Demystifying Mental Toughness

The psychological challenges in cricket are immense, whether you're a batsman or bowler, a wicket-keeper, or a fielder. The sport has got very unique challenges including the fact that it is a team sport but can frequently feel like an individual sport, the difficulty of having to accept repeated failures, and the walk of shame! Today, Tom Jones, a highly qualified youth cricket coach and owner of Cricket Coach 365, and I chew the fat, we talk about these challenges, we discuss mental toughness and Tom explains how he goes on to help young cricketers get the most from their talent. Key Learning Points: The mental side of cricket is increasingly becoming the most important part of the game, whatever level you play at. The long walk to the wicket can fill many youngsters with dread. Managing expectations is hugely important as batters will get out more times than they go on to score the runs that they'd like to get. Focusing in on what you can control is vital as when you do get out it can be for many reasons, often it is out of your control and this can mess with your head. Remembering your good shots, positive self-talk and visualisation can help you remain in a confident headspace. Coaches should consider how to set up their environment so players practice with a purpose and simulate what happens on the pitch. Connect with Tom Jones LinkedIn Instagram Website Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Useful Podcasts Sports Psychology For Youth Athletes Podcasts Confidence in Sport Podcasts For More Resources for Cricketers Cricket Blogs Today's Podcast Sponsor Kymira Sport

We're in the height of the summer of sport here in the UK where Wimbledon is currently being played. For those that aren't familiar with Wimbledon I'm talking about a grand slam tournament in the sport of tennis. Accordingly, in this episode, I delve into the psychological side of tennis. It's a game that I follow closely, and it's a game in my mind, which is hugely psychological where matches ebb and flow and can be lost in the blink of an eye. My guest, is also a racquet sports specialist and well respected Sports Psychologist, James Lau. In the episode, we unpick typical mental game challenges that tennis players face and how to best support players overcome these challenges. We also discuss the legends of tennis, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the mental qualities that they bring to the table and what we can learn from them. Key Learning Points: The relationship between your thoughts and how you behave on the tennis court is important if you want to channel your drive and motivation to be able to express yourself freely. Consider how you use your time between points to help you regain your composure. Do you have a simple and clear pre-shot routine before you serve or return? Djokovic has an inner confidence that he can get any serve back, when returning. Nadal is so consistent in the way he prepares and goes through his routines. Having a mindset to play your natural game is hugely helpful. Federer handles pressure amazingly, appears very calm and nothing changes. Connect with James Lau Twitter Website Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Useful Podcasts Sports Psychology For Youth Athletes Podcasts Confidence in Sport Podcasts For More Resources for Tennis Players Tennis Blogs Today's Podcast Sponsor Kymira Sport

We are now 70 episodes into the Demystifying Mental Toughness podcast. Today our first-class guests provide many short snippets of advice with some of the best bits from the previous 9 episodes. Listening to the insights and tips I'm sure will help you learn more about the importance of Mental Toughness, self-awareness and being honest with yourself. Key Learning Points: Paul Lyons chat about what mental toughness is and why is it so important. Edu Rubio elaborates on optimising your potential by being your biggest fan. Dr Amy Izycky discusses vulnerability and macho behaviour in sport. David Charlton challenges coaches and sporting administrators in women's professional sport to question their approach. John Vallely discusses his commitment and levels of mastery with young golfers. Marilyn Okoro talks about perfectionism and finding peace with factors that you can't control. Andrew Nicholson discusses embracing your fears in order to achieve your goals in professional golf. Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Our Podcast Sponsor Kymira Sport Relevant Podcast Episodes Podcast Ep 061: Paul Lyons - Why You Should Build Your Mental Toughness? Podcast Ep 062: John Vallely - Mastering The Mental Side Of Golf Podcast Ep 064: Edu Rubio - How To Support Young Footballers Podcast Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky - Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport Podcast Episode 066: Marilyn Okoro - Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist Podcast Ep 068: Andrew Nicholson - How Hard Is It To Become A Tour Professional Golfer? Podcast Ep 069: David Charlton - David on Being Tough Vs Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin Part 1

To maximize your potential, to perform at your very best consistently, and to feel truly content there is an argument to say that being comfortable in your skin will help you. Today is part one of a number of episodes, where I will go on to unpack "toughness" some common myths around mental toughness, and some typical barriers that people put up. I also go on to highlight some real examples, case studies and offer different strategies to help you. This episode is designed to help you question your approach. Key Learning Points: By "toughing it out" or "getting on with things", you may be letting your ego take over and sabotaging success. When you hear the words Mental Agility and Mental Flexibility you wouldn't necessarily consider similarities with Mental Toughness. However, Professor Peter Clough 4 C's framework highlights Mental Toughness does warrant a deeper look rather than being drawn into making assumptions based on one word – "Toughness". Do you or your organisations culture promote psychological safety with an emphasis on conversations related to mental toughness? I discuss Naomi Osaka and the role of the elite professional athlete in sport and the difficulties they encounter meaning that they can struggle to be comfortable in their own skin. Women's professional sport can make it challenging for athletes to be themselves due to demands on their time and the need to be "performing" for 60+ hour per week in some cases. Sports like gymnastics help youngsters develop excellent qualities such as discipline, focus and conscientiousness. Yet, I'd be asking the question are some gymnasts "performing for too many hours?" As a result, this culture may be bringing on challenges such as learning new skills and "lost move syndrome." Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Our Podcast Sponsor Kymira Sport Relevant Podcast Episodes Podcast Ep011: Dave Algeo - Mental Toughness, Mental Health and High Performance Podcast Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky - Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport Podcast Episode 066: Marilyn Okoro - Mental Health and Resilience: Lessons from an Olympic Medalist 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

