How To Help Professional Rugby Players Perform Better Under Pressure #BITESIZE
Aaron Walsh, otherwise known as “Walshy” is an experienced Performance Coach. His main areas of focus are developing leadership, culture and mental performance programs for teams. Currently working with Chiefs in Super Rugby as well as consulting to Harlequins, Scottish Rugby, Texas Rangers and Basketball New Zealand. Aaron has worked in MLB, NRL and with various national teams. He is also currently coaching multiple corporate leadership teams in creating and maintaining a high performance working environments. He is sought after and highly regarded presenter that is comfortable in both sporting and corporate environments.
In episode #224 of Demystifying Mental Toughness, I share part of a conversation with Aaron Walsh a Mental Performance Coach with many Elite Professional Rugby Players. We discuss whether elite professional rugby union players view mental toughness as something that they can develop, our role as Sports Psychology practitioners in measuring performance as well as coaches influence in the development of psychological characteristics and skills.
Key Learning Points:
- Educating people in sport on the integration of Sports Psychology and Mental Skills is very important.
- Creativity is essential to thrive as a Sports Psychology Practitioner or Mental Performance Coach.
- Measuring the impact of our work as a practitioner is vital when working in a team setting.
- Many players hate Mondays after a poor performance where they are often shamed in front of others or video footage is taken and critiqued in an unhelpful manner.
Connect with Aaron Walsh
Connect with David Charlton
Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
To Listen to Rugby Orientated Podcast Episodes
Ep039: John Fletcher – How to Develop Fearless Athletes
Ep104: Seb De Chaves – The Psychological Demands of Elite Professional Rugby
EP147: Aaron Walsh – The Application of Mental Performance Coaching in Elite Professional Rugby
Ep161: Paul Phillips – How to Create a Culture of High Performance in Professional Rugby Union
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
IF YOU ENJOYED TODAY’S SHOW PLEASE SHARE
SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN ON YOUR FAVOURITE AUDIO PLATFORM
Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and we read every single one of them!
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.
