Shows
The Mind RoomWho's taking responsibility for footballers' mental health?This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“We don’t lack care, but we lack coherence…there’s a lack of clarity, shared language and understanding…and it creates some cracks that might be not beneficial for the players and staff who actually need support.”Leif Gunnar Smerud might be the only coach in Europe with a UEFA Pro Licence and clinical psychology qualification to his name.The ex-Crystal …2025-07-1801 min
The Mind RoomSports teams' organisational design dilemmaThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comEditor's note: a quick reminder that you still have a day to claim 25% off Mind Room Membership! Just hit the button below to activate your discount (and enjoy the podcast & article!) “ Clubs say to coaches, ‘You’ve go to manage all the players, the 50 staff that we have and manage up to the CEO and across’…but there’s really no education (for coaches) …2025-07-1302 min
The Mind RoomHow can clubs help players manage mental fatigue?This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comOver the course of the 2023/24 season, Spurs defender Christian Romero travelled 162,000km to and from matches for the London club and his country, Argentina (that’s over a third of the way to the moon, for those that like a slightly tangential, space-based barometer). Almost two years on from the FIFPRO report that highlighted Romero’s journeys - and a…2025-06-2701 min
The Mind RoomHow to help players establish an identityThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIt’s hardly news to say that sport has an identity crisis. Article after article berates teams for failing to support athletes seeking to understand who they are away from the field of play. But how can coaches and backroom teams provide the type of help which will turn the tide?It’s a question football needs to answer. A study of the Spanish youth syst…2025-06-2003 min
The Mind RoomWhy 'PlayStation coaching' needs to stopThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“There’s a robotic element flooding in…where’s the freedom in that football match? The players are scared to death of making a mistake.”Gary Neville, speaking after the Manchester derby, April 2025Pundits don’t always get it right, but Gary Neville’s comment seemed to strike a chord with viewers who had the misfortune of watching the last Manchester der…2025-06-0501 min
The Mind RoomThe Key Psychological Characteristics and Skills Driving Elite Football PerformanceThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“Imagine if you're offered a job where you're going to work six days a week, you won’t decide when you take holidays, you're going to have to travel twice every second week at least - spending significant time away from home - and we'll give you a one-year or possibly two-year deal, but you’re going to have to perform every week, and even if you perform…2025-05-3005 min
The Mind RoomHow clubs are coaching cognitive skillsThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comVisual awareness. Decision making. Problem solving. Just three of the terms bandied around on a regular basis when it comes to 'training the brain'. But what are athletes and clubs concentrating on when it comes to identifying and honing cognitive skills?To answer the question, I spoke to Slawomir Morawski, founder of 2025-05-0903 min
The Mind RoomSport psychology's 'scientist-practitioner' problemThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“I've talked recently to sports psychologists in high-level positions within professional sports teams who are facing increasing pressure…to try to better objectively test what they're doing with teams.”Jim Doorley is speaking about an issue that’s affected many of the sport psychologists I’ve talked to over the last half-a-decade. The US Olympic and Pa…2025-04-1305 min
The Mind Room'Sport psychology is embraced here'This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“What makes this club different, for me, is how they embrace and welcome sports psychology and see it in the same way as the tactical, physical and technical stuff. A decision was taken some years ago where they said, ‘This is important and we need to implement it as well as we can’, and that's very special in football.”Troels Thorsteinsson speaks from …2025-04-0404 min
The Mind RoomAndrea Furst: 'I work with coaches that care about people'This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“My job is made easier…because I've got coaches that care about people. That’s why I constantly keep coming back to the leaders of programs or the leaders of the environment and the way they operate. In blunt terms, it either helps or hinders your ability to get some of your messages across.”Andrea Furst shoots from the hip. Our conversation is nominall…2025-03-2801 min
