PSYCHOLOGY

Furthermore, Miss Peck argues that the application of these mental techniques is not limited to highly proficient or skilled athletes only. Instead, they are relevant to athletes - and indeed Hamptonians - at all stages of their journey whether they find themselves captaining the First XI squad or partaking in U12E football.

To truly harness the potential of these mental techniques, Miss Peck advises you decide a clear vision for your chosen sport. "Ask yourself whether you want to play for fun or move up into a higher team?"

Moreover, reflection plays a significant role in the development of an athlete’s mindset. "Celebrate and recognise successes but also think constructively about when things don’t go how you want them to."

Coaches, too, bear a significant responsibility in fostering a culture of growth mindset within their teams. Miss Peck suggests that "one-on-one meetings" between coaches and athletes can serve as pivotal moments for instilling a mindset that embraces challenges, values hard work and encourages resilience.

Miss Peck highlights that sport itself offers a multitude of benefits to society: "It provides health, connection, community, and enjoyment. As a sports psychologist, if you can help people enjoy their sport a little bit more, then you are assisting with improving wellbeing across the board."

Furthermore, Miss Peck recognises that sports psychology is evolving in tandem with advancements in technology and scientific research. Miss Peck envisions the possibility of technologically enabled psychological interventions. "For example, some counselling assistance is now being moved to apps."

This transition to virtual platforms could very much be a force of good. "Sports psychology can become more accessible to more people as a result of having those sorts of tools."

Nevertheless, in her experience, Miss Peck does still prefer face-to-face interactions with clients. "You gather more non-verbal cues when you are in the same room. Also, when people join a video call, I’m never quite sure what they have just come from and which environment they are in."

One of the most iconic and mentally challenging moments in sport is taking a penalty kick in a highstakes football match like a cup final.

Regrettably, England fans have often experienced heartbreak with instances such as Saka's miss in Euro 2020 against Italy or Harry Kane's miss in the World Cup quarter-final against France - denying us 'bringing football home.' So, how does one prepare for such intense pressure?

If Miss Peck had the opportunity to offer advice to a player facing this situation, she would emphasise the significance of pre-performance routines. By establishing a consistent routine leading up to the penalty kick, players can create a sense of familiarity and calm their mind.

"Generally, I would want them to think about it as any other kick in training. People choke in high pressure situations because they are overthinking due to fear of it going wrong."

Finally, I ask if she has any advice for younger Hamptonians looking to go into a sports psychology career: "Read widely – I would say sports psychology is still in its infancy as a discipline and there are a lot of theories being challenged or modified."

"Most importantly, be curious and be creative. Doing something like a counselling skills certificate helps you learn some tools and techniques for interacting with clients in positive way - learning things like how to reflect back the things the client says. This will cultivate better conversation in future sessions."

In conclusion, the world of sports psychology demonstrates the powerful influence of the mind on athletic peformance. Through this conversation with Miss Peck, we have witnessed the transformative impact of techniques like CBT and visualisation exercises. These mental strategies, applicable to athletes at all levels, have the potential to unlock untapped abilities and help us all ultimately enjoy sport more.

BY TOM SCRIMSHAW