Sports psychology is our home turf. Explore our experience in mental preparation of individuals and teams.
John Doe (athlete’s anonymity) was a young hockey player who struggled to transfer his performance from training to games. He worked hard on himself, but during matches, nervousness and uncertainty led to inconsistent performance. Sometimes he was way down, other times way up. But these were just glimpses of the form he envisioned for himself as a result of his training efforts.
I was stuck in a rough patch, not being able to lock down a spot in the starting 11 and bouncing around different clubs on loan. After three years of this, I was beyond frustrated. My old mental coach focused too much on technical stuff, like scoring, and ignored the bigger picture. This made me obsess over things I couldn’t control, and my confidence and market value took a hit.
I’ve registered the Headformers team for quite some time. Our cooperation started a few months ago.
My dream job that I always had in my head was working with athletes. Up until now, I have also worked and still work as a general psychologist. However, I have always been much more fascinated by the collaboration between the head and the body in the sports field.
When an athlete has a physical injury, they rest and do everything in their power to heal
and recover so they can compete at their highest level.
The stigma surrounding mental health stops many athletes from taking this same
approach when they’re feeling mentally unwell.
That’s because stigma can cause athletes who are struggling mentally to experience
shame. Take for example one of our clients (let’s call him Tim).
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?
