The Mind Room

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com A few weeks ago, I spoke to Alex Auerbach about his spell in the NBA, gaining coach buy-in and sport psychology regulation . During the conversation, Alex touched on the role he played in influencing the Toronto Raptors’ player recruitment, none more so than during the NBA Draft (an annual event which sees teams...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com In our last newsletter, Jonathan Harding wrote about a new study examining the link between personality and performance , focusing specifically on how the ‘Dark Triad’ of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy impacts sporting relationships. This week, we’re taking a deeper dive into the subject, bringing...

How do you convince an ageing centre back to swap the security of a low block for a high press that might make Ange Postecoglou blush? Karl Marius Aksum may have the answer. The Mjallby assistant coach, who is part of a backroom team that has helped the Swedish club to the highest position in its 85-year history, was refreshingly honest in an explanation which exemplifies how he’s taken his doctor...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com “Most athletes compete at one Olympics, so they might have been working forever for this one moment, and then, that's it, it's gone. “There's only one heat that you get to compete in. You've only got one chance to do your beam routine. It lasts a minute, but you've trained for it for 15 years. “It's about how yo...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com “If someone calls themselves a sports psychology consultant and they're not licensed, what do you do? There's no punishment. There's nothing you can do to change that. The psychology board can send them something that says, ‘Please don't do this’ and maybe the club can sue them if something goes wrong, but by an...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com Geir Jordet has spent most of his professional career studying penalties. The Norwegian professor, who has worked with several of Europe's top teams over two decades in football, knows the psychological subtleties of spot kicks as well as anyone.  All of which means that, as Euro 2024 moves towards the knockout...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.com Barely a week goes by without mentions of ‘culture change’ within sport. Some of the commentary is vital: in sports ranging from rugby to swimming, there are serious issues to confront, requiring systemic reforms and widespread behavioural change. In other instances, the term is in danger of becoming a buzzword,...

We've launched a new sister newsletter, bringing you the latest football psychology stories to your inbox - for free - every week. To subscribe to The Mind Room, just visit https://themindroom.substack.com/ , where you can also find a back catalogue of articles and interviews. We'll be back with a new pod in the near future, but if you want to get in touch with us in the meantime, our Twitter DMs...

Former Lionesses psychologist Misia Gervis drops by for an exclusive interview, explaining how she prepared the England women's side for their last visit to a European Championship final and the lessons the current team might learn from 2009.    Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/ Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twit...

We welcome back Wycombe assistant manager Richard Dobson and regular guest Dr Misia Gervis for a discussion about the secrets of a successful coach-psychologist relationship. After almost a decade of working together, Richard and Misia reflect on how they formed their partnership, the key elements behind their sustained success and offer some advice for coaches and psychologists on similar journey...

Former Premier League psychologist Sarah Murray joins us to discuss:  The emotional impact of going on loan Adding psychologists to EPL coaching teams  What are the ingredients of successful leadership? Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/ Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerpsychshow     This is a publi...

We welcome back regular guest and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis to discuss the psychology of the play-offs, whether managers' motivational stunts really pay off and the mental benefits of celebrating.    Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/ Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/soccerp...

We look back on the life of Professor João Carvalhaes, football's first World Cup-winning psychologist. Join us for a discussion about a fascinating individual who pioneered the use of cognitive examinations in elite football, divided opinion with his analysis of Pele and Garrincha, and helped Brazil win the 1958 World Cup. To watch the Sao Paolo Regional Psychology Council's video about João Carv...

Wycombe coach Matt Bloomfield and former England women's team psychologist Dr Misia Gervis join us to discuss:   Chelsea & Derby: how off-pitch problems really affect players' state of mind  Conte: the impact of pressurising players to return from injury Wycombe: the power of psychological support   Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack....

We're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss: City v United: how do players prepare mentally for a derby? The run-in: how can teams deal with the pressure? Kepa: the science behind penalty mind games  Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/ Get in touch and follow us on Twitter: h...

We're joined by regular guest Dr Misia Gervis, former England women's team psychologist, to discuss: City v Spurs: the psychology behind a 'bogey ground' Rodgers, Conte and Mourinho: why managers persist with public criticism of players Christian Eriksen: the mental side of recovering from trauma Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com...

We take a break from our regular format to bring you an interview with David Busst, the former Coventry City defender who suffered what is widely considered to be the most serious injury in the Premier League's history.  David talks to us about the psychological impact of his career-ending leg break, the mentality required to recover from long-term injury and what clubs and football bodies can do...

We're joined by Professor Marc Jones, from Manchester Metropolitan University's widely-respected psychology department, and Dr Andy Hill, Blackburn Rovers' psychologist, for a discussion about psychological support for young players, the forces which motivate elite footballers and the science behind claims that teams 'play without fear'. Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister ne...

We're joined by Everton's former Director of Medical Services, Danny Donachie, and ex-England Women's Team psychologist, Dr Misia Gervis, for a discussion about the psychological techniques managers can use to address poor runs of form, dealing with the emotional impact of long-term injury and the mentality players require to sustain a career into their late thirties. Read 'The Mind Room', The Foo...

We welcome Hearts and Southampton psychologist, Dr Jillian Harley, for a discussion about the impact of managerial changes on players' motivation, the thin line between productive devotion and unhealthy obsession and the way in which international breaks affect footballers' state of mind. Read 'The Mind Room', The Football Psychology Show sister newsletter: https://themindroom.substack.com/ Get in...

We welcome back Wycombe's assistant manager, Richard Dobson, alongside the Chairboys' boss, Gareth Ainsworth, for a wide-ranging chat about the leadership and psychological support structure the duo have established at Adams Park. Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - a fast-start to the season (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Gareth Ainsworth and Richard Dobson (03:07) Part 3: Fin...

Former West Ham and Southampton player care specialist, Hugo Scheckter, joins us to talk about the social media abuse he's seen Premier League stars suffer, how he supported West Ham's first-team squad during COVID and the future of the player care profession. Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - remembering Steffen Iversen (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Hugo Scheckter (03:41) P...

Trabzonspor's Head of Sports Science, Malcolm Harkness, joins us to discuss his time in Turkey and the 'psychological coding' project he helped run in his previous role at Chelsea.   Running order:  Part 1: Introduction - dressing room songs, from Adele to Apache (00:14)   Part 2: Interview - a discussion with Malcolm Harkness (04:35) Part 3: Final thoughts - reflections on our interview with Malc...

Former AC Milan and Chelsea psychologist, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by for the second half of a two-part episode, looking at his time at Stamford Bridge.  Bruno talks to us about the sports science and cognitive support he provided for Carlo Ancelotti's double-winning squad.  Drawing on stories involving a host of Chelsea stars, from John Terry and Didier Drogba to Petr Cech and Frank Lampard, Br...

AC Milan's former Scientific Coordinator, Dr Bruno Demichelis, drops by to discuss the 'Mind Room', Italian football's first psychology laboratory.  Bruno talks to us about the role the 'Mind Room' played in Milan's success during the 80s, 90s and early 2000s.  Drawing on stories involving a host of Milan legends, from Franco Baresi and Roberto Baggio to Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso, Bruno...