“Be positive” – probably one of the most used sayings in performance in any setting. Preparing for a race? “Think positive!” Just lost a race? “Cheer up, be positive!” These phrases reinforce that we should aim to feel and think positively.  We are told, “don’t be scared”, “relax”, “be brave”, “cheer up”, “get over it”, etc. […]

Want to gain an extra edge over your competitors?  Want to perform better?  Then you need to get more sleep! Sleep is a powerful and often underestimated tool that can lead to noticeable changes in performance. Unfortunately, as a society we value not sleeping and celebrate those who can do a lot of work on […]

What is it? ‘A Game’ performance mindset is the state of mind you have when you perform at your best. Terms that you may have heard referring to this mindset include ‘bubble’, ‘zone’, ‘ideal performance state’, or even ‘flow’. It’s a set of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that promote you to consistently compete at your […]

Mental blocks are a phenomenon that happen when a performer appears to go blank and forget movements that they have consistently trained and mastered and should know how to complete.  The performer can appear to freeze or may instinctively change the movement they were planning to do.  Performers experiencing a mental block will often state […]

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 […]

There are very few movies that truly dive into the depths of an elite performer’s mind.  Whiplash is one such movie. I watched it on the plane coming back from Australia in mid August…twice.  The acting captured me as did the way the characters depicted the ruthless perfectionism that is so frequently an ingredient associated with high […]

Train your brain like you train your body. This is not a new piece of advice nor is it particularly sexy, but it has merit when it comes to getting your brain ready to perform when it counts. However, training your brain is something to avoid getting blazé about given the increasing body of knowledge […]

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 […]

Performance routines are prevalent in high performance arenas, and in particular elite sport. You’ll often hear athletes refer to their rituals, superstitions, or lucky charms… “I keep a lucky red rag in my pocket when I bat, which has been a good luck charm for a few years.” – Steve Waugh Simply put, athletes often integrate […]

The brain plays an important and often overlooked role in pain and injury.  Here are five things you can do to train your brain when you are injured… 1. Visualise The same parts of your brain are activated when you imagine doing an activity as when you actually do the activity.  Studies show that athletes […]