Demystifying Mental Toughness

Welcome to episode #152 of Demystifying Mental Toughness. This week we bring to you the 3rd of 4 compilation episodes. The key takeaways from this episode come from the world of business and entrepreneurship and lessons from the military. Mental fitness, mental health, motivation and the importance of sleep were also topics that were unpicked. Enjoy listening to the excellent insights! Relevant Podcast Episodes in Order and Sequence as Relayed in Episode 152 Ep106: Amy Rowlinson – Why is knowing my WHY important? Ep113: Polly Brennan – The Relationship Between Mental Fitness, Mental Health and Mental Toughness Ep128: Paula Eddy-Wilcox – Can You Show Vulnerability and Be Mentally Tough? Yes! Ep132: Kevin Stansfield – How Lessons from Golf can help with Game of Business Ep133: Christina Flach – Why Mental Toughness is Important: Lessons from Sport, Business and Loss EP138: Nick Littlehales - Why do the Mentally Tough see Sleep and Recovery as Important Ep139: Steve Beharall – Steve Beharall's Journey from Football Coach to CEO Ep143: Lesley Thomas - How Your Money Mindset Influences Your Behaviour Ep114: Tim Bradshaw – Because I Can – How To Get Out Of Your Own Way Ep123: Richard Dorney MBE – Supporting People: What Can You Learn About Resilience From The Military Ep144: Jon Watkins - Mental Strength: What You Can Learn About Resilience From The Special Forces Other Valuable Resources Sports Psychology Case Studies Resilience in Sport Blogs Performance Anxiety Blogs Communication Skills Blogs Mental Health Blogs Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to Conversations with Kids Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Email: info@sport-excellence.co.uk

Welcome to episode #151 of Demystifying Mental Toughness. This is part two of four specially created episodes to celebrate reaching 150 episodes! This time the episode is created with soccer and football fanatics in mind where the great guests that have been interviewed on the show to date, and with experiences in soccer or football, go on to share their key take home messages. As you'll note the insights are related to the integration of sports psychology, the development of mental toughness, coach development and a lot more! The episode is a must listen for football or soccer coaches, players, parents, sport scientists and those interested in the sport. Relevant Podcast Episodes in Order and Sequence as Relayed in Episode 151: 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 Ep125: Jack Hicks-Flynn – How is Psychology used in Professional Football Clubs EP136: Charlotte Potts – Overcoming Tough Times in Professional Women's Football and Bouncing Back Stronger Ep146: John Nassoori - What Is The Role Of A Sports Psychologist In Football? Ep003: Peter Ramage – Developing a Premier League Mindset Ep018: Kieron Brady – From Professional Football to Alcoholism Consultant Ep027: Natalie Henderson – How to Develop Mental Toughness with Young Footballers Ep096: Gary Curneen - Developing Mentally Strong Footballers Ep064: Edu Rubio – How to Support Young Footballers Ep009: Brendan Pearson – Academy Football Professional Football Injuries and Early Retirement Ep049: James Maurice - How Does Sport Psychology in Elite Football Academies Help Ep043: Jamie Forrester – Thriving in Professional Football Ep087: Carl Bell - From Professional Football and Goalkeeping to Physiotherapy Ep024: Julian Dowe – Mental Toughness in Professional Football Ep093: Dan Abrahams – How to Overcome Mental Blocks in Football Ep077: Danny Thomas – Before, During and After Professional Football Other Valuable Football or Soccer Resources Goalkeeping Psychology | Mental Skills for Goalkeepers Soccer Psychology | Mental Skills for Football Youth Sports Psychology | Mental Skills Training for Kids and Parents Frequently Asked Questions about Football or Soccer Psychology Frequently Asked Questions about Goalkeeping Psychology Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to Conversations with Kids Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Email: info@sport-excellence.co.uk