The Mind RoomHow a 'sport psychology canvas' can help psychologists and backroom teamsThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIt’s a situation that will strike a chord with many sport psychologists. You start working with a team, hear all the right noises before joining, only to discover on day one that your handover notes are essentially a blank piece of paper. The turnover of staff in elite sport, together with the tendency to focus on short-term goals and over-complicate t…2025-02-2504 min
The Mind RoomHow will AI shape the future of sport?This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comArtificial intelligence (AI) helps sports teams with analytics, training plans and recruitment. But is there a space for AI in a psychological context and, if so, what would that look like?In 2023, Markus Raab, Robert Schinke and Charles A. Maher wrote a paper on how technology and artificial intelligence can shape the future of elite sport performance.…2025-02-0701 min
The Mind RoomInside the NBA's mental health & performance programThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIn 2018, basketball player DeMar DeRozan wrote a one-line tweet: ‘This depression gets the best of me’. Shortly after the small forward’s post, Kevin Love penned an article revealing he’d suffered a half-time panic attack during a game against the Atlanta Hawks. Fast forward seven years and around a third of teams in the NBA employ a full-time mental h…2025-01-2208 min
The Mind RoomWhy coaches should be thinking about 'psycho-social' skills and characteristics ‘Players were telling us that they felt more resilient, more confident and had better communication skills, just over one season, and some of these players can be in academy systems for 10 years, so there's a lot of time to develop them.’Tom Mitchell’s words are striking. The Doncaster Rovers academy psychology lead is talking about the impact of a programme he’s spearheaded at the English League Two club, focused on harnessing ‘psycho-social’ skills and characteristics (PSCs). The terminology might sound clunky, but the theory is relatively simple. By defining, monitoring and fine-tuning a player’s menta...2025-01-1630 min
The Mind RoomJohn Amaechi: 'Athletes are ripe for exploitation'This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comClaim 20% off an annual Mind Room subscription - offer expires on December 24!“Does anybody think that Premier League football teams are taking on psychologists who are fundamentally saying the way that your coach is treating players is dehumanizing and should stop?”John Amaechi’s question is simple but stirring. Are elite sports, such as English footba…2024-12-1301 min
The Mind RoomHow to setup a mental health support system in a pro sport leagueThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIn last week’s newsletter, I highlighted some key takeaways from my discussion with Dr. Brett Haskell, the National Women’s Soccer League’s clinical mental health and performance director. Now - for Mind Room Members only - I’m releasing the full interview.The podcast is an in-depth exploration of how Brett is working with NWSL clubs to setup a system s…2024-11-2903 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessHow to Enhance Focus, Motivation and ConfidenceEnsuring that your focus is placed on helpful things, that you stay motivated during difficult times and that your confidence levels remain steady and intact even when you lose form are seen as vitally important components being a top class athlete. In today’s episode, part 3 of David’s investigation into ChatGPT’s and its response to the question “What Can I Expect When Working With A Sport Psychologist” he goes on to share with you some helpful tools that you can help athletes in this context. Key Learning Points: Enhancing focus is a skill that...2024-11-1513 min
The Mind RoomHow half-time team talks are changingThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comHalf-time team talks are the stuff of legend. Alex Ferguson’s ‘hairdryer’ treatment, which the former Manchester United manager reserved for unsuspecting players during his time at Old Trafford, was once seen as a vital reminder of dressing room discipline. Steven Gerrard’s infamous Istanbul speech, credited with helping Liverpool to overcome a 3-0 defi…2024-11-1401 min
The Mind RoomDoes sport psychology have an access and inclusion problem?Psychologists fighting for fair pay. ‘Fake psychs’ exploiting the lack of regulation governing sport psychology in the UK (and elsewhere). The exorbitant cost of training to become a sport psychologist.The issues facing the sport psychology profession are well documented (we’ve covered a whole host of them on The Mind Room over the last couple of years), but they deserve continued scrutiny. In this bumper edition of The Mind Room podcast, Jonathan Harding speaks to Sofie Kent, Shakiba Moghadam and Shameema Yousuf about a topic that seeps into every one of the challenges mentioned at the...2024-10-2348 min
