www.sportingbounce.com - Sporting Bounce
Posted 08/31/2021 in Category 1 by DAVID CHARLTON

August 2021: Mental Edge Round Up

August 2021: Mental Edge Round Up

August for me has been a month where I’ve taken my foot off the pedal so that I can be the best dad, husband, son, friend and operate at my optimum in my business come September.  


Pressures of running a very busy business and having a young family in these COVID times were taking their toll which I was aware of.  Numerous periods of self-isolation, managing childcare, cancelled holidays and an injury which stopped me doing what I enjoy (golfing and running) and help me switch off also contributed to a jaded and sometimes irritable me.  As a result of feeling not myself in July, I re-read parts of a book “Play” by Stuart Brown which I read a few years ago, this helped me immensely reconnect with what I see as important in my life.   


Having fun and being adventurous.


For anyone who is feeling out of sync, burned out, a little helpless and frustrated this book is a really good read and can help you as an athlete, parent, coach or business professional.

As Stuart writes.  “We see the joy of play in children’s faces as they swing in a school park.  But in our own lives, we tend to think of play as only a guilty pleasure, a distraction from “real” work and responsibilities.  


Play is fun, but it is anything but trivial.  It is a basic biological drive as integral to our health as sleep or nutrition.  When we play, we are open to possibility and the sparks of new insights.  Play – defined as any purposeless, all-consuming, restorative activity – is the single most significant factor in determining our success and happiness.”  


Here is a link to the book


Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul - Stuart Brown & Christopher Vaughan


So August 2021 ended up being a great one which involved lots of exploring for Kirsty, the 

boys and myself, travelling to new places in the Lake District, South Yorkshire, The Peak District and North Yorkshire.  Some golf, running and cycling, nice meals out and a few beers has me now feeling nice and refreshed.


On the sports scene I particularly liked a quote from Patrick Cantlay after winning the BMW Golf Championship in Baltimore.


"I'm as focused as I can be on every single shot, and I try not to let my mind get past the moment that I'm in," Cantlay said, following the win.

"Then I kind of let the chips fall where they do. I try not to get caught up in being out-driven 45 yards or whatever it is. I just try and lock in and do my absolute best in that moment, and my best is pretty good."

This quote highlighted what a lot of my work is about helping athletes stay in the moment, immersing themselves in the task that they have in front of them and trusting their skills and judgement.  Putting to one side, criticism, positive and negative comments from others, confusing over instruction from parents and coaches, as well as self doubt.

My hero of the month, has to be Joe Root, despite carrying a fragile England batting line up he has been in hugely impressive form, doing what Patrick Cantlay describes with ease.  He’s been in the zone for many hours and days in August hitting 3 centuries against an excellent Indian bowling attack.  Long may it continue, especially when in Australia later in the year!

I particularly enjoyed “The Hundred” too this month and think it’s been an exciting tournament for both men and women’s cricket.  

Come September I’m intrigued to see what Ronaldo’s impact will have been on his return to Manchester United, if Novak Djokovic takes the US Open and if against the odds the European Ryder Cup team do the business against the US in Whistling Straits.

Enjoy your month and please do read or listen to some of the content that we’ve put together in August. 


Index

Sports Psychology Blog Content

  • How do You Respond to Errors
  • 3 Tips to Help You Ride the Waves of Transition in Sport
  • Life After Professional Sport and its Challenges
  • 10 Mental Game Tips from Leading Experts to Improve Your Golf


Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcasts

  • Mastering the Mental Game of Refereeing
  • Before, During and After Professional Football
  • How to Gain an Edge
  • David on Being Tough Vs Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin – Part 3


Sports Psychology Blogs


How do You Respond to Errors — 


Have you seen an athlete perform without making one error, even a slight one in a match, race or event?  I havent!  The perfect performance doesnt exist yet many athletes set themselves up to make their lives difficult, as do coaches by the way they view making errors and mistakes.


This article is set up to help athletes and to help parents and coaches to consider how they view errors and to challenge your thoughts.


3 Tips to Help You Ride the Waves of Transition in Sport 


Life can throw us off track when we least expect it whether you are a professional athlete, a young athlete with potential or an experienced coach – things happen that are out of your control and they can mess with your emotions and decision making.  This then can impact negatively on your performances and mental health.

