Mental Coaching for Sports and Performance

Getting an Edge

As athletes keep looking to new ways to get an edge in training and competition, Tom believes that addressing the impact of thoughts and emotions on physical wellness and performance is fundamental to an effective, holistic, approach to coaching. This is especially true given all the research and evidence that now exists demonstrating the impact of the mind on the physical body. Having competed in various sports for most of his life, he moved to Chamonix in 2011 to work and enjoy an active life in the mountains. As a Mountain Leader Tom is regularly in the mountains and enjoys supporting clients with the mental as well as the emotional and physical aspects of staying active.

The application of sports psychology and mental coaching isn't only relevant to sports; the same inspiration and values are directly applicable to the wider arena of life and work. Tom's holistic approach to coaching, drawn from extensive research and personal experience, focuses on the crucial influence of thoughts and emotions on overall wellbeing and performance. His method of coaching is geared towards defining goals, identifying potential blocks, adjusting unhelpful mental and behavioural patterns, and addressing self-sabotage. Crucially, he maps out the interrelated aspects of life, revealing how various factors can influence our mindset and performance, both of which are vital in today's ever faster paced and crisis focused world.

He also stresses the importance of comprehending clients' "whys", thus enhancing commitment to their professional or personal endeavours through motivational work. Topics such as managing perfectionism, overcoming high expectations, improving self-acceptance, and developing consistency in performance are beneficial not only to athletes but also to clients in everyday life, offering strategies to cope with challenges, enhance self-confidence, and perform optimally, moving beyond one's comfort zone. By consciously and unconsciously addressing these aspects at a mental and emotional level, clients stand to unlock new levels of achievement. As a coach, Tom supports athletes in the following ways:

Defining goals and identifying internal and external blocks to achievement,
Adapting mental and behavioural patterning from to detrimental to supportive.
Addressing unconscious self-sabotage and eliminating unhelpful unconscious patterns.
Mapping the impact of the wider interconnected aspects of life.
Values, meaning and strengths work supports athletes to understand their “why” and to stay committed to their practice, training and competing through motivation and engagement.
Self-awareness to stop athletes wasting energy in ineffective belief and response patterns.
Identifying potential unresolved trauma, both minor and major trauma which occurs naturally and sometimes unexpectedly during our life.

Specific areas of focus might include:

Overcoming high expectations.
Strategies for optimal concentration.
Building and maintaining superior confidence.
Improving trust in skills.
Coping with mistakes.
Managing perfectionism.
Overcoming the need for approval.
Improving self-acceptance.
Developing consistent performance.
Strategies for pre-event preparation.
Performing beyond the comfort zone.
Coping with pregame nerves.
Working with the fear of failure.
Efficient practice and training.
Returning to sport and competition after injury.

By addressing these at a mental and emotional level, both consciously and unconsciously, there is potential for athletes to unlock new levels of performance and let go of mental and physical limitations.

Mindfulness for Performance

Tom is a certified mindfulness guide and can support athletes to use mindfulness as a powerful tool in both training and performance. Mindfulness, like any other skill, takes practice to master, the benefits for athletes (and all those involved in high pressure situations) can be significant.

Here are the most important aspects of mindfulness for performance:

Present Moment Awareness: One of the fundamental aspects of mindfulness involves being fully engaged in the present moment, which allows athletes to focus on the task at hand rather than getting lost in thoughts about the past or future.
Non-judgmental Observation: Mindfulness involves observing one's thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without labelling them as good or bad. This can help athletes to accept their current state and performance level without negative self-judgment.
Body Awareness: Mindfulness helps athletes to tune into their bodies and notice subtle physical cues that can inform their training and performance. This can involve noticing sensations of fatigue, tension, or injury that might otherwise be overlooked.
Mind-Body Connection: In practicing mindfulness, athletes can foster a stronger connection between mind and body, which can contribute to improved motor control and technique.
Stress and Anxiety Management: Regular mindfulness practice can help athletes to better manage stress and anxiety, both of which are common in competitive sports settings.
Cultivation of Positive States: Mindfulness can help to cultivate positive states of mind such as calm, focus, and resilience. These can be particularly beneficial for athletic performance.