Daniel Abrahams

Sign up for a FREE 'Mental Toughness for Football' e book here: danabrahams.com Techniques used in the Premier League

"𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝? 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝟔𝟓” I remember…twenty years ago…first hearing about a precocious golfing talent from Northern Ireland. I was a PGA golf coach, undertaking my Masters in sport psychology…and the gossip in golfing circles was about this talent. And then he broke through…and he won and won and won…racing to four Majors pretty quickly. And whilst he continued to amaze on all Tours a drought ensued in Major Championships until winning one again last year. Back in 2013, Rory McIlroy went to see Dr Bob Rotella…a sport psychologist whose first (and best) book I’d read in the 1990’s as a not-so-precocious aspiring pro golfer. 2013…and he’s been working with him since. And now Rory is starting to sound like a sport psychologist himself. The brain may wire and re-wire in accordance to your interpretations, your strategies, and your behaviours in life…but it takes time. It takes repetition in multiple environments. It takes mini ‘aha’ moments. It takes experimentation and failure. It takes again and again and again and again…and again. At the time of writing he sits atop the leaderboard again. Maybe he’ll succeed or maybe he won’t. Either way, all he’s expecting from himself is mindset… …and that’s all he can expect… (𝐄𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐜𝐈𝐥𝐫𝐨𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞).

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡…𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡!” New NCAA champion coach Cori Close with her UCLA team…embedding psychology into her coach delivery… Coach as influencer - a constant persuasion that they’re getting better. A message that punctuates and travels with players post practice… And then the nugget… “Can you be mentally tough enough to work on your handling AND your finishes at full speed…or are you just going to survive the drill? That’s the separator!” Ah, now you’re speaking my language - the capacity to flex attention across multiple tasks, with a mental intensity that heightens the experience, and an intent that helps cement learning. And then… “Can we call passes and names every single time because that’s a point of discipline and character we want to have in us…” Ah, the detail! Great programmes don’t hold back on detail. They don’t hold back on excellence. They embody detail and they enact excellence…and they do so in every single activity in every single session every single day. And lastly, with a flourish… “We get better. That’s what we do. We get better with every rep” A reinforced identity. A solidified identity. We get better. We improve. We learn. We perform. We compete. And it just so happens that they win as well. They win as well… 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐞, 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

@PeterPrickett @Tengushee @insidewrite1957 @CoachRobPorter @CarlWild75 @SundayShare10 @CraigRudders @coach_kevin_m @CRobCoaching @BreakthruSoccer @SessionShareNet @SSPlanner @power_ray @Coach_Osku @JustcoachMD @JB_SoccerCoach @globrod @ben_andreos @D10Football @Daveyp1180 Thanks Peter… Wishing everyone a great weekend… Help your players: -Squash ANTs -Play in Game Face -Use a Match Script -Compete with High Attention, Optimal Intensity, High Intent …and love every second of expressing themselves in their High Performance Mindset

#FF @Tengushee @insidewrite1957 @CoachRobPorter @CarlWild75 @SundayShare10 @CraigRudders @coach_kevin_m @CRobCoaching @BreakthruSoccer @SessionShareNet @SSPlanner @power_ray @Coach_Osku @JustcoachMD @JB_SoccerCoach @globrod @ben_andreos @DanAbrahams77 @D10Football @Daveyp1180 @Jenksno1 @davidpreece12 @TheS_Resource @coachtonymee @EmmaStonePT @Tad690 @ContactCounts @ItsYourGame @GAZT7

Donovan Mitchell on what it was like to be coached by the legendary Rick Pitino… “It was the worst two years of my life and the best…” Stretch Stretch Stretch Mindset and Mastery every day. In every activity in every session, every day. That’s what it takes to be a sporting champion. And that’s what ambitious players deserve. They deserve high coaching competence that helps them discover just how good they can be. Stretch players through session design with tough-to-attain individual tasks. Constraints and conditions! Stretch players by insisting on seeing High Performance Mindsets (HPM) and test those HPMs with in-training distractions and pressure-inducing objectives. And stretch players through challenging data points as performance goals…in the gym, in training, and on game day. …all the while support them with an appropriately aligned support process. A psychologically informed environment. A mental health and well-being process. An educational process that support day-to-day mood and emotion. Stretch and support Stretch and support 𝐌𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

“𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬…” 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐒𝐆 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝟐-𝟎. Here’s my bold statement - there was no gulf in class. There was a gulf in attention There was a gulf in intensity There was a gulf in intent A team invasion sport consists of non-stop cycles of attention, intensity, intent constantly influencing non-stop cycles of technical, tactical, and physical actions… Liverpool too often looked: -𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 (𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲) -𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 (𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞) -𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 (𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭) Ambitious coaches should never ever, ever compromise on mindset. It constantly underpins actions execution - anticipation, decision-making, and the style of action-execution itself. “We can’t wait to play PSG. We will execute in High Performance Mindset (HPM), as individuals and as teammates. We’ve been working on this together in every activity in every session. We will be tough to beat; we will have our best possible performance; we will aim to win and believe we can” -𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭 -𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 -𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 Of course, we can’t guarantee outcomes and the more we try to force high performance the more stress we place on ourselves. We simply need to be tough to beat, we need to execute in a way that helps us have our best possible game, and we need to believe this best possible performance can win the game. Now the detail… -High Attention - always focused and connected to the game -Optimal Intensity - always high engagement - alert and ready -High Intent - always energy-forward - every technical and tactical action executed with conviction (purposeful, positive, proactive) How? The detail? We work on this from day one of pre-season. As individuals and as teammates. We work on being brutal, ruthless, relentless competitors…everyday. All of us…coaches, players, and the staff across the system. 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦-𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 There’s no gulf in class. There’s a gulf in mindset. And that can be worked on deliberately, intentionally, and purposefully in every meeting, in every activity, between every activity, and in every formal coaching conversation. 𝐌𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞, 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬

That goal scored against you… That conversation that didn’t go well… That work you didn’t complete… That missed shot to win the game… Attention Intensity Intent Three mental skills that are constantly mediating your performance moments whatever they may be… Pick a performance moment that’s meaningful to you… Attention - duration and direction - being focused and connected Intensity - level of engagement - being alert and ready Intent - style of action-execution - energy-forward or energy-back Every performance moment in your working life, your social life, and your sporting life is influenced by these three mental skills… Your job is to have a: High Attention Optimal Intensity High Intent Your job is a High Performance Mindset in as many performance moments throughout the day as you can… 𝐌𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭. 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞…

The footballer looks out on the pitch and mentally rehearses… She sees responsibilities She sees opportunities She sees dangers …and she imagines herself paying attention. Scanning and searching for these critical aspects. A high attention…focused and connected to the game…to the opposition, to teammates, to space, and to the ball. Scanning and searching for cues Scanned and searching for clues Scanning and searching for the detail that invites action…whether that’s an action related to a responsibility, an action to exploit an opportunity, or an action to deal with a danger. She gives herself a rich sensorial hit of attention - she sees it in her mind; she ‘does’ it in her body; she feels a strong sense of who she needs to be with high levels of attention. Her mental rehearsal centres on the most important of mental skills - attention. And then she ingrains a high attention further though an attitudinal affirmation. “I’m in control of my attention. I’m in charge of attention. I’m focused and connected to the game at all times…constantly scanning and searching. I’m a detective of the cues and clues. I’m a detective of the environmental detail that help me understand my opponent. That help me outwit my opponent. I’m in control of my attention. I’m in charge…” Because attention is about duration and direction. To be focused and to be connected. And this can be practiced in every activity in every session…and heated before every game. 𝐌𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞, 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭.

Klay Thompson of the Dallas Mavericks… “𝐁𝐞 𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟…𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭” The ambitious player faces this conundrum in every game. A commitment to performance…whilst understanding that performance isn’t straight forward… Over three hundred bones in your body… Hormones aplenty floating around your body… Thoughts, emotions, and feelings emerging and disappearing in short bursts… Performance cannot be forced. So much of it cannot be controlled. Mr. Thompson points to attitude and effort as controllable. I’ll go further. I’ll go deeper…just as I’ve done in my new book, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞… Ambitious players cannot force their performance…they cannot control their performance…but they can take control of their mindset…specifically, they can take control of their attention, their intensity, and their intent. They cannot completely control these three mental skills, but they can take control of them. There’s a subtle difference. Attention can (and will waver) but ambitious players can learn to bring their attention back to the important cues in their competitive environment. Intensity…mental intensity…can rise too high or drop too low leading to disengagement…but players can learn to bring intensity back to its sweet-spot. And intent - intent can easily drop down through hesitation and inhibition, but players can take control of their action-execution with techniques… …with mental techniques! Ambitious players would do well to recognise, like Mr, Thompson does, that performance is to a great degree out of their control. But by taking charge of their attention, intensity, and intent…they can learn to have their best ‘possible’ performance under pressure. If you’re interested in learning how to have best ‘possible’ performances…by executing with High Attention, High Intensity, and High Intent…then my new book, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 might be for you. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

Sergio Busquets… Attention Intensity Intent Attention - focused and connected to the game Intensity - strong engagement - alert & ready Intent- energy-forward - purposeful, positive, proactive Just because he looks relaxed doesn’t mean he’s not in a High Performance Mindset. Style can be deceiving… This is a low pressure environment for him…and…with his experience…a brain and body immersed in adaptive movement solutions to meet the demands of the tasks…he made the difficult look simple. But be clear… High Attention Optimal Intensity High Intent 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞, 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

@PeterPrickett @CarlWild75 Yep…you can buy now and get it now (although officially out 4th May) hawksmoorpublishing.com/book/compete-d…

@DanAbrahams77 @CarlWild75 Is the book out?