The Mind Room'I had an opportunity to redefine what I do': the para rower and architect designing a route to the Paralympics and accessible sports facilitiesThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“I remember just being on the wards during chemotherapy, off my face on drugs, in so much pain and just sobbing uncontrollably at this documentary: that was when I was like, ‘Okay, we're doing this’” The idea of finding hope in moments of despair might sound hackneyed to some people, but Jake Woods isn’t one of them. The British para athlete is recallin…2024-10-1606 min
The Mind Room'Coaching is more challenging than it's ever been'This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comTeenagers on multi-million dollar contracts. Transfer systems (at least in the US) allowing college athletes to switch teams at the drop of a hat. Social media distractions - and scrutiny - coming from every possible angle. The power dynamic governing the coach-player relationship is always in flux, but there’s reason to think that the very people charg…2024-10-0601 min
The Mind Room'A lot of athletes have a skewed perception of what it is to be a person versus what it is to be a commodity'This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comElite sport’s struggle with issues such as identity is nothing new, but efforts to instill the type of self awareness and self reflection that might help young athletes are still something of a postcode lottery. In this Mind Room podcast episode, Jonathan Harding speaks to Julia Eyre, a sport psychologist working with the cycling and cheerleading German…2024-09-2202 min
The Mind Room'When you have 5 minutes and $50m on the line, 'it depends' doesn't work'This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comA few weeks ago, I spoke to Alex Auerbach about his spell in the NBA, gaining coach buy-in and sport psychology regulation. During the conversation, Alex touched on the role he played in influencing the Toronto Raptors’ player recruitment, none more so than during the NBA Draft (an annual event which sees teams from across the league pick players who ha…2024-09-0504 min
The Mind Room'Athletes don't have to be super competitive, super ruthless and win at all costs'This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comIn our last newsletter, Jonathan Harding wrote about a new study examining the link between personality and performance, focusing specifically on how the ‘Dark Triad’ of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy impacts sporting relationships. This week, we’re taking a deeper dive into the subject, bringing you a 30-minute podcast based on Jonath…2024-09-0102 min
The Mind RoomEmbedding sport psychology across an elite European club (Part 2)This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“There are so many ways to do sports psychology: it just so happens that I believe an optimal culture for the incorporation of sports psychology bases its language and behaviours around a shared mental model. “That's because you can help the coaches, the physios, the club doctor, the sport scientists, the strength and conditioning coaches - who do sport…2024-08-1402 min
The Mind RoomExclusive: Dan Abrahams on Feyenoord, Arne Slot and how 'shared mental models' stand up to 70,000 fans (Part 1)This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comYou’re 2-1 down to your arch rivals in a game that might decide who wins the league. You’ve played as though you’re chasing only your second title in 25 years: the nerves are palpable. You have 45 minutes to put things right. The stakes don’t get much higher than Feyenoord’s match against Ajax in March 2023. The game at the Amsterdam Arena setup the pos…2024-08-0903 min
The Mind RoomKarl Marius Aksum on transferring psychology theory from the classroom to the pitchHow do you convince an ageing centre back to swap the security of a low block for a high press that might make Ange Postecoglou blush? Karl Marius Aksum may have the answer. The Mjallby assistant coach, who is part of a backroom team that has helped the Swedish club to the highest position in its 85-year history, was refreshingly honest in an explanation which exemplifies how he’s taken his doctorate knowledge onto the training ground. “It's by using video clips in a manipulative way,” he jokes. “So, it starts with me showing a...2024-08-0240 min
The Mind RoomHow do you psychologically prepare for the Olympics?This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“Most athletes compete at one Olympics, so they might have been working forever for this one moment, and then, that's it, it's gone. “There's only one heat that you get to compete in. You've only got one chance to do your beam routine. It lasts a minute, but you've trained for it for 15 years. “It's about how you prepare for those moments.” Misia Gervis…2024-07-2602 min
The Mind Room'It's messy': Alex Auerbach on sport psychology regulation, gaining coach buy-in and mental health support in the NBAThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com“If someone calls themselves a sports psychology consultant and they're not licensed, what do you do? There's no punishment. There's nothing you can do to change that. The psychology board can send them something that says, ‘Please don't do this’ and maybe the club can sue them if something goes wrong, but by and large, there's not an accountability me…2024-06-2702 min
