Who Am I?
Masters
Degree in
Psychology
Specialize in
Sport and
Performance
Psychology
Headstrong 
Counselling
Wellbeing and
Performance
Psychology
Practice in CT
My views =
Experience as an
athlete,
academic
research, tested
scientific
knowledge,
practitioner
experience
Take away from today was
resonates with you
You may agree / disagree with
some of what is presented
The purpose for today is for you to
leave feeling encouraged to
explore the possibilities within
Sport and Performance
Psychology
Sport Psychology?
Sport Psychology Isn’t
Sport Psychology Can’t Be
Sport Psych Is / Should Be
A quick fix or a “patch
solution”  that’s not how it
works (not sustainable)
Integral / non-negotiable
part of your overall sporting
philosophy, culture, and
environment
Area of training that we
enter into only when
something is going wrong
(negative stereotype)
Something peripheral to
your setup (Can’t be an
“add on”) Something that
you consider half hearted!
Fundamental component
and influencing factor in
your overall approach,
strategy, and vision
This concept called “Mental
Toughness”  This is too
broad, too vague, too
undefined  “I want to be
more mentally tough”  ???
Implemented unless you
truly believe in its influence
and are collectively
passionate about making it
a “lifestyle”
A core element of your
teams DNA and all of its
related actions, behaviours
and communications
This overly complicated
concept that only qualified
professionals can deal with
Behaviours
Emotions
Thoughts
In essence  Sport and
Performance Psychology is about
improving performance by
learning to effectively develop
and manage emotions,
thoughts and behaviours
better, invest in the development
of mental skills training, and
doing so by drawing on existing
scientific knowledge
Movement  Creating the
CULTURE and ENVIRONMENT that
becomes the “launch pad” for
your athletes to become the BEST
VERSION OF THEMSELVES
We need to be the catalyst for our
athletes own
Self-Actualisation
Thoughts To Consider Quick.
Influential relationship between
MIND and BODY
Worldwide use / application of Sport
Psychologists (Mental Training
Culture)
After parents, the COACH is the most
influential significant other to an
athlete
We have a responsibility
accountability in developing young
leaders
We are too defined by traditional
ways of thinking (Be brave and
pioneer a new path)
How can I “shoot” for a
better culture and
sport psychology fit?
Where can I start?
Lay the
Foundations
Selected
Mental
Skills Dev
My
Toolbox
Challenge
/ Change
the
Traditional
Mind-Set
Identify
The Path
Ahead
Lay The Foundations
Groundwork
What is MY philosophy? What do I
believe? What are MY values? Be
clear here!
What are MY athletes philosophies?
What do my athletes believe? What
are my athletes values?
How can we effectively find / develop
a synergy / sync between the above
two (Pete Carrol of the Seahawks 
“How can we create a masterpiece
together”)
Do my actions / behaviours reflect the
above? How can I achieve complete
buy-in?
Do a “stock take” of your current
knowledge – how do I learn more?
Where? Become information
obsessed! Evolve!
Identify The Path Ahead
What is possible for us
How can we achieve the
best version of YOU / ME / US
Culture /
Environment
Values
Goals
Motivation
Comms
Strengths /
Weaknesses
Sustainability
Challenge / Change The Traditional Mindset
Creating an environment that supports mistakes, failures, ideas and creativity,
autonomy
Encourage continuous, rigorous “mindfulness” and self-awareness throughout
Question whether the system allows me to implement my approach / vision /
ideas
Be encouraged to move away from a results driven mentality / orientation
Don’t talk about winning = but rather about being engaged at a really rich level
and explore what’s possible in your teams individual and collective lives.
Embrace the concept that outcomes (success / winning )  Aftereffect of a
professional process (Healthy by-products come from a healthy process)
Not being defined by winning / losing = rather defined by the way it feels to “be
us” – (what does “being us” mean?)
Constantly challenge your own and your athletes mind-sets. (Seeing pressure as a
privilege not a problem. No “big moments”, but rather “another moment” – opportunity
to meet that moment, and each moment has its own unique value)
Selected Mental Skills Development
Confidence /
Self Belief
Absorbing
Pressure
Focus /
Concentration
Arousal
regulation
Dealing With
Nerves
Preparation /
Processes
Visualisation
Breathing
Attentional
Control
Mindfulness
Self Talk
Scenario
Training
AVOID “Hind-Sight” Mentality  Culture must be the CORE
Find YOUR
Unique
Approach to
Incorporating
Sport Psych
Use the
resources
available to you
Invest in the
pursuit of
EVERYTHING or
you’re just
hoping for luck
“Thoughts become things,
and what we think affects
the way we feel, and the way
we feel ultimately affects the
way that we behave and
inevitably in the sporting
context this all affects the
way we perform”
Stuart Pattison
Cell:
+(27) 82 090 5646
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @Headstrong_SA
Facebook: HeadstrongRSA