A short #SundayShare - We need to rebuild the coaching community on this platform. Many people who shared and interacted have fallen off the platform. People who were active have seen their accounts taken. More than ever we need to tighten together, share, follow each other and recreate the community of practice. @SundayShare10 @CoachRobPorter @CarlWild75 @CRobCoaching @CraigRudders

A brain primed for top-down and bottom-up anticipatory play… A body host to a vast range of adaptive movement solutions to meet the needs the environment demands… Lionel Messi gets there first… He may walk but he’s always working. A High Attention and an Optimal Intensity… 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - focused and connected to the game…scanning and searching for the cues that indicate responsibilities, opportunities, and dangers. 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 - a strong engagement…alert and ready. Alertness - a cortical arousal. Readiness - a mind attuned for action. Alert for the responsibilities and ready to execute them. Alert for the opportunities and ready to exploit them. Alert for the dangers and ready to deal with them. Lionel Messi gets there first…mindset guiding technical, tactical, and physical actions at all times. And then intent…accompanying a High Attention and an Optimal Intensity is a High Intent… 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 - energy-forward…the purposeful, positive, and proactive execution of actions. No hesitation. No inhibition. Never passive. Executing with conviction…dominating and owning the moment with assertive play. 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 A High Performance Mindset… 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞, 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮… 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

Put mindset first… But have a better…more comprehensive definition of mindset than you (probably) do right now… 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 - being focused and connected to the game (primarily through scanning and searching behaviours) 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 - having a high level of engagement (being cortically alert and mentally ready to respond to cues related to responsibilities, opportunities, and dangers) 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 - a mind-body state that influences action-execution (playing with energy-forward executing actions purposefully, positively, proactively) 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 Mindset is embodied. It’s head to feet and feet to head. It’s neither fluffy nor airy-fairy. It’s hardcore. Its in every behaviour and in every action. It’s in every technical action, every tactical action, and every physical action. So put mindset first. And make it an all-in process that you put first. Make mindset: 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡-𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫-𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦-𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 Putting mindset first doesn’t make you unbeatable and it doesn’t guarantee 9/10 games…but it does make you tough to beat. It does help you have best ‘possible’ performances. Put mindset first…and every time you go and compete…make it your prime objective to compete in your High Performance Mindset (HPM)…and make it your secondary objective to support your teammates to compete in their HPM. When you compete be in control and in charge. Dominate and own your mindset. Execute in HPM for 100 minutes - High Attention, Optimal Intensity, High Intent. Put mindset first…make this non-negotiable. Demand this. No compromise. Place expectations towards it. Be ruthless and brutal and relentless with it… 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

A short snippet from my conversation with @Don_K_Williams and the brilliant @SRUSA_Official Here I’m discussing the relationship between mindset and momentum through winning moments. It’s a model I created for Arne Slot at Feyenoord and is one I introduce in my new book, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞… 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭…𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬…𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 At Feyenoord 2022-2024, we wanted the team to be better at managing momentum. So I broke this down into the following… Our High Performance Mindset helps us win more moments. By winning more moments we better manage momentum (for and against). 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭…𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬…𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬) Listen to the full podcast: YouTube: youtu.be/01yUcUC3s5E Apple: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/com…

Many years ago I did a solution-focused brief therapy course. As part of the framework I was taught about the importance of offering compliments as a way to orient attention onto what working, what’s strong, what resources one has, and onto successes. Compliments Compliments “By doing *****, you’ve helped us improve *****” “I love what you did there…” “Keep doing that…it’s such a great way to approach this problem” In sports coaching, especially at the developing elite level and at the adult elite level, compliments are critical. The brain tends to attune to threats and is (perhaps) better at remembering what went wrong, rather than what went well. It can be a sophisticated book-marker of failure. It can tend to lean into weakness more so than strengths. It often loves to search for reasons as to ‘why not’ more so than for evidence that proves ‘why’. And so compliments in sport are something to be used often. Not all the time, but often. To bolster a ‘can-do’ attitude. To help others feel mattered and cared for. To raise feelings of competence and confidence. I guess the list could be endless… Find those mini moments and those narrow pockets of time to compliment a player. Do so with sincerity. Help them to bookmark successes and strengths and resources and them at their best…

