Demystifying Mental Toughness

David Charlton
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Jun 27, 2025 • 5min

284 What’s To Come This Summer – Contemporary Issues in Sport

David Charlton introduces the next phase of the "Demystifying Mental Toughness" podcast, where episodes will address various contemporary issues, including diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly for underrepresented groups like BAME athletes and neurodivergent individuals.  The podcast will also discuss the impact of social media and the problematic cultures of blaming and shaming in sports.  David emphasizes the importance of recognizing individual differences and avoiding stereotyping, advocating for a more inclusive and supportive approach to enhance the everyone’s overall sporting experience. Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIN Podcast Episodes To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience Ep249: Dr Edward Hall – Understanding Workplace Collaboration In Coaching In Team Sports Ep105: Hannah Bromley – Overcoming Psychological Challenges in Professional Women’s Football Ep065: Dr Amy Izycky – Encouraging Mentally Healthy Cultures in Sport Other Valuable Resources To Encourage A Positive Sporting Experience Podcasts for Sport Coach Development Cricket Psychology Resources Hockey Psychology Resources Rugby Psychology Resources Soccer Psychology Resources
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May 23, 2025 • 11min

283 How To Help A Swimmer Who Is Online A Lot Checking His Rivals Out

Colm O’Donoghue, a sports psychology expert, joins David Charlton to discuss the challenges faced by a 16-year-old swimmer struggling with online comparison to his rivals. They delve into social comparison theory and its impact on motivation and self-esteem. The duo offers practical strategies, including developing a pre-race routine and setting SMART goals, to foster personal growth. They highlight the importance of self-talk and emotional awareness, providing a roadmap to help young athletes shift focus from rivals to self-improvement.
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May 16, 2025 • 11min

282 How To Help An Emotional Tennis Player Perform Better

This discussion revolves around the emotional hurdles faced by a young tennis player struggling with anger and frustration on the court. Insightful techniques like breathing exercises and visualizations are suggested to help her regain focus and composure after mistakes. The hosts emphasize the importance of emotional regulation and practicing mindfulness to enhance both performance and enjoyment. The conversation highlights how managing emotions can be a vital player in consistent improvement and success in sports.
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May 9, 2025 • 10min

281 How To Help The Golfer Who Searches For The Perfect Swing

Is the perfect golf swing a myth? Absolutely! This conversation challenges the obsession with swing perfection and emphasizes that what truly matters is effective execution and personal style. Discover the importance of flow and rhythm over technicality. Plus, learn how to enhance your practice by incorporating technical, performance, process, and enjoyment elements. Don’t get tied up in knots—embrace creativity and fun for a better game!
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May 2, 2025 • 14min

280 How To Help A Golfer Who Struggles Playing Strokeplay

David Charlton hosts the Demystifying Mental Toughness podcast with his colleague and a fellow competitive amateur golfer, Colm O’Donoghue today.  Colm discusses his journey from playing golf as a child to returning to the sport in his mid-20s, driven by an interest in the psychological aspects of golf.  He shares his struggles with perfectionism and the importance of maintaining a present-focused mindset. Together they talk about a case study of a young golfer, who excels in match play but struggles with stroke play due to focusing too much on the score.  Colm and David emphasize the importance of a pre-shot routine in maintaining his focus and staying present, which can help manage his arousal levels, in turn, lowering his scores. Key Learning Points: ·        Trying to play perfect golf and focusing too much on the score can impact enjoyment of the sport. ·       Colm explains the difference between match play and stroke play, emphasizing the reset nature of match play and the need to focus on the process in stroke play. ·        Self-awareness is critical, recognising and being able to reset when you are ahead of yourself and predicting future holes, shots or score and identifying when you are stuck in the past, dwelling on mistakes. Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Podcast Episodes To Help Golfers Focus On The Process Ep243 David Charlton - How I Would Help Rory McIlroy Win The British Open Ep099 Trevor Jones - How to Deal with Overthinking on the Golf Course Ep167 Karl Morris - How To Manage Your Emotions To Improve Your Golf #BITESIZE Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Golfers, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches Youth Sports Psychology Library Conversations With Kids Ideas Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents Resources To Support Golfers So That They Focus Better Frequently Asked Questions on Golf Psychology and Golf Mental Skills Golf Psychology and Mental Skills for Golf Library Control Your Thoughts on the Golf Course Play Your Best Golf More Often
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Apr 25, 2025 • 12min

279 How To Help A Cricketer Overcome Selections Difficulties

Today, in episode #279 David and Gerard discuss the challenges faced by a 12-year-old cricketer named Amir (pseudonym), who is a leg spinner struggling with inconsistent selection due to the club's preference for pace bowling.  Amir's fluctuating motivation and confidence, as well as the potential for dropping out of cricket are attributed to poor communication from coaches and his own difficulty in expressing frustrations.  Key Learning Points: ·         Helping the cricketer develop psychological flexibility to separate his self-worth from the selection decisions made by the coaches is key. ·         Encourage the cricketer to focus on the controllables, such as his attitude, effort, and the key ingredients that make up a good performance, rather than the uncontrollable factors like the perfect delivery. ·         Coaches should consider carefully how they communicate to prevent young cricketers and athletes from feeling undervalued and potentially quitting the sport.  Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Podcast Episodes Related To The Youth Sport Experience Ep176 Camilla Knight: How To Help Enhance The Psychological Wellbeing Of Children In Sport #BITESIZE Ep168 - Andrew Simpson: How To Navigate Youth Sports So That Children Enjoy The Experience More   Ep141 -David Charlton: How to Help a Child Who Wants to Quit Sport   Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches Youth Sports Psychology Library Conversations With Kids Ideas Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents Resources To Support Cricketers So That They Play With Confidence Cricket Psychology Library 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Bowl Every Delivery Make Bowling Simple by Avoiding these 3 Common Mental Game Errors
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Apr 18, 2025 • 13min