The Mind Room'We're throwing players into a stress cage without protecting them': why football needs to mentally prepare players for penaltiesThis is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comGeir Jordet has spent most of his professional career studying penalties. The Norwegian professor, who has worked with several of Europe's top teams over two decades in football, knows the psychological subtleties of spot kicks as well as anyone. All of which means that, as Euro 2024 moves towards the knockout stages and the drama of penalty shootouts, …2024-06-2104 min
The Performance PsychcastThe Performance Psychcast - Episode 44 - Media Coverage of Sport Psychology - John NassooriHello everyone and welcome to another episode of the Performance Psychcast. Today we are very fortunate to be speaking with John Nassoori. John is a freelance journalist writing about psychology's influence on sport. He works with titles including the BBC and The Guardian, telling stories on subjects ranging from the first World Cup-winning psychologist to the impact of unregulated mental health support. You can read more of his work - and subscribe to his newsletter, 'The Mind Room', - here: https://themindroom.substack.com/about Contact: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j...2024-06-0348 min
The Mind Room‘We’ve changed the club’: is it really possible to transform a Premier League team's culture?This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comBarely a week goes by without mentions of ‘culture change’ within sport. Some of the commentary is vital: in sports ranging from rugby to swimming, there are serious issues to confront, requiring systemic reforms and widespread behavioural change. In other instances, the term is in danger of becoming a buzzword, meaning anything from dressing room camar…2024-05-2404 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessMental Toughness In Football: How To Deal With Criticism #BITESIZEIn today’s short BITE sized episode HCPC Registered Sport Psychologist, Michael Caulfield tells me about the challenges and pressures that elite professional football brings whether you are a manager or player. He shares his thoughts on what mental toughness is in this environment as well as offering insights into his role as a Sport Psychologist when working with and supporting managers in the English Premier League. Key Learning Points: Rejection and dealing with losses can be uncomfortable yet is something that we all face. Mental toughness in elite professional football comes in two forms: off the...2024-02-0911 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessHow To Create Better Decision Makers On The Football PitchMental toughness development is all about helping people deal with pressure better. In general, you’ll see sports psychology practitioners advocate psychological skills training to create better decision makers in this regards. Our toolkit includes visualisation, cognitive restructuring, strategic goal setting, relaxation and sports hypnosis. In today’s episode however I introduce a relatively new concept, cognitive skills training where Felix Lehmann, a UEFA B Certified Football Coach and co-founder of Cognigoals discusses how our brains can be trained systematically. We discuss 3 main elements to cognitive skills training; authentic two-footedness, game intelligence and creativity. Enjoy tuning in...2023-12-0846 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessSoccer Psychology: Helping Soccer Coaches Reflect On Their Approach #BITESIZEIn today’s bite sized episode, I was joined by the author of the Modern Soccer coach series Gary Curneen, where he opened up on an expensive mistake he made on his coaching journey. He also talks a lot about humility and the importance of integrating the psychological side of the game better. This episode is for coaches, especially those who are confident in their ability as you’ll note when I share my thoughts at the end and ask you to reflect on your approach. Key Learning Points: At present for soccer or football coaches there...2023-09-2217 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessHow To Master the Mental Challenges Goalkeeping Throws at YouGoalkeeping is arguably the most difficult and mentally challenging position on the football or soccer pitch. Common psychological challenges goalkeepers face include; dealing with pressure due to being the last line of defence, coping with mistakes, managing emotions, maintaining focus on the pitch in matches and in training, as well as communicating effectively with team-mates. In today’s episode Andy Elleray, an author and goalkeeping coach, who has worked for clubs such as Chelsea and Bristol Rovers, and within the female game for the English and Welsh Football Associations joins me and shares some fantastic insights into the...2023-04-1439 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessWhat Is Sports Psychology and How