It’s very easy as a football coach to offer short snippets of praise such as “great goal” or “good pass.” However, is this actually helpful for the footballer? In this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, the second of a 6 part series I argue that yes it is helpful, especially for those players who gain confidence from coach praise and compliments. However, if you as a coach challenge yourself to offer players more in terms of process driven praise and feedback you can enhance their learnin...
Mar 19, 2024•8 min•Ep. 225
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. K ey Learning Points: Educating people in sport on th...
Mar 15, 2024•14 min•Ep. 224
In and around most football clubs you’ll hear statements like “this is a MUST win game today,” “we HAVE to get 3 points today” or “great GOAL”. It’s common and very natural to be talking like this, to be talking about outcomes and results - though is it helpful? This is what I unpick in today’s episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, the 1st of a new 6 part series where I share some thoughts on why we may fall into the trap of talking so much about outcomes and results. I also look to challeng...
Mar 12, 2024•8 min•Ep. 223
Hypoarousal – what is it in a performance context? It is our freeze response, when our mind and body shuts down when we are faced with significant pressure, at least in our own minds. In today’s episode I discuss with Ruth Chiles, author of The Focal Dystonia Cure how athletes and performers who experience this freeze response can help themselves. Ruth goes on to share some practical tips that can hugely benefit many people. Key Learnings Brainspotting an approach developed by a New York psychol...
Mar 08, 2024•14 min•Ep. 222
In today episode, I'm joined by former international cricketer and Senior Leadership Coach, Jeremy Snape. Jeremy and I discuss pressure, where he explains why our brains can be hijacked and hinder our performance. He also shares some great advice on using pre-shot or pre-performance routines as a way of mentally preparing yourself to execute your skills. Key Learning Points: Our brains are built for safety. Seek to focus on your body, breathing and self-talk to help you stay in the moment. Under...
Mar 01, 2024•15 min•Ep. 221
In today’s short episode, Dr Paul Gorczynski who has worked with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) shares his knowledge of mental health literacy in particular offering some excellent advice for decision makers in organisations who are looking to develop and implement mental health literacy strategies. Key Learnings Mental health literacy refers to the knowledge and understanding of mental health. It can play a part in helping people to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness. Men...
Feb 23, 2024•11 min•Ep. 220
Many golfers get drawn into overthinking situations and overanalysing technique which leads to indecision and a lack of trust in putts and shots. Overtime, some players can then become overly anxious and nervous trying to control their movements and misplacing their focus. When putting this can be a big issue for many golfers especially when faced with short putts. In today’s short bite-sized episode Dr Brian Hemmings shares with you a very helpful and solution-based approach that can make sure ...
Feb 16, 2024•15 min•Ep. 219
In 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 ye...
Feb 09, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 218
Marginal gains is an approach that was created by Dave Brailsford with British Cycling which led to many years of success. It’s an holistic approach where you can reflect on your habits and behaviours, looking for small 1% improvements to ensure you give yourself a better chance of success. In this short episode double Olympian and now, a motivational speaker and executive coach Chris Cook tells me about his experience of implementing a marginal gains approach. The emotion associated with such i...
Feb 02, 2024•12 min•Ep. 217
Commitment is the ability to make and keep our promises which some people can find difficult. Especially as our journeys are often littered with challenges whether that is injuries, loss of form, loss of confidence or technical difficulties. In these moments, some athletes work harder but not smarter. Some cultures promote this “you’ve just got to work harder” attitude too and ignore the importance of rest and recovery. Therefore, this short bite sized episode, is all about educating you on why ...
Jan 26, 2024•14 min•Ep. 216
On this episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness, David talks to Team GB Ice Swimmer, and Owner of H2O Trails, Fenwick Ridley. We chat about ice swimming and mental toughness, cold water immersion and it’s effects on the mind and body. How cold water can have a positive impact on mental health and help you embrace the feelings of discomfort. Feel free to tune in! Key Learning Points: Mental Toughness comes from someone who has got very specific attributes including perseverance and a high level ...