Many young golfers have a dream to turn professional and then compete at the highest level, on the European Tour or PGA Tour, winning major championships. In this episode, Andrew Nicholson, a highly respected golf coach, who has coached a number of European Tour winners and many up-and-coming elite amateurs and budding professionals tells me about what he thinks the young golfer needs to consider in order to breakthrough onto the different tours. He discusses the finer details and differences in a skill that are needed. We also chat about the commitment levels and focus that is required to succeed and how to be most effective in the way you go about things. Enjoy the episode. Key Learning Points: Whether you playing on the PGA Tour, European Tour, Challenge Tour, Europro Tour, college golf in the US or in elite amateur golf in the UK unique skillsets and strengths are required as the constraints placed upon performance are different. As a professional you're judged on your performance over a full season and longer, this can be different in amateur golf. To progress in professional golf it is key to understand that there are many different elements that have to very strong. It's important to be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses and make each element stronger. Building a strong support team round you is essential, people that you trust and can help you through different parts of the journey. Connect with Andrew Nicholson Instagram Twitter Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn To Listen to the Full Podcast Episodes Podcast Ep013: Karl Morris - How to Stay Present like a Major Champion Podcast Ep017: Gio Valiante - How to Play Fearless Golf Podcast Ep047: David Charlton – Mental Game Tips for Putting For More Resources so You Can Shoot Lower Scores on The Golf Course Golfers Mental Scorecard Golf Psychology FAQs Golf Blogs Golf Podcasts Today's Podcast Sponsor Kymira Sport

In today's episode, I answer a popular question that I get asked from parents of young athletes. "My daughter can perform really well when she practices or trains but when she competes she often looks like a different person and freezes. How can I help her?" I go onto explain that there are many complexities which surround this question from cultures and environments set up, coach or parent interference or pressures, outside pressures in education and home life. I also share 3 tips to help children who face these challenges. Enjoy listening. Key Learning Points: Children can often focus too much on what their friends, parents and coaches think. This often means that they go on to play their sport in fear, they hide, freeze or they may get frustrated or angry. Coaches and parents should consider using a highly supportive approach free from blaming and shaming. Parents and coaches should display compassion helping young athletes to identify problems. Supporting youngsters to focus on what they do at their best when they're playing their sport is a useful solution, and then setting mini process goals accordingly. Help children to recognise when their self-talk is negative and supporting them to restructure those thoughts. Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Our Podcast Sponsor Kymira Sport To Listen to Podcasts Episodes related to Youth Sport Podcast Ep027: Natalie Henderson - How to Develop Mental Toughness with Young Footballers Podcast Ep039: John Fletcher – How to Develop Fearless Athletes Podcast Ep049: James Maurice - How Does Sport Psychology in Elite Football Academies Help Podcast 064: Edu Rubio – How to Support Young Footballers Helpful Blogs 5 Ways to Create a Psychological Safe Sporting Environment How to Help Young Footballers Find The Zone 5 Reasons Why Being Released from a Football Academy is Difficult How Do You Give a Young Golfer Self-Confidence?

Our guest today is very inspirational, Marilyn Okoro was a top-class athlete, an Olympic bronze medalist, and now an athletepreneur and mentor. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to compete to such a high level in elite sport. We chat about perfectionism, being yourself despite the challenges sport brings, the cultures that exist in elite sport, and how they can be helpful and equally damaging. Marilyn also discusses some mental health challenges that she has had and what she is up to now after recently retiring from the track. Key Takeaways include: Athletics can be quite a lonely sport. Perfection doesn't exist, every time I ran a PB, I always found something I could have done better. Look to strive for excellence, striving for perfection can be dangerous. Governing bodies and organisations have to work with the individual to play to their strengths. To learn to deliver my best performances under pressure, I had to learn to control the controllables. As an athlete, you have to be super focused and make decisions for the betterment of your sport and your performance. If you aren't allowed to speak up you can't be comfortable in your own skin. Connect with Marilyn Okoro: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter The Sports Business Club Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn Helpful Podcast Episodes Podcast Ep011: Dave Algeo - Mental Toughness, Mental Health and High Performance Podcast Ep033: Aly Dixon – Mental Toughness Lessons from a World Champion Podcast Ep065 Amy Izycky - Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport Other Useful Resources linked to Mental Health 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

