259 The “I MUST FEEL CONFIDENT” to perform well myth
Release Date: 10/11/2024
278 How To Help Young Athletes Who Are Distracted By Shouty Coaches Subtitle:
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In today’s episode, #278 David and Gerard discuss the impact of a shouty coach on an 18-year-old rugby player named Tom (pseudonym). They explore how such coaching styles can lead to self-doubt, low self-esteem, and increased self-criticism, affecting both on-field performance and confidence levels. They emphasize the importance of coaches fostering a supportive environment where players can express themselves freely. Key Learning Points: · The conversation highlights the broader issue of youth sports participation and the need...
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277 How To Help An Extra Competitive Footballer
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In episode #277 David and Gerard Fitzgerald discussed how to help shift the focus of an extra competitive footballer or athlete, using the example of a boy named Joe who hates losing. Key points included the importance of harnessing anger positively, as seen with Wayne Rooney's iconic goal in 2005 for Manchester United versus Newcastle United. They also share the need to normalise emotional responses like anger where footballers may kick out, tackle over aggressively, shout at team-mates or display poor body language. Parents and coaches are advised to avoid...
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276 How To Help A Footballer Who Focuses Too Much On Other People
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Today marks the start of an 8-episode series where David Charlton is joined by a colleague. Gerard Fitzgerald features in this episode, as well as the next 3 episodes. They go on to discuss a case study of a young female footballer, 11 years old with a pseudonym name called Carly who is a sensitive soul who worries too much about other people (team-mates specifically in this case). We go on to normalise emotional sensitivity in young athletes, highlighting that it can be a strength if managed properly. We also talk about the challenges of emotional sensitivity where...
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275 Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast – What happens next?
Demystifying Mental Toughness
After a short break from creating and broadcasting episodes of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, in episode #275, David discusses a change in format to the podcast for the rest of 2025. He also highlights the benefits of having a support system and the benefits of reading and acting on advice from The 12 Week Year, book written by Brian F Moran and Michael Lemmington. Key Learning Points: · Taking a break can revive our motivation and creativity similar to the power of periodisation in sport or strength training. ...
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274 How You Can Challenge Yourself To Feel More In Control
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In this week’s episode of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast #274, we focus in on the control and challenge measures from Professor Peter Clough’s 4C’s model of Mental Toughness. David highlights how US tennis player Danielle Collins' managed fans heckling at the Australian Open to aid her performance. Insightful guests, Sport Psychologists, World Champion Athletes and Olympians also offer tips: where they focus on self-care for perfectionists, emphasise why getting clarity on your "why" is important, stressing present-moment awareness and a lot more. Key...
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273 How To Improve Your Mental Toughness For Team Sports
Demystifying Mental Toughness
The "Demystifying Mental Toughness" podcast episode #273, hosted by David Charlton, features insights from various team sports coaches and athletes, on commitment and confidence. Key points include the importance of individual motivation in team sports, maintaining a balance in life, and the necessity of standing out in training and matches. Guests emphasize the need for authenticity and surrounding oneself with positive influences, as well as many other great points. Key Learning Points: · Prioritize your own performances and...
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272 Sport Coaches: 15 Tips To Help You Become A Better Coach
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Today’s podcast episode #272, focuses on helping coaches develop themselves and improve their relationships with their athletes, in turn, positively influencing performances. Many different guests from the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast emphasize the following points when considering self-improvement: sport coaches should be open-minded, focus on continuous learning and film themselves frequently. In developing their athletes: the importance of high support in coaching, understanding athletes have lives outside of sport, adapting their communication to athletes different...
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271 25 Ways To Improve Your Mental Toughness
Demystifying Mental Toughness
Happy New Year! Why not make 2025 one of your best years to date? To do so if you focus some attention on improving your mental toughness by creating better routines and habits you can give yourself a great chance. In this NEW episode, a number of our excellent guests offer many helpful and inspiring suggestions. Points of note relate to understanding the stories that you tell yourself about certain situations, events and abilities, how to find your passion and purpose, being authentic and true to yourself, considering who you surround yourself with and many more things. Key...
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270 11 Ways To Build Your Mental Fortitude
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In today’s podcast episode #270, many of our fabulous guests share some tips so that you can build your mental fortitude and consistently perform well in 2025. Key points relate to rest, recovery and well-being where they identify; managing fatigue, nasal breathing, the importance of rest days, nutrition, hydration, cold water and much more to ensure you attack the new year. If you’re looking to get into good habits and maintain optimal well-being and performance this podcast episode is a must to listen to. Key Learning Points: ...
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269 Do You Want to Make Next Year a Great Year? Why Contact A Sport Psychologist!
Demystifying Mental Toughness
In episode #269 David addresses the question, “What Can I Expect When Working With A Sport Psychologist” for the final time as this episode marks the end of an 8 part series. This time he focuses on the following statements “Performance Enhancement: The sports psychologist will help you identify and overcome mental barriers that may be hindering your performance” and “Feedback and Reflection: Expect regular discussions about your progress, experiences in training or competition, and adjustments to your mental training plan.” David highlights that a high percentage of...
info_outlineIn episode 259 of the Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast, David discusses why thinking that you must feel confident to perform well is unhelpful. He uses getting in an ice bath as an analogy to illustrate the mindset of athletes who believe they must feel confident to perform well. He argues that this belief is unrealistic due to the unpredictable nature of sports. David references Novak Djokovic's admission of getting ahead of himself, highlighting that even top athletes experience doubts. He emphasizes that emotions fluctuate, and athletes often have negative thoughts, with 80% of our daily thoughts being negative. David concludes that acceptance of varying emotions and performance is crucial, as athletes can still excel despite feeling anxious or tired.
Key Learning Points:
- Athletes have a tendency to draw on past experiences of feeling confident to predict future success.
- The average person has around 70,000-80,000 thoughts per day, with about 80% of them being negative, making it unrealistic to think positive all of the time.
- How many times have you played well after a poor warm up or following a disappointing last performance.
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To Listen to Related Podcasts To Help You Improve Your Confidence
Ep251: David Charlton - How To View Big Events As A Challenge
Ep248: Trevor Jones - Embracing Fear And The Dreaded Yips
Ep167: Karl Morris – How To Manage Your Emotions To Improve Your Golf
Ep110: Dan Steele – How to Increase Mental Fortitude: Secrets from an Olympian
Ep092: Dr James Hegarty – ACT in Sport, Improving Performance through Mindfulness
Relevant Resources To Help You Improve Your Confidence
Blog: 9 Tips for Children from Olympians
Blog: How To Play Well When You Aren’t Feeling Great
Blog: Does Your Warm Up Influence How You Perform?
Blog: Why You Should Meditate To Improve Your Sport Performance?