Jan 19, 2024•41 min•Ep. 215
In this episode, Ellen McDermott an Elite Professional Cyclist and Performance Nutritionist, shares her journey from novice to becoming an elite professional cyclist, taking part in the 2023 World Gravel Championships in Italy. She discussed challenges that she has faced and how she has dealt with them. She also shares why a well thought out nutritional plan is vital to optimise your performance and recovery. We talk about ideas that can aid your knowledge on nutrition for endurance sports, as w...
Jan 12, 2024•44 min•Ep. 214
Today, in our first episode of 2024 I am joined by Sandro Forte, an inspirational professional speaker, author and successful entrepreneur. We discuss Sandro’s view on success and how to go about setting your goals for 2024. He also shares with you how to view obstacles and challenges this coming year, as well as sharing how he copes with his “little voice” and overthinking. Enjoy tuning in! Key Learning Points: Success is relative and can mean different things to different people. It's about ac...
Jan 05, 2024•34 min•Ep. 213
Welcome to episode #212 of Demystifying Mental Toughness! This is the second part of two specially created episodes over the festive period to show our gratitude to our fantastic guests in 2023. The episode is hugely insightful where a number of our guests from this year, share many fantastic takeaways. The messages come from different angles where sports psychologists, mental performance coaches, executive coaches, sports coaches and a brainspotting practitioner go on to discuss dealing with fo...
Dec 29, 2023•27 min•Ep. 212
Welcome to episode #211 of Demystifying Mental Toughness. Today we bring you the 1st of 2 compilation episodes over the festive period. The key takeaways from this episode come from the worlds of sport, business and healthcare. Mental health, burnout, injury recovery, managing difficult conversations and motivation were topics that were unpicked. Enjoy listening to the excellent insights! Relevant Podcast Episodes in Order and Sequence as Relayed in Episode 211 Ep158: Paul Gorczynski – How to De...
Dec 22, 2023•19 min•Ep. 211
Have you ever thought about whether you breathe properly? Or do you take breathing for granted as something that we as living humans do automatically? Today’s podcast episode will be a big help to you should you wish to know more about breathwork, where the founder of Influential Breathwork, Anna Parker-Naples and I discuss how our breathing patterns impact our mind and body. Performance and mental health benefits are also debated as is the use of deliberate cold immersion. Feel free to tune in!...
Dec 15, 2023•43 min•Ep. 210
Mental 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-fo...
Dec 08, 2023•47 min•Ep. 209
Today, in the last of this 10-part series for footballer or soccer players, coaches and parents, I talk more about managing expectations, this time when your team is winning comfortably. Many players are guilty of taking their foot off the pedal, going into protect mode individually and collectively when this happens. I share why, because your attention is misdirected. Also, highlighted are ways in which you can redirect your focus so that you finish a match strongly and seek to dominate your op...
Dec 05, 2023•7 min•Ep. 208
In business and sporting organisations conflict is widespread and there is a need for leaders and managers to be able to prevent, manage and master difficult conversations to improve the overall culture. As a result, people then feel more respected and valued, job satisfaction improves, as well as performance and the mental health of those involved. Today’s episode looks to help you in this respect where author and conflict crisis consultant, Nicole Posner, helps you understand the psychology be...
Dec 01, 2023•39 min•Ep. 207
In episode 206, I add a further step to what I discussed in the previous episode, 204, when I talked about managing expectations. The situation I consider is big matches when football and soccer players can be guilty of focusing too much on opponents. The key message I look to spread includes how you can set process goals to shift your expectations away from your opponent’s actions. To focusing on you and how you can make your opponent’s life very difficult so that they don’t enjoy playing again...
Nov 28, 2023•7 min•Ep. 206
Today's podcast episode looks at how we as Sports Psychologists support injured athletes. My guest, Dr Carl Bescoby, the Injury Psychologist, goes on to share his knowledge in our discussion about the psychological and emotional difficulties that athletes can face, especially in the case of long-term injuries. Strategies to help athletes during the rehabilitation process, as well as, how they can help themselves become psychologically ready to return to sport are highlighted. Key Learning Points...