Welcome to episode #150 of Demystifying Mental Toughness! This is the first part of four specially created episodes to celebrate reaching 150 episodes. The episode is hugely insightful with a number of our guests to date, sharing many fantastic takeaways. The messages come from different angles where a mental toughness practitioner, mental performance coaches and Olympians discuss mental toughness and horse riding, track and field, bobsleigh, cricket, swimming and skiing. We also have sports psychologists and an occupational therapist who share great insights into elite level golf, gymnastics, the complexities surrounding sport and parenting as well as long term injuries and the subsequent impact on one's mental health. Relevant Podcast Episodes in Order and Sequence as Relayed in Episode 150 Ep109: Maria Jeffers - How to Master the Mental Side of Horse Riding Ep110: Dan Steele – How to Increase Mental Fortitude: Secrets from an Olympian Ep115: Jeremy Snape – Mental Strength to Succeed: Learning Lessons from International Cricket Ep118: Dr Bob Winters – How to Help Golfers Overcome their Mental Game Challenges Ep119: James Lau - An Applied Sport Psychologist Viewpoint: How to Become an Effective One Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight – Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences Ep124: Dr Keagan Hadley – Long Term Injuries: How to Confront Difficult Thoughts and Emotions Ep140: Chris Cook – How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian Ep142: Alessia Bruno - Is Striving for Perfection a Good Thing in Gymnastics? Ep148: Derek Tate - How to Build Your Mental Toughness Through Skiing Other Valuable Resources Sports Psychology Case Studies Confidence in Sport Blogs Emotional Control Blogs Fear of Failure Blogs Perfectionism Blogs Performance Anxiety Blogs Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to Conversations with Kids Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Email: info@sport-excellence.co.uk

In this short solo episode, I answer a popular question that we get asked by sporting parents - how do I help my children deal with strong emotions? When playing sport, children's lives are littered with challenges and difficulties including; being dropped from squads or teams, losing form or skills, being injured and the recovery period, selection bias, being bullied, being played out of position, and dealing with making mistakes and losing, as well as many more. I go on to share 7 suggestions for parents that you may find helpful. Key Learnings Think about what you want to say. Find a quiet moment. Find out what they know. Share your feelings with your child. Tell the truth. Say "I don't know." Take good care of yourself Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to Conversations with Kids Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Relevant Podcast Episodes Ep074: David Charlton - How Can I Make My Child Feel Confident? Ep112: David Charlton - How to Deal with Physical Insecurities as a Young Athlete Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight - Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences Ep145: David Charlton - How Can I Help My Children Who Suffer With Nerves Before They Compete? Other Relevant Blogs and Resources 5 Tips for Parents To Help Their Children Perform with Confidence Helping Young Athletes Manage Emotions Does Your Child Worry Too Much About What Others Think? My Child Can't Find "The Zone" Communicating with Children in Sport

Our guest today is Derek Tate, an experienced ski coach and author. We go on to discuss his book Six Steps for Training the Mind as well as mental toughness in snowsports. Derek goes on to share insights into differences in mindset between recreational and elite skiers, the role of fear, pushing boundaries and comfort zones, the impact of self-talk, getting into a flow state and a whole lot more. Fear is a common emotion for both recreational and elite skiers. The environment and weather on the slopes changes frequently making for unique challenges. Mental toughness when skiing is the ability to navigate, manage and overcome self-doubt, worries, concerns and circumstances that prevent you from succeeding without compromising your well-being. If mental skills were trained in the same way as physical skills or technical skills, there'd be a lot more people who are better prepared when skiing. Many people are distracted by the conversation they have with themselves. Mindfulness meditation and gratitude are very helpful skills skiers can benefit from learning. Getting into a flow state is hugely beneficial for your mental health. Connect with Derek Tate: Books Coaching Website Instagram Connect with David Charlton Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Helpful Podcast Episodes Ep046: Kate Mackay – Why Snowboarding is a Metaphor for Life Ep048: Natalie Hurdley – How to Build Mental Toughness through Powerlifting Ep066: Marilyn Okoro – Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist Ep110: Dan Steele – How to Increase Mental Fortitude: Secrets from an Olympian Ep140: Chris Cook - How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian Other Useful Resources Blog - Make Better Decisions to Help Your Sport Performance Blog - Coach Development: Helping Athletes Overcome Fear of Failure Blog - Do You Really Want to Succeed Blog - 12 Reasons Why You Won't Achieve Your Potential - Sports Psychology Blog: 9 Tips for Children from Olympians