It Can Help YouToday’s episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness is where my colleagues at Inspiring Sporting Excellence, Olivia Scott, Aditi Gandhi, Tom Short and Alexandra Harper all share what they feel Sports Psychology is and what Sports Psychology is not. I hope you enjoy listening to their insights and gain a better understanding of the field. Key Learnings Sports Psychology is used to find ways to improve performance. Sports Psychologists help people in a proactive way to improve as well as overcoming mental game barriers and blocks. It isn’t possible to think positively all of the time. In gy...2023-02-1736 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessFootball Psychology: 50 Ways You Can Improve Your PerformanceWelcome to episode #151 of Demystifying Mental Toughness. This is part two of four specially created episodes to celebrate reaching 150 episodes! This time the episode is created with soccer and football fanatics in mind where the great guests that have been interviewed on the show to date, and with experiences in soccer or football, go on to share their key take home messages. As you’ll note the insights are related to the integration of sports psychology, the development of mental toughness, coach development and a lot more! The episode is a must listen for football or soccer coaches, players, parents...2023-01-0638 min
Demystifying Mental ToughnessWhat Is The Role Of A Sports Psychologist In Football?In today’s episode I chat with John Nassoori, a freelance writer and sports journalist for BBC Sport and The Guardian, in the UK. We go on to discuss his research into football or soccer psychology, at both the elite end and in grassroots football. We chat about perceptions of sports psychology, mental health and mental toughness in football. We also touch on the difference between a sports psychologist and other people who are working in football who often get labelled as sports psychologists. How sports psychology is used currently in football and what the future holds for the doma...2022-12-0235 min
The Mind RoomIntroducing The Mind Room - the football psychology newsletterWe've launched a new sister newsletter, bringing you the latest football psychology stories to your inbox - for free - every week. To subscribe to The Mind Room, just visit https://themindroom.substack.com/, where you can also find a back catalogue of articles and interviews. We'll be back with a new pod in the near future, but if you want to get in touch with us in the meantime, our Twitter DMs are open: https://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...2022-08-1900 min
The Mind RoomEuro 2022 preview: how to psychologically prepare for a major tournament finalFormer Lionesses psychologist Misia Gervis drops by for an exclusive interview, explaining how she prepared the England women's side for their last visit to a European Championship final and the lessons the current team might learn from 2009. Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themindroom.substack.com/subscribe2022-07-2948 min
The Mind RoomThe coach-psychologist relationship - Richard Dobson and Dr Misia GervisWe welcome back Wycombe assistant manager Richard Dobson and regular guest Dr Misia Gervis for a discussion about the secrets of a successful coach-psychologist relationship. After almost a decade of working together, Richard and Misia reflect on how they formed their partnership, the key elements behind their sustained success and offer some advice for coaches and psychologists on similar journeys. Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is...2022-07-1346 min
The Mind RoomThe emotional impact of going on loan, adding psychologists to EPL coaching teams and the elements of successful leadershipFormer Premier League psychologist Sarah Murray joins us to discuss: The emotional impact of going on loanAdding psychologists to EPL coaching teams What are the ingredients of successful leadership?Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themindroom.substack.com/subs...2022-05-2649 min
The Mind RoomThe psychology of the play-offs, managers’ motivational stunts and the power of celebratingWe welcome back regular guest and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis to discuss the psychology of the play-offs, whether managers' motivational stunts really pay off and the mental benefits of celebrating. Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themindroom.substack.com/subscribe2022-05-0947 min
The Mind RoomProfessor João Carvalhaes - football’s first World Cup-winning psychologistWe look back on the life of Professor João Carvalhaes, football's first World Cup-winning psychologist. Join us for a discussion about a fascinating individual who pioneered the use of cognitive examinations in elite football, divided opinion with his analysis of Pele and Garrincha, and helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup.To watch the Sao Paolo Regional Psychology Council's video about João Carvalhaes, visit: http://www.crpsp.org.br/memoria/joao/videos.aspxRead 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in to...2022-04-1934 min
