideas

Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents

Resources To Support Cricketers So That They Play With Confidence

Cricket Psychology Library

7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Bowl Every Delivery

Make Bowling Simple by Avoiding these 3 Common Mental Game Errors