In episode #147 I chat with Aaron Walsh, a performance coach for the Chiefs rugby team in New Zealand as well as a consultant to many more elite teams including the Scottish Rugby team. We chat about his experiences of supporting elite rugby union players, common challenges that players bring to him, perceptions from players and coaches of working on their mental game. Performance analysis is a topic we touch on too as is culture in elite professional sport. Key Learning Points: We have many amazing athletes who work incredibly hard, I feel it's a tragedy that they're not able to actualise that skill and potential because they don't have the ability to navigate through the emotional and mental side of performance. In my philosophy I treat the mental side as a skill that can be developed. Why hasn't mental skills been integrated into elite teams is a part of Aaron's research. The answer is people need educating on the topic. How players respond to mistakes and pressure is an integral part of mental skills training. Psychological safety and well-being need to be talked about cautiously in elite professional sport. Everybody wants to be resilient, but not many know how to build resilience. Connect with Aaron Walsh LinkedIn Twitter Connect with David Charlton Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn To Listen to Rugby Orientated Podcast Episodes Ep029: 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 Ep127: Paul Trainor - The Application of Mental Toughness Training in Elite Professional Rugby League Helpful Rugby Orientated Resources Blog - Overthinking on the Rugby Pitch Blog - Are you a Rugby Player who Focuses Too Much on the Opposition Blog - Helping Young Rugby Players Mentally Prepare Before Matches 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

In today's episode I chat with John Nassoori, a freelance writer and sports journalist for BBC Sport and The Guardian, in the UK. We go on to discuss his research into football or soccer psychology, at both the elite end and in grassroots football. We chat about perceptions of sports psychology, mental health and mental toughness in football. We also touch on the difference between a sports psychologist and other people who are working in football who often get labelled as sports psychologists. How sports psychology is used currently in football and what the future holds for the domain we also talk about. What You Will Learn In This Episode: That football or soccer psychology is still in its infancy. The role of the Sports Psychologist is misunderstood and requires ongoing education to football clubs decision makers, coaching staff and support teams. It takes an outlay of £45k+ to gain the necessary qualifications to qualify as a HCPC Registered Sport and Exercise Psychologist. The term Sport and Exercise Psychologist is a protected term. Mind Coaches, Mental Performance Coaches, Clinical or Counselling Psychologists have a role to play in football or soccer however their route to providing support in this environment is different to a Sport and Exercise Psychologist. It is important to check out the credentials of anyone practicing psychology whether they are seeking to enhance performance or improve mental health. Mental toughness in football is similar to resilience, it's about helping people withstand pressure. Connect with John Nassoori: The Football Psychology Show Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to Conversations with Kids Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Helpful Podcast Episodes Ep093: Dan Abrahams – How to Overcome Mental Blocks in Football 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 Ep125: Jack Hicks-Flynn - How is Psychology used in Professional Football Clubs Other Useful Resources Blog - A Common Mental Game Error Many Footballers Make Blog 5 Coaching Tips to Develop Mentally Tough Footballers Blog: 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment Blog: Supporting a Professional Footballer during Challenging Times Case Study - Supporting a Young Footballer to Overcome his Fears Library - Soccer Psychology | Mental Skills for Football