The biggest killers in sport? ANTs… Automatic Negative Thoughts… In my new book, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞, I cheat a little bit with this acronym. I bolt ‘emotions and feelings’ onto the end… So… Automatic Negative Thoughts…emotions & feelings Why? Because, stripped back, these are the internal experiences of human beings. We experience our thoughts, emotions, and feelings. In competition, in the heat of battle, our thoughts, emotions, and feelings happen to us…often (but not always) together! 𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐖𝐞 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 And I want the players I work with to be able to take control of their response to the thoughts, emotions, and feelings they experience…I want them to respond with speed to stay connected to the cues in the game as they emerge and dissolve (rather than being disconnected from the game). That’s what great competitors are able to do. They’re able to respond to the thoughts, emotions, and feelings they’re experiencing…with speed…allowing them to engage with the game with High Attention, Optimal Intensity, and High Intent. 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 Can you see how all of this fits together? Can you see what I’m doing here? Helping players to execute every action…every technical, tactical, physical action…with High Attention, Optimal Intensity, and High Intent…refusing to be distracted by their ANTs. Refusing to be disconnected from the game as a result of their ANTs Can you see this? 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

Players executing actions… Technical actions Tactical actions Physical actions …all at once… Underpinning these actions are three mental skills… Attention Intensity Intent The Manchester City players are (probably) in a High Performance Mindset… Attention: these players have a High Attention…they are focused and connected to the game…scanning and searching teammates, opposition, space, ball… Intensity: these players have an Optimal Intensity…they are alert and ready…alert to responsibilities and ready to execute them; alert to opportunities and ready to exploit them; alert to dangers and ready to deal with them… Intent: these players have a High Intent…they are playing with energy-forward…purposeful, positive, and proactive with actions… 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

Don't forget to listen to this week's episode of The Sport Psych Show with coach and performance consultant, Declan O’Connell. We speak about the critical coaching skill of Adaptive Expertise. Listen here buff.ly/hXimWxH

One of Geno Auriemma’s (UConn) players in tears after missing an open layup in the NCAA Final Four Four… …and there’s still time…and there’s still time… Now, this isn’t a short post about this amazing young player or anything to do with the wonderful women’s basketball ball programme at UConn. It’s about what it is to be human… You see…all the tough training activities throughout the season don’t necessarily prepare you for the most crucial games. They play a part for sure…perhaps the biggest part. But ultimately, thoughts, emotions, and feelings HAPPEN to these players under the gun. Just like thoughts, emotions, and feelings HAPPEN to you in your pressure environments. No one does these on purpose…ever! The negative ones? I call them ANTs - Automatic Negative Thoughts (emotions, feelings). And I have a whole chapter dedicated to Squashing ANTs in my new book, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞. As I explain in my new book…as importance increases and as uncertainty increases so ANTs start to get more plentiful and start to get louder. Of course, some ANTs are both inevitable and critical to performance. But an overwhelm. An engulf. An ANT farm in your mind and through your body. Hmmm…not so much! That’s why I’m so passionate about every activity in every session every day being opportunities to Squash ANTs. That’s why I’m so passionate about teams being all-in on mental techniques that helps players Squash ANTs and compete with High Attention, Optimal Intensity, and High Intent. 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 …now doesn’t that sound good? Doesn’t that sound great? 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐈 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)

Every second counts in high performance sport… This includes the first minute. This includes the last minute. This includes the first action. This includes the last action. This includes the first challenge. This includes the last challenge. Obvious? Perhaps! But even the most ambitious of performers don’t always do obvious. As I explain in my new book, Compete, complacency has to be one of the biggest killers in high performance sport…especially when confidence is rife. This is why systems, cultures, and environments in high performance sport would do well to have a competitive mental framework that underpins its language, behaviours, and feeling. As I argue in Compete, I want organisations to be committed to High Performance Mindsets (HPM). And then I want them to be studious about the detail around that HPM. For example, I like to break HPM down to three mental skills - attention, intensity, intent (and I do so in my new book, Compete). And then I want those organisations to offer players plenty of mental techniques, sessions designs, and coach behaviours that improve those mental skills across the team. The detail! The detail! The detail! And when organisations affix themselves with the above. When they are anchored by this framework and solidified by the detail…then moments like we see in the video happen less. Not never…but less! Complacency in organisations costs wins, costs careers, costs money…costs human flourishing and thriving. 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎% 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐤𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫…𝐚 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬)