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The Sport Psych Show

#294 Eamon Devlin - Creating the Right Half-Time Environment

Aug 12, 2024
Eamon Devlin, head coach of several senior Gaelic football teams and founder of the sports consultancy Minute9, dives deep into the importance of halftime in team sports. He shares his research findings on how players perceive coaching messages during breaks. The discussion explores emotional challenges athletes face at halftime and the critical need for structured communication. Eamon highlights strategies to create a supportive environment, integrating psychological insights and video analysis to enhance player motivation and performance.
51:29

Episode guests

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Quick takeaways

  • Research shows that players often feel lonely and anxious during halftime, necessitating emotional support to enhance focus and learning.
  • Effective halftime communication relies on brief, engaging interactions rather than lengthy lectures, fostering a supportive environment for better performance.

Deep dives

Transition from Law to Psychology

The speaker transitioned from a successful law career to pursuing psychology after experiencing burnout and a subsequent mental health crisis. After receiving therapy, they found a newfound interest in the psychological aspects of team dynamics, particularly in sports. This shift led to enrolling in a psychology master's program, where their dissertation focused on halftime communication in sports. The speaker's diverse experiences give them a unique perspective on both law and psychology, enriching their understanding of interpersonal dynamics within teams.

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