Psychological Factors in Sports Archives

Combat Sports Psychology Tips: How Can I Give my Child Confidence Before They Fight?

Combat Sports Psychology Tips: How Can I Give My Child Confidence Before They Fight? Many young fighters can doubt their ability before a bout In this video I share with you some suggestions on how you as a parent could approach helping your children, in this case a young fighter deal with pre-bout nerves. Ideas …

Conversations With Kids: Big Picture

by David Charlton

Conversations With Kids: Environment and Culture

Conversations with Kids – Week 7 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for your Kids If you could rename your club, what …

Is Striving For Perfection A Good Thing In Gymnastics?

by David Charlton

Is Striving For Perfection A Good Thing In Gymnastics?

Dr. Alessia Bruno is a Clinical and Sports Psychologist, Mental and Performance Trainer specialising in Brainspotting and EMDR. She lectures at National Sport congresses and holds courses accredited by the Ministry of Health. She helps athletes and performing artists to overcome blocks, choking, slumps, yips, trauma and works with expansion to take people and their potential beyond to where it was before the issue.

Clinical and Sports Psychologist – Dr. Alessia Bruno

In episode 142 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, Dr. Alessia Bruno and David discuss perfectionism in gymnastics as well as across other sports and walks of life. We go on to look at healthy perfectionism, as well as the downsides to the trait where we share some advice for gymnasts, athletes in general, coaches and parents.

Key Learning Points

Gymnasts are judged on their performances which can go on to impact their self-esteem.
The intensity of their lives can mean some gymnasts run the risk of burnout.
Characteristics of rigidity and control can lead people to be more vulnerable to other people’s judgments.
Perfectionist traits can suck the fun out of sport.
Social approval can be a big problem for some athletes where they spend a lot of time worrying about what others think.
Striving for perfection can lead to excessive self-criticism.

Connect with Professor Alessia Bruno

Website

Connect with David Charlton

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep014: Alessia Bruno – The Yips, Crashes, Trauma in Sport there is hope for Athletes

Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight – Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences

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

Ep130 David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – PT2

Ep131 David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – FINAL PART

Other Relevant Blogs and Resources

Blog: How to Stay Relaxed as a Gymnast When the Pressure is On

Blog: How to Overcome Psychological Blocks in Gymnastics

Blog: Body Image in Sport

Blog: Bullying -The Dark Side of Sport

Gymnastics Psychology Library

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Best Wishes

David Charlton

Global Sports Psychologist who is located near Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK and willing to travel Internationally. David also uses online video conferencing software (Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp) on a regular basis and has clients who he has supported in USA, Canada, South America, UAE, Australian and New Zealand.

Managing Director – Inspiring Sporting Excellence and Founder of The Sports Psychology Hub. With over 10 years experience supporting athletes, coaches, parents and teams to achieve their goals, quickly.

E: [email protected]

How to Talk to Teenage Athletes: A Conversations With Kids Guide

David Charlton

How to Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk

Book Review – How to Talk So Teens Will Listen in Sport

Ladylyn Reyes

Words of Wisdom – Collective Insights on Mental Toughness

David Charlton

8 year old, boy playing competitive tennis

Emotional Regulation in Youth Tennis: A Case Study with an 8-Year-Old Player

David Charlton

How to Help Your Child Handle Pressure in Sport

David Charlton

How The Body Knows Its Mind - Sian Beilock

Book Review: Motor Preferences in Baseball: What UK Sport Can Learn

David Charlton

Conversations With Kids: Criticism

by David Charlton

Conversations with Kids – Week 6 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for your Kids When have you been criticised by a

Goalkeeping Psychology Tips: My Child Gets Very Nervous Before Matches What Should I Do?

by David Charlton

Goalkeeping Psychology Tips: My Child Gets Very Nervous Before Matches, What Should I Do? Many young goalkeepers start matches one nil down because of how they view nerves In this video I share with you some suggestions on how you as a parent could approach helping your children, in this case a young goalkeeper deal

Conversations With Kids: Imposter Syndrome

by David Charlton

Conversations with kids impostor syndrome

Conversations with Kids – Week 5 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for your Kids Do you sometimes think that you are

How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian

by David Charlton

How to Improve Your Mental Strength: Secrets from an Olympian

Chris Cook is a former double Olympian & Double Commonwealth Champion. After competing for Great Britain for nearly 10 years, he hung up the trunks and retired from international swimming and began working with businesses/organisations far and wide to help inspire, mentor and coach people to embrace ‘challenge and change’ for their optimal performance. Chris has built a reputation as a motivational speaker throughout the last 7 years working from referral to referral, sharing his story and the lessons learnt from the journey with over 400,000 people.

Chris and his wife Erica also run their own Learn to swim business – ‘Swim Buddies’ which has seen the business (located in Darlington, UK) grow from 7 swimmers in their first week in September 2014 through to over 1000 children swimming with Swim Buddies every week.

Chris’s coaching, speaking and mentoring is centred around personal development. Whether it’s in the water helping swimmers or on dry land in business and life, Chris believes that success is something you attract from the person you become.

In this episode 140, double Olympian and former Commonwealth champion swimmer, Chris Cook joined me. We discussed his journey to becoming an Olympian and his role now as a motivational speaker and executive coach. Different obstacles that he overcame were also talking points, as were how he sets goals and works to achieve them. Chris also shares many great questions that you can ask yourself and what sports performers can learn from CEOs in the business world.

Key Learning Points:

Having people that I was accountable to as a child was important.
My biggest fear was getting to the end of something and realising I hadn’t tried hard enough.
There were times when I got over-anxious because I wanted it too much.
I realised to progress I needed to become great the stuff I wasn’t good at, goal setting was one thing.
People in the business world would benefit from looking at how they view their recovery and make necessary changes.
How can I swim 2 lengths of the pool faster was a question I often asked myself.
Seeing difficult moments as growth opportunities and being brave enough to face them is vital.

Connect with Chris Cook

Website

Connect with David Charlton

Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

To Listen to Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep033: Aly Dixon – Mental Toughness Lessons from a World Champion

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

Other Helpful Resources

Driscolls Model of Reflection

Blog – Do You Really Want to Succeed

Blog – 12 Reasons Why You Won’t Achieve Your Potential

Blog: 9 Tips for Children from Olympians

IF YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S SHOW PLEASE SHARE

SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE AUDIO PLATFORM

Best Wishes

David Charlton

E: [email protected]

How to Talk to Teenage Athletes: A Conversations With Kids Guide

David Charlton

Book Review – How to Talk So Teens Will Listen in Sport

Ladylyn Reyes

Words of Wisdom – Collective Insights on Mental Toughness

David Charlton

Emotional Regulation in Youth Tennis: A Case Study with an 8-Year-Old Player

David Charlton

How to Help Your Child Handle Pressure in Sport

David Charlton

Book Review: Motor Preferences in Baseball: What UK Sport Can Learn

David Charlton

Youth Sports Psychology Tips: Helping a Critical Child When You’re a Parent

by David Charlton

Youth Sport Psychology Tips: Helping a Critical Child When You’re a Parent Many children are very hard on themselves, even after good performances In this video I share with you a suggestion to help your children over time become less self-critical and as a result feel more confident in themselves as sport performers and as

Conversations With Kids: Relax and Unwind

by David Charlton

Conversations with Kids – Week 4 For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Question for your Kids If you tried to relax away from

Steve Beharall’s Journey from Football Coach to CEO

by David Charlton

Steve Beharall’s Journey from Football Coach to CEO

Steve Beharall is the Head of Newcastle United Foundation who are the charity of Newcastle United.

Steve has the responsibility for leading the Foundations Senior Management Team with accountability for strategy, business planning, leadership, management, governance, finance and risk.

Since 2016 Steve has played a strategic role in significantly growing the Foundations income by developing innovative programmes and helping grow services to generate fees, sales and grants.

Newcastle United Foundation employ over 200 staff and have been recognised nationally at the 2021 Football Business Awards as one of the best community organisation in the Premier League and was also awarded the North East Charity of the year In October 2021 and then in December was again recognised with the International Sports Award for Professional Clubs (Community).

In March 2022 the Foundation opened NUCASTLE a world class, £8.5m purpose built capital development in Newcastle City centre to further expand the work of the Foundation and in July 2022 NUCASTLE was recognised at the Construction News Awards as best national project (under £20m)

In episode 139 of Demystifying Mental Toughness I had the pleasure of speaking to the head of The Newcastle United Foundation, Steve Beharall. Steve shared his inspiring journey from being a part time football coach to where he is today. Lessons that he has learned, challenges he’s overcome as well as insights into initiatives that the foundation are involved in and what the future holds. Steve also passes on some advice to the future generation of coaches on opportunities for them.

Key Learning Points:

Whilst as an academy coach at Newcastle United, I realised that all I wanted was to help kids with football.
When I decided to take a different direction in the Newcastle United Foundation I spent the first three years of my time here working closely with my predecessor learning valuable lessons.
Since I started we’ve gone from 65 to 240 full time staff and 60 sessional staff.
In 2022, we’ve grown the turnover from £3 million to £6 million and expanded on programs, by 80% in the last three years.
Newcastle United Foundation Case Studies
NUcastle is an important part of the community and service sector across the North East of England.
Whether you’re a coach or a leader, relationships have to built on trust, respect and honesty.
It’s important to be mindful of your mental health.

Connect with Steve Beharall

The Newcastle United Foundation Website

Connect with David Charlton

Download THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST

Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn

To Listen to Relevant Podcast Episodes

Ep027: Natalie Henderson – How to Develop Mental Toughness with Young Footballers

Ep064: Edu Rubio – How to Support Young Footballers

Ep 084: Dr Jim Afremow and Phil White – Mental Toughness and The Leaders Mind

Ep092: Dr James Hegarty – ACT in Sport, Improving Performance through Mindfulness

Ep111: Michael Caulfield – How to be an Effective Sports Psychologist in Elite Professional Football