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As Michael Phelps put it, athletes are human beings – they’re not immune to the stresses of life. They have relationships, experience loss and trauma, and face hardship and challenges just like the rest of humanity. Their life experiences and personalities can make athletes as vulnerable to experiencing mental health issues as the general population. However, they also face challenges unique to being a professional or elite athlete, and the very nature of competition can provoke or increase psychological issues.

Simone Biles, one of the most high-profile athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics,
withdrew from the competition after experiencing the “twisties”, a mental block that
causes gymnasts to lose spatial awareness during complex moves. Her decision to
prioritize her mental health over winning gold sparked widespread conversations about
the pressures athletes face and the importance of mental health in sports.

In the previous article, we discussed why and how symbols are so important for a team’s success:
they are powerful tools that enhance identity, unity, and success by fostering a sense of belonging
and pride among players and fans. They also serve as emotional anchors, boost confidence, and
create psychological advantages over opponents, ultimately contributing to a team's cohesion,
motivation, and performance.

As we shared in our last post, symbols are powerful representations of a team’s identity and shared values, bringing players and fans together and fostering unity and cooperation. 

So, what’s the psychological perspective on the power of using symbols in team sports?

Imagine your team is losing at half-time. The players are stressed, nervous and morale is fading. In the locker room, as everyone hangs their heads in exhaustion, the MVP pulls out the Spartan Warrior helmet, the symbol of your team. He raises it high, chanting your mantra “We are Sparta!” One by one, the team rises, standing shoulder to shoulder, and joins in the chanting. The atmosphere transforms, lifting spirits and reigniting the determination to win.

FC Petržalka faced significant challenges before our cooperation began. Over the last six years, the team never ranked higher than 8th in the league, and there was a high turnover of coaches, with over 15 head coaches appointed during this period. The club suffered from instability, reactive rather than proactive management, constant changes, and unclear culture, vision, and goals.

At the beginning of 2020, I joined the Slovak Handball Federation’s A-team as a sports psychologist to prepare for the European Championships 2022. At that time, the team faced significant obstacles caused by the global pandemic COVID-19, including cancellation of training camps and limited opportunity to train together under a new coach.