The Mind RoomDealing with off-pitch problems, pressurising players to return from injury and the power of psychologyWycombe coach Matt Bloomfield and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis join us to discuss: Chelsea & Derby: how off-pitch problems really affect players' state of mind Conte: the impact of pressurising players to return from injuryWycombe: the power of psychological support Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acc...2022-03-1953 min
The Mind RoomCity vs United, the pressure of the run-in and penalty shootout psychologyWe're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss:City v United: how do players prepare mentally for a derby?The run-in: how can teams deal with the pressure?Kepa: the science behind penalty mind games Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access t...2022-03-0446 min
The Mind RoomCity vs Spurs, manager negativity and Eriksen’s returnWe're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss:City v Spurs: the psychology behind a 'bogey ground'Rodgers, Conte and Mourinho: why managers persist with public criticism of playersChristian Eriksen: the mental side of recovering from traumaRead 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers...2022-02-1943 min
The Mind RoomBonus episode: an interview with David BusstWe take a break from our regular format to bring you an interview with David Busst, the former Coventry City defender who suffered what is widely considered to be the most serious injury in the Premier League's history. David talks to us about the psychological impact of his career-ending leg break, the mentality required to recover from long-term injury and what clubs and football bodies can do to support sidelined players.Please note that this interview was recorded in September 2021.Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: h...2022-01-0150 min
The Mind RoomPlaying without fearWe're joined by Professor Marc Jones, from Manchester Metropolitan University's widely-respected psychology department, and Dr Andy Hill, Blackburn Rovers' psychologist, for a discussion about psychological support for young players, the forces which motivate elite footballers and the science behind claims that teams 'play without fear'.Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...2021-12-1752 min
The Mind RoomChecking the emotional barometerWe're joined by Everton's former Director of Medical Services, Danny Donachie, and ex-England Women's Team psychologist, Dr Misia Gervis, for a discussion about the psychological techniques managers can use to address poor runs of form, dealing with the emotional impact of long-term injury and the mentality players require to sustain a career into their late thirties.Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like...2021-11-2854 min
The Mind RoomGetting comfy with the uncontrollableWe welcome Hearts and Southampton psychologist, Dr Jillian Harley, for a discussion about the impact of managerial changes on players' motivation, the thin line between productive devotion and unhealthy obsession and the way in which international breaks affect footballers' state of mind.Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themindroom...2021-11-1453 min
The 4-4-Touque Podcast4-4-Touque Ep 7 - Toni Strikes BackContent Warning: Suicide. Please Skip from 48:00-49:00 to avoid listening to the discussion on Robert Enke, if this topic makes you uncomfortable in anyway.
After a chaotic weekend of Premier League action, the boys come together to dig through the rubble of Arsenal's demolition of Spurs, and reflect on dropped points for Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool.
We also turn our attention to the topic of mental health in football, and reflect on both the progress that has been made and the long road ahead in the struggle to ensure that players have the...2021-09-281h 09
The Mind RoomCreating a club culture (with Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson)We welcome back Wycombe's assistant manager, Richard Dobson, alongside the Chairboys' boss, Gareth Ainsworth, for a wide-ranging chat about the leadership and psychological support structure the duo have established at Adams Park.Running order: Part 1: Introduction - a fast-start to the season (00:14) Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson (03:07)Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson (62:19) Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on...2021-08-061h 12
The Mind RoomSeries 2 - Episode 1: Pre-season previewSeries 2 - Episode 1: Pre-season preview
After a summer break, the Beat The Press podcast is back to discuss how pressure affects football performance. In the first episode of the new series, we look at the psychological support Premier League clubs are providing for their players, reflect on the key themes from Series 1 (including mental health, on-pitch psychology and the role of neuroscience in football) and give you a taste of what's to come in Series 2.
