All sport is a delicate balance of demands that require effort to overcome, and resources, tools that can be used to overcome demands. Horse racing is no different. Jockeys have to stay focused, be fit and strong, make weight, see opportunities, make decisions under pressure and keep trainers and owners happy. This requires perfect physical […]

Self-confidence is interpreted by others through our communication style – how we speak, our gestures, eye contact, and body language. The ideal communication style inculcated by eastern philosophy is humble, harmonious, nurturing, modest, and indirect. However, the demonstration of self-confidence in sport is often interpreted and most closely associated with a style of communication in […]

Spending about 55 hours on planes in September meant that I watched my fair share of movies and made my way through some insightful reads. Inside Out is one of the movies I sat through whilst eating meals on trays.  It’s an animation by Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures that explores human emotions.  It follows five […]

It’s grand final week here in Australia, a great opportunity to see if the best performers throughout the year can complete one last performance in what is an environment unlike anything else they have experienced during the regular season. There are no more second chances and no additional opportunities to redeem themselves the following week. Everyone […]

Chronic pain is a complex condition that requires a holistic treatment approach.  As psychologists who specialise in sport and performance we are passionate about working as a team and we understand what is needed to work closely with allied health professionals in complementing their physical treatment plan for patients suffering chronic pain. Our Approach We emphasise […]

What makes you great? This is one of my favourite questions to ask athletes and teams because it directs their focus.  It shifts their focus from fixating on a problem to creating a solution, leading to reduced negativity and increased confidence. The Negativity Trap Often the first response I get when I ask this question […]

In my experience, there are two types of people – those who want to succeed and those who hope to succeed.  Over the years, a lot of athletes have started our work together thinking they don’t need to work on the mental side of their game, hoping that it will happen, only to realise that they […]

The more time I spend on the golf course the more I am fascinated by the decision-making process and the variety of decisions that golfers have to make.  Players have to assess a hole in terms of distance, lie, and obstacles.  They have to then work out what club to use out of their bag, […]

One of my favourite sayings is, “If you can train your body you can train your brain.”  For me, this phrase sums up what we do as sport psychologists.  It was once believed that the brain could not be trained or changed; in other words, you were stuck with the brain you were born with. […]

The final stretch for the school year has begun and it’s the perfect time to knuckle-down in the final block of training before holidays start and then SNAG 2015 will be round the corner for Singaporean elite swimmers.  In this article I will present some useful tips for creating fearsome focus in the pool. Working […]