In this short solo episode, I answer a question posed by a parent. "How can I help my son, a goalkeeper who gets very grumpy and nervous the evening before a match?" Many children across a range of sports face this challenge, often talking themselves into performing poorly before they go out to play a match or compete. They let nervousness win. Today's episode is set up to help parents where I share some ideas on how you could adapt your approach so that you help your children. Key Learning Consider if you are providing emotional support or if you are drawn into problem solving? Offer your children some space. Help your children to find ways to switch off from their sport. Be careful not to over-coach your children. Consider if practice the day or evening before is fun and relaxing or actually fuelling anxiety and perfectionism. Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to Conversations with Kids Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Relevant Podcast Episodes Ep008: Brendan Pearson - Academy Football, Professional Football, Injuries and Early Retirement Ep074: David Charlton - How Can I Make My Child Feel Confident? Ep087: Carl Bell - From Professional Football and Goalkeeping to Physiotherapy Ep112: David Charlon - How to Deal with Physical Insecurities as a Young Athlete Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight - Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences Other Relevant Blogs and Resources Blog: Pre Match Tips for Parents Blog: 5 Reasons Why Being Released from a Football Academy is Difficult Blog: How To Overcome Self-Doubt When You're A Goalkeeper Blog: Goalkeepers – Does your warm up have to be perfect for you to feel confident Blog: Do You Focus Too Much on the Opposition as a Goalkeeper

In today's episode I chat with Jon Watkins a resilience and transformation coach and a former special forces soldier. Jon shares insights into some challenges that he overcame in the military and the importance of mindset. Goal setting is introduced, concepts such as self-leadership, natural resilience, adaptive resilience and psychological safety we also touch on and a lot more. Enjoy tuning in! Key Learning Points: The selection process in the special forces produced likeminded mentally and physically robust individuals who shared collective goals and went on to create a fantastic environment to work in. Self-leadership was a huge part of the special forces. My comfort zone was pushed to its maximum. When considering goal setting, relating it back to your values is essential. Chunking down your goals is a skill that anyone can develop. Mental Toughness is built around that perseverance, never giving up element to it and being disciplined to live through your values. Resilience in general is about bouncing back. Natural resilience is the resilience that we're born with. Adaptive resilience is heavily influenced by our environment. Connect with Jon Watkins LinkedIn Website Connect with David Charlton Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Other Useful Podcast Episodes Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky – Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport Ep066: Marilyn Okoro – Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist Ep114: Tim Bradshaw - Because I Can – How To Get Out Of Your Own Way Ep123: Richard Dorney - Supporting People: What Can You Learn About Resilience From The Military Ep140: Chris Cook - How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian Other Useful Resources linked to Resilience 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 Blog - Resilient and Mentally Tough: 9 Things You Can Learn From Tiger Woods

In today's episode I chat with the author and the founder of The Money Confidence Academy, Lesley Thomas, where we discuss a subject some people are uncomfortable discussing "money". Lesley shares valuable insights into our money mindset and how money can impact our self-worth. For psychology practitioners or business professionals we chat about pricing your services and conversations that come with this. We also highlight the relationship between your mental toughness and money. Key Learning Points: A confident relationship with money starts with having a confident relationship with yourself. Our relationship with money starts around the age of 7 years old, based on what we hear our parents say about money. We often connect our relationship with money with our self-worth. When setting goals pure financial goals are not particularly motivating for a lot of people as they don't create an emotional connection. See money as an enabler. Social comparison is harmful. When pricing your services consider the results that you are bringing for your clients. Connect with Lesley Thomas: LinkedIn Website – The Money Confidence Academy Connect with David Charlton Sign Up to Conversations with Kids Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Useful Podcast Episodes Ep121: Doug Strycharczyk and Dr John Perry - What Is New? Developments in Mental Toughness Research and Practice Ep128: Paula Eddy-Wilcox - Can You Show Vulnerability and Be Mentally Tough? Yes! Ep132: Kevin Stansfield - How Lessons from Golf can help with Game of Business Ep133: Christina Flach - Why Mental Toughness is Important: Lessons from Sport, Business and Loss Ep139: Steve Beharall – Steve Beharall's Journey from Football Coach to CEO Other Useful Resources Blog – How to Find Your Why Blog - 5 Reasons team captains should work with a Sports Psychologist Blog – Mental Toughness is a Hugely Valuable Trait Blog - 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment Blog – Mental Health Guidance for Coaches When Supporting Athletes