Running order:
Part 1: Introduction - from newborns to veterans, featuring Alan Pardew and Lee Chapman (00:14)
Part 2: Series 1 recap - a disc...2021-08-0447 min
The Mind RoomPlayer care (with Hugo Scheckter)Former West Ham and Southampton player care specialist, Hugo Scheckter, joins us to talk about the social media abuse he's seen Premier League stars suffer, how he supported West Ham's first-team squad during COVID and the future of the player care profession.Running order: Part 1: Introduction - remembering Steffen Iversen (00:14) Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Hugo Scheckter (03:41)Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Hugo Scheckter (58:49) Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and fol...2021-02-141h 06
The Mind RoomChelsea‘s ‘psychological coding‘ programme (with Malcolm Harkness)Trabzonspor's Head of Sports Science, Malcolm Harkness, joins us to discuss his time in Turkey and the 'psychological coding' project he helped run in his previous role at Chelsea. Running order: Part 1: Introduction - dressing room songs, from Adele to Apache (00:14) Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Malcolm Harkness (04:35)Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Malcolm Harkness (51:26) Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/socc...2021-01-301h 00
The Mind RoomThe psychology behind Chelsea‘s double-winning side (with Dr Bruno Demichelis)Former AC Milan and Chelsea psychologist, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by for the second half of a two-part episode, looking at his time at Stamford Bridge. Bruno talks to us about the sports science and cognitive support he provided for Carlo Ancelotti's double-winning squad. Drawing on stories involving a host of Chelsea stars, from John Terry and Didier Drogba to Petr Cech and Frank Lampard, Bruno gives us the inside track on the most successful season in the club's history. Running order: Part 1: Introduction - from Clarence Seedorf to John...2021-01-2354 min
The Mind RoomAC Milan‘s ‘Mind Room‘: Italian football‘s first psychology lab (with Dr Bruno Demichelis)AC Milan's former Scientific Coordinator, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by to discuss the 'Mind Room', Italian football's first psychology laboratory. Bruno talks to us about the role the 'Mind Room' played in Milan's success during the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Drawing on stories involving a host of Milan legends, from Franco Baresi and Roberto Baggio to Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso, Bruno gives us the inside track on Milan's pioneering sports science and psychology setup. This is the first half of a two-part episode. Part 2 - covering Bruno's spell at...2020-12-311h 16
The Mind RoomPsychological characteristics of the ‘perfect footballer‘ (with Simon Clifford)Southampton's former Head of Sports Science and the man credited with introducing futsal to the UK, Simon Clifford, stops by for a fascinating discussion about the psychological characteristics of the 'perfect footballer'.Simon talks to us about the players he's worked with, including Juninho, Gareth Bale and Micah Richards, who display some of the mental attributes you might expect to find in the 'player of tomorrow'.He also explains what it was like to manage Socrates, during his spell at Garforth Town, and tells us about his latest venture, Integer Football. ...2020-11-2856 min
The Mind RoomThe impact of sleep on performance (with Nick Littlehales, ‘The Sport Sleep Coach‘)Nick Littlehales, aka 'The Sport Sleep Coach', drops by for a discussion about the impact of sleep on players' performance. We talk about Nick's career, spanning spells with Manchester United, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and England, discuss the role that sleep coaching can play in improving performance and look at the effect of COVID-19 on fatigue in football. Running order: Part 1: Introduction - sleeping through the international break (00:14) Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Nick Littlehales (05:28)Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Nick Littlehales (48:40) Read...2020-10-1655 min
The Mind RoomThe impact of stress on performance (with Professor Marc Jones)Renowned academic Professor Marc Jones joins us for a discussion about the impact of stress on performance, as we continue to look at how footballers, coaches and the people around them respond to pressure.We talk about Marc's work with academy players, the potentially positive role that fear of failure can play in motivating athletes, the impact of the absence of crowds on performance, how players respond to ‘in game’ setbacks and psychology’s evolving role within football. Running order: Part 1: Introduction - fever pitch in Fantasy Football (00:14) Part 2: Interview - a discussi...2020-10-0353 minThe Mind Room#9 Lisa FallonLondon City Lionesses manager Lisa Fallon drops by to talk about the role of leadership in football.