278 How To Help Young Athletes Who Are Distracted By Shouty Coaches Subtitle:

In today’s episode, #278 David and Gerard discuss the impact of a shouty coach on an 18-year-old rugby player named Tom (pseudonym).  They explore how such coaching styles can lead to self-doubt, low self-esteem, and increased self-criticism, affecting both on-field performance and confidence levels.   They emphasize the importance of coaches fostering a supportive environment where players can express themselves freely. Key Learning Points: ·        The conversation highlights the broader issue of youth sports participation and the need for a supportive coaching culture. ·        Develop standardised behaviour routines for young athletes, focusing on the attributes of their favourite players (e.g., work rate, commitment, shooting of Ronaldo). ·        Ask the athlete questions to understand their perspective on what behaviours mean to them personally (eg. work rate and commitment).  Often a coaches’ or parents’ interpretation can be very different. ·        Focus on solutions to help young footballers and athletes manage their emotions effectively. Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Podcast Episodes Related To The Youth Sport Experience Ep055: Natalie Henderson, John Fletcher & James Maurice – How to Develop Mental Strength in Young Athletes Ep064: Edu Rubio – How to Support Young Footballers Ep074: David Charlton – How Can I Make My Child Feel Confident Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches Youth Sports Psychology Library Conversations With Kids Ideas Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents
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Apr 11, 2025 • 12min

277 How To Help An Extra Competitive Footballer

In episode #277 David and Gerard Fitzgerald discussed how to help shift the focus of an extra competitive footballer or athlete, using the example of a boy named Joe who hates losing.   Key points included the importance of harnessing anger positively, as seen with Wayne Rooney's iconic goal in 2005 for Manchester United versus Newcastle United.  They also share the need to normalise emotional responses like anger where footballers may kick out, tackle over aggressively, shout at team-mates or display poor body language.   Parents and coaches are advised to avoid adding to the child's stress and activating their sympathetic nervous system anymore by shouting and yelling at them, instead helping them regulate emotions. Key Learning Points: ·        Develop standardised behaviour routines for young footballers, focusing on the attributes of their favourite players (e.g., work rate, commitment, shooting of Ronaldo). ·        Ask the athlete questions to understand their perspective on what behaviours (work rate, commitment) mean to them as often a coach or parents’ interpretation can be very different. ·        Accept and seek to understand individual perspectives, traits and subsequent behaviours without being overly judgemental. ·        Focus on solutions to help young footballers and athletes manage their emotions effectively. Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Podcast Episodes Related To The Youth Sport Experience Ep082: David Charlton – Supporting Children in Sport with Positive Feedback Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight – Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches Youth Sports Psychology Library Conversations With Kids Ideas Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents   Helpful Resources For Young Football and Soccer Players, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches Frequently Asked Questions - Goalkeeping Psychology Frequently Asked Questions - Football Psychology Ep276: How To Help A Footballer Who Focuses Too Much On Other People Ep049: James Maurice – How Does Sport Psychology in Elite Football Academies Help 
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Apr 4, 2025 • 16min

276 How To Help A Footballer Who Focuses Too Much On Other People

Today marks the start of an 8-episode series where David Charlton is joined by a colleague.  Gerard Fitzgerald features in this episode, as well as the next 3 episodes.  They go on to discuss a case study of a young female footballer, 11 years old with a pseudonym name called Carly who is a sensitive soul who worries too much about other people (team-mates specifically in this case).  We go on to normalise emotional sensitivity in young athletes, highlighting that it can be a strength if managed properly.  We also talk about the challenges of emotional sensitivity where young athletes often face mental drain and self-doubt.  David and Gerard then go on to share some advice for parents and coaches to manage emotionally sensitive players who can focus too much on their team-mates. Key Learning Points: ·        Explore ways to normalize the emotional experiences of young athletes and help them manage the mental demands of the sport. ·        Develop strategies to shift the focus from negative self-criticism and comparison to a more positive, responsibility-based approach. ·        The conversation explores how a neutral third party can provide a fresh perspective and help both parents and children understand each other better. ·        Constant comparison to teammates can lead to self-doubt and criticism in young athletes and footballers. ·        The discussion concludes with a reminder that the win-at-all-costs attitude can sometimes drive young athletes away from sport emphasising the need for fun and enjoyment. Connect with David Charlton Join David @ The Sports Psychology Hub Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN Podcast Episodes Related To The Youth Sport Experience Ep049: James Maurice – How Does Sport Psychology in Elite Football Academies Help  Ep082: David Charlton – Supporting Children in Sport with Positive Feedback Ep122: Prof Camilla Knight – Helping Your Children Get The Most From Their Sporting Experiences Ep131 David Charlton – How to Deal with Self-Criticism using Self Compassion – FINAL PART Ep141: David Charlton – How to Help a Child Who Wants to Quit Sport Other Valuable Resources To Help Children, Young Athletes, Parents and Youth Sport Coaches Youth Sports Psychology Library Soccer and Football Psychology Library Conversations With Kids Ideas Frequently Asked Questions - Sport Psychology for Children and Parents
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Mar 14, 2025 • 6min

275 Demystifying Mental Toughness Podcast – What happens next?

Get ready for a fresh take on mental toughness! The host discusses a creative break, kicking off with a new format focusing on youth sports. Expect an engaging eight-week series tackling the challenges young athletes face, featuring insights from expert guests. They also dive into the benefits of having a support system and the crucial lessons from 'The 12 Week Year.' Join the journey of revitalizing motivation and creativity while navigating the world of youth sports!

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