Nov 24, 2023•41 min•Ep. 205
A phrase you often hear from football managers, coaches and pundits is that football and soccer players “need to manage their expectations.” You also hear that playing “expectation free” is a good thing so that you can play your football with freedom. In episode 204, the 8th of our 10-part series this is the theme that I discuss where I go on to give you some advice on how you can manage your expectations as a football or soccer player. Enjoy tuning in! Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The...
Nov 21, 2023•8 min•Ep. 204
Episode 203 of The Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast features Jack Sunderland, a former professional boxer, currently a boxing coach and entrepreneur. Jack goes on to tell me all about the mental and physical challenges that come with the boxing. We also talk about how he helps the local community in West Yorkshire with the social enterprise, The Training Cave, that he founded and runs from a boxing gym in Batley, near Leeds. We talk about nerves, different psychological challenges that boxe...
Nov 17, 2023•35 min•Ep. 203
In episode 202, the 7th of our 10-part series I build on the previous episode, and again I look to help the footballer who places too much attention on outcomes and results. As a result, fear of failure then becomes a big challenge for you to overcome. One of the answers in my eyes is to shift your focus towards the “key ingredients” that make up your best performances as I go on to share. Enjoy tuning in! Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular emails helping football and so...
Nov 14, 2023•7 min•Ep. 202
Today’s episode is a special, landmark episode as we enter the 200’s! As a result, I decided to clip out some bite-sized bits from previous episodes featuring 3 leading authorities in the mental toughness domain; Dr John Perry, Professor Peter Clough MBE and Doug Strycharczyk, who go onto share their thoughts about the importance of self-awareness whether you are a mentally tough or mentally sensitive individual. Their insights come from years of applied work and academic research across sport, ...
Nov 10, 2023•29 min•Ep. 201
Today I go on to discuss a very common challenge many football or soccer players find a problem. It’s their focus, specifically when too much attention is placed on outcomes and results. What then often happens is, football or soccer players then put too much pressure on themselves. On the pitch, spectators or coaches will then notice a player who doesn’t assert him or herself on a game, someone who often hides in the background and doesn’t perform freely. I also share some thoughts on how to ov...
Nov 07, 2023•7 min•Ep. 200
In today's episode Audrie Woodhouse, who was a fabulous actress and performer and now a successful coach and speaking consultant, shares some great ideas when it comes down to communication skills and public speaking, especially when we consider the key elements of leadership communication. This episode is also a very helpful episode for those who dread speaking or performing and who let their inner chatter get out of control and end up getting very nervous. Managing state, speech preparation an...
Nov 03, 2023•32 min•Ep. 199
Some days as a footballer, for a variety of reasons you may feel flat and approach a match out of sync mentally and physically. So what should you do on these days? In today’s episode of Demystifying Mental Toughness the 5th of a 10 part series for football enthusiasts, I share some ideas. We’ll look at how you can rouse yourself, how you can use willpower and your actions and not just rely of your coach or gaffer to inspire you. Enjoy! Connect with David Charlton Sign up to The X-FACTOR regular...
Oct 31, 2023•7 min•Ep. 198
“It’s lonely at the top” - this is a comment many business leaders in organisations admit where trusted relationships, can often prove sparse. In sport, for coaches and athletes this can also be the case the higher you go up the success ladder. These statements inform episode #197 where the author of the book Executive Loneliness, and Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Executives’ Global Network, Singapore, Nick Jonsson tells me about his experiences as well as sharing what he found when he...
Oct 27, 2023•36 min•Ep. 197
Whether you play football at grassroots or in the Champions League one thing is for certain you will be criticised by someone. It may be a team-mate or coach trying to drive up standards. Or it may be a friend, a partner or one of the many keyboard warriors out there who offend you. Many factors can influence how you take and then respond to such criticism, as I talk about in today’s episode, the 4th of a 10 part series for football enthusiasts. You’ll also hear me share some advice so that you ...
Oct 24, 2023•7 min•Ep. 196