Drawing on her experience of being the first woman to manage a men's football team in Ireland and her spell as part of the Northern Ireland backroom team during Euro 2016, Lisa talks to us about handling pressure at different levels of the game.
She also discusses the support needed for players recovering from injury, helping her squad through COVID and mentoring the next generation of football coaches.
Running order: Part 1: Introduction - rewinding to 2013, with Bal...2020-09-2600 minThe Mind Room#8 Peter VarneyFormer Charlton chief executive Peter Varney stops by for a chat on the latest episode of the Beat The Press podcast.
We talk about the pressure facing clubs and players during the summer transfer window and the possible impact of the salary cap on teams in League One and League Two.
Pete also tells us about the secrets behind his success during his two stints at The Valley and speaks about about the changes he'd make to scrutinise potential football club owners more effectively.
Finally, we discuss possible Parliamentary intervention in football and...2020-08-2200 min
The Mind RoomThe ‘biggest psychology programme in Europe‘ (with Richard Dobson)In the latest episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to Wycombe assistant manager, Richard Dobson.We discuss the club's pioneering psychology programme, established by Richard and responsible for helping to support players such as Jordan Ibe and Anthony Stewart.In Richard's first in-depth interview on the subject, he reveals the secrets behind what was described as the 'biggest psychology programme in Europe'. He also talks to us about the club's promotion to the second tier of English football, for the f...2020-08-1436 min
The Mind RoomManagers‘ mental health (with Mike Calvin)In this episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to award-winning journalist and author, Mike Calvin. Mike talks to us about leadership in sport, drawing on his experience of co-writing Gareth Thomas’s and Alistair Cook’s autobiographies. He also gives us a rare glimpse of the realities of football management, recounting interviews with managers from his many years as a reporter and, latterly, an author of ‘Living On The Volcano’, a book about the pressure managers face, which was...2020-08-031h 04The Mind Room#5 Leo Pearlman (Sunderland 'Til I Die exec producer) - Part 2 of 2The second part of our discussion with Sunderland 'Til I Die executive producer, Leo Pearlman. We talk through Sunderland supporters' opinion of Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven, the remarkable relationship between Peter Farrer - taxi driver and arguable star of the series - and River Plate, and answer listeners' questions, with Leo giving his view of the possibility of returning for a third series. We also run through our top five football documentaries, which you can find via the links in these show notes. To listen to the first part of this interview...2020-06-1000 minThe Mind Room#4 Leo Pearlman (Sunderland 'Til I Die executive producer) - Part 1 of 2In this episode of the Beat The Press podcast, we speak to Leo Pearlman, executive producer of Sunderland 'Til I Die.Join us for a discussion that starts with Leo's time on the Roker Park terraces, supporting the club he would go on to make a documentary about.We look at the driving factors behind the second series of the programme, with first-hand insight into the thinking of owners Stewart Donald and Charlie Methven.Leo talks to us about the 'rotten' culture they inherited, the transfer plans which were scrapped to sign Will...2020-06-0200 min
The Mind RoomRecovering from long term injuries (with Dr Misia Gervis)In this episode of The Football Psychology Show (formerly known as the Beat The Press podcast), we speak to Dr Misia Gervis, leading sports psychologist and academic. Join us for a fascinating discussion about her time working for the England women's team and the role she has played in supporting academies at Wycombe Wanderers and QPR. We look at how clubs are supporting their players during the coronavirus outbreak and explore how isolation, and a subsequent loss of identity, can lead to players suffering from conditions such as anxiety and depression. We also discuss the impact of...2020-05-131h 05