Demystifying Mental Toughness 125 How is Psychology used in Professional Football Clubs
Today I chat with HCPC Registered Sport Psychologist, Jack Hicks- Flynn about his love for the profession. He goes on to offer helpful insights into to the role of a sport psychologist in professional football clubs, drawing on experiences of working as an applied practitioner and a researcher in Southampton FC, Luton Town FC, Portsmouth FC and West Ham United FC.
We go on to discuss the complexity of our role, cultural beliefs in football, common misconceptions about the role of sport psychology, we also chat about interpersonal confidence and the importance of it in a football environment and a lot more.
What You Will Learn In This Episode:
- It is vital to gain a deep understanding of the football club values and culture.
- A sport psychologist spends time on the pitch working collaboratively with coaches to improve players.
- Building relationships with the multi disciplinary team (MDT) is essential.
- Jack highlights the 3 R'S, rapport, relationships and respect as important aspects to succeed in the role.
- He helps players raise their level of self-awareness so that they have the ability to think more flexibly in different situations (psychological flexibility).
- Players have to deal with selection biases, relationships with coaches, parental influences, contractual issues, agents which can have a huge impact on their experience within the sport.
- It's ok to be vulnerable at times which culturally go against what people consider mental toughness to be.
- Statistics are a vital part of football, tracking distance covered, walking distance etc, however how this is communicated with individual players is vital unless confidence can be eroded.
- It's worth considering that statistics can provoke comparisons with other players and a level of toxicity.
- Mental health screenings, mental health action plans and a clear referral process is vital in clubs.
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Helpful Podcast Episodes
Ep027: Natalie Henderson – How to Develop Mental Toughness with Young Footballers
Ep064: Edu Rubio – How to Support Young Footballers
Ep096: Gary Curneen – Developing Mentally Strong Footballers
Ep102: 30 Mental Game Secrets to Improve Your Soccer
Ep105: Hannah Bromley - Overcoming Psychological Challenges in Professional Women's Football
Ep111: Michael Caulfield - How to be an Effective Sports Psychologist in Elite Professional Football
Other Useful Resources
Blog - A Common Mental Game Error Many Footballers Make
Blog - Coach Development: Helping Athletes Overcome Fear of Failure
Blog - 5 Tips to Help You Perform Fearlessly When You Compete
Case Study - Supporting a Young Footballer to Overcome his Fears