Situations that I’ve seen it happen and have supported athletes, coaches and business professionals include when you’ve been dropped from a squad, when you decide to retire, when you move clubs, if you suffer a serious injury,  if you lose a loved one or have a relationship break up… the list goes on.

Feel free to read my thoughts on the topic with 3 tips to help you should you be dealing with a current transition.


Life After Professional Sport and its Challenges — 

Retirement from professional sport is often not straight forward where athletes experience “loss” due to their day to day routines being thrown out of kilt and many other factors.

In this article I share 2 questions athletes may be asking themselves during these times and some useful information on the topic to help them. 

Feel free to share it on or let me know how you dealt with retirement from your sport.


10 Mental Game Tips from Leading Experts to Improve Your Golf — 


Were approaching the back end of the golf season now, where many golfers are tearing their hair out and are frustrated at not being able to perform to the standards that they feel they should be attaining.  Some golfers are even considering forgetting about golf for the rest of the season and putting their clubs in the garage.  Is that you? Or maybe youre simply a little annoyed at yourself for leaving shots out on the course?

If these statements resonate with you and youre in need of a boost why not take heed of these 10 bits of advice from our expert guests and features from the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast to date.


Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcasts


EP 076 Mastering the Mental Game of Refereeing  


In today’s episode, we discuss the most demanding job on a football pitch.  No not the role of the goalkeeper, but the referee.  It’s a job which rarely get any praise and requires a special type of person.  Someone who is very assertive, especially in those demanding pressurised moments. In this episode I chat with a referee and resilience trainer, Nathan Sherratt about his love of the job, how he manages his confidence, the challenges that referees face as we as his work at The Third Team.


EP 077 Before, During and After Professional Football — 


In this episode, I discuss with former professional footballer Danny Thomas, about the psychological qualities that helped him break into and maintain a career in professional football.   We also went on to talk about his debut, and we discussed the challenges of transitioning out of professional football and into the workplace.


EP 078  How to Gain an Edge —


In today’s episode I chat to the creator and founders of Kymira Sport and Golf in the UK, Tim Brownstone and Michael Davis and the sponsors of our podcast show.  We dig deep and discuss the incredible technology that they have available and relate it to Mental Toughness. We go on to discuss focus, how to make your own luck, the importance of recovery as well as the Kymira brand and how the sportswear can help you in your life and sport.


EP 079 David on Being Tough Vs Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin – Part 3 — 


To make your way in life to be the best person you can be, give yourself the best opportunity in your chosen field, be comfortable in your own skin, and find and develop mental strength is very important. In today’s episode, I help you tap into some of your strengths and question your approach by going through a variety of scenarios and exercises. It’s an episode created to stretch you, enjoy tuning in!


**********


You may also be interested in downloading a new resource that we’ve created THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST which highlights a range of excellent processes that athletes can follow in order to integrate mental skills training into their daily routines and habits.  By doing so, it will allow you to see where there are gaps and how and where you can improve to ensure that you get closer to reaching your goals.


DOWNLOAD THE FOCUSED ATHLETE CHECKLIST


PRODUCTS

If you are an athlete who is a little bit lost or overwhelmed.  Or you may know someone who has lost sight of their goals who needs to quieten their mind and get clear on chat they need to do to progress.  This short 60 minute online accelerator course may be for you.  All for £49.


ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS FASTER ACCELERATOR COURSE


Our partners Kymira Sport are an up and coming brand who sell infrared sportswear clinically proven to enhance performance and recovery.

TO CHECK OUT OUR KYMIRA SPORT SHOP


You can also join our online community – THE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY HUB – for regular Sports Psychology tips, podcasts, motivation and support.


JOIN THE COMMUNITY NOW - The Sports Psychology Hub


If you have any questions about our products and services please feel free to get in touch.

Have a great month ahead!

David Charlton

Tel: 07734 697769

Email: info@sport-excellence.co.uk



Are You a Business?

1. Register your company
2. Create a searchable listing
3. Connect with more clients

Get Listed Today