Today's podcast episode looks at how elite sporting environments can impact an athlete's mental health and psychological wellbeing. My guest, Clinical Psychologist, Amy Izycky has recently released a book called Skewed to the Right Sport Mental Health and Vulnerability which we go on to discuss. The episode helps you understand the intricacies of different sports such as rowing and combat sports where we go on to discuss the complexities of weight restrictions in these sports. We also chat about high-performance sport in general and how it can promote obsessive behaviours and perfectionism. Macho behaviour and cultures which are associated with "Toughness" and incorrectly Mental Toughness is also often encouraged in sport and we look at the potential impact on an individual's mental health. Key Learning Points: Rowing prides itself on being one of the most challenging sports where only the toughest can do it well because of the levels of commitment and the need to push through mental barriers. Certain personality traits such as focus, discipline and aggression, are celebrated in sport and they're put on a pedestal, though they can have a negative impact on an athlete's mental health. Anger or aggression are great qualities in sport when you strive for specific goals however some individuals can struggle to control this away from their sports, putting the individual and people around them at risk. Clinical psychologists are interested in supporting athletes who operate at the extreme end of needing "control" or the extreme versions of "toughness". My role as a Sports Psychologist is concerned with optimising performance, proactively maintaining and enhancing psychological wellbeing. I'm also able to identify if there are any mental health concerns that link to anxiety, depression, eating disorders and addiction. At that point, I'd signpost onto mental health specialists such as clinical and counselling psychologists. Connect with Amy Izycky Instagram LinkedIn Website BOOK: Skewed to the Right, Sport, Mental Health and Vulnerability Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn To Listen to the Full Podcast Episodes Podcast Ep011: Dave Algeo - Mental Toughness, Mental Health and High Performance Podcast Ep018: Kieron Brady - From Professional Football to Alcoholism Consultant Podcast Ep031 David Jueno - How to Turn Your Life Around and Inspire Others Other Useful Resources linked to Mental Health 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 Podcast – The Importance of Effective Communication in Sports Podcast - How to Build Interpersonal Confidence Podcast – How to Assert Yourself

If you're a football coach, player or parent of a young player or simply a fan of football you'll enjoy this. I speak to Edu Rubio who has coached at Valencia and Chelsea and now works as a technical consultant at Crystal Palace. The conversation flowed as we chatted about the challenges young academy footballers have and how to best support them. We unpick Edu's interest in Motivational Interviewing and how this has helped his coaching. We also discuss the role of the coach and parent in having a positive impact on young footballers. Key Learning Points: Football and other elite sporting environments can be unhealthy environments to be in because of the constant comparison that occurs between players. As a coach how to use motivational interviewing to improve your coaching style. How to use motivational interviewing to build a psychologically safe environment. Cultures without ego or hierarchies can be very helpful. By protecting individuals from setbacks and challenges you will not be supporting an individual to optimise their potential and build their levels of resilience. Success is about being content within yourself and taking the learning from all situations. Connect with Edu Rubio Website Twitter LinkedIn Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn To Listen to Football or Soccer Podcast Episodes Podcast Ep18: Kieron Brady - From Professional Football to Alcoholism Consultant Podcast Episode Ep27: Natalie Henderson - How to Develop Mental Toughness with Young Footballers Podcast Episode Ep43: Jamie Forrester - Thriving in Professional Football Podcast Ep49: How Does Sport Psychology in Elite Football Academies Help - James Maurice Podcast Ep51: Peter Ramage, Brendan Pearson and Julian Dowe - Why Talking Matters Other Football or Soccer Resources Psychology in Football or Soccer Podcasts Psychology in Football or Soccer Blogs

In today's episode, I answer a popular question I get asked by golfers, "I struggle with my confidence, overthink, and can be indecisive on the golf course how can I put this to one side and play my best golf more often?" You'll find I share an important tool to help in this regard, visualisation, and sell the benefits of using this psychological skill to help you shoot lower scores. Key Learning Points: Visualisation helps you develop your skills. Imagery, otherwise known as visualisation can help you the golfer overcome obstacles in your path. By visualising you will find that you are calmer under pressure. Imagery will assist you to feel more confident in your skills when it matters. Visualisation can sharpen your focus. You can see yourself eager and energised. Imagery is a great way to help you stay present in the moment. Connect with David Charlton Accelerator Course: Achieving Your Goals Faster Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn To Listen to the Full Podcast Episodes Podcast Ep02: Steve Judge – How to Deal with Adversity Podcast Ep07: Toby Flood – How Elite Athletes Mentally Prepare Podcast Ep013: Karl Morris - How to Stay Present like a Major Champion Podcast Ep047: David Charlton – Mental Game Tips for Putting For More Resources so You Can Shoot Lower Scores on The Golf Course Personalised Guided Imagery Audios for Golfers Golfers Mental Scorecard Golf Psychology FAQs Golf Blogs Golf Podcasts Our Podcast Sponsor Kymira Sport