The podcast features Aaron Walsh, a mental skills performance expert, discussing the importance and integration of mental skills in sports performance. Aaron, with a background in sports and a passion for understanding performance, delves into the mental aspects that differentiate successful athletes from others. His journey, which includes experiences in the US and New Zealand, highlights the significance of mental skills in sports, particularly in high-pressure situations.
Walsh emphasizes that while physical and technical skills are crucial, the mental aspect often becomes the differentiating factor at the highest levels of sport. He categorizes sports into those where athletes initiate movement and those where they respond to it, noting that sports requiring initiation of movement, like golf or penalty kicks in football, have a higher mental demand. Walsh argues that mental skills should be treated like any other skill, with a focus on knowledge, tools, and support for development.
He also touches on the role of mental skills in team environments, stressing the importance of integrating mental skills into coaching, recruitment, and training decisions. Walsh criticizes the common approach of only addressing mental skills when athletes underperform, advocating instead for a proactive and integrated approach.
If you're someone who wants to develop a rounded programme that involves more than just sets and reps, this episode is for you.
Main talking points:
#Bitesize - How to programme isometric training with athletes with Alex Natera
Anaerobic speed reserve; maximising training prescription (part 1) with Gareth Sandford (Physiologist at Athletics Canada)
#Bitesize - Training speed with team sport athletes with James Wild
Understanding and maximising the potential of the modern athlete with David Joyce and Dan Lewindon
#Bitesize - Testing and training deceleration qualities with Damian Harper
The modern football fitness coach and the importance of deep technical and tactical knowledge with Adam Owen (UEFA Pro Licence Coach & High Performance Director)
Working with youth athletes; monitoring maturation, biobanding and training through rapid growth with Sean Cumming (Professor of Paediatric Exercise at Bath University)
The psychology of physical enhancement, attitude, effort and energy with Dan Abrahams (Sports Psychologist)
Triphasic training, the ‘performance pillars‘ system, and choosing the right athlete assessments with Matt Van Dyke (Director of Sports Science, Houston Texans)
How to incorporate eccentric training into a strength and power programme with John Wagle (Director of Performance Science and Player Development, Kansas City Royals)
The quadrant system; allowing creativity and structure in planning and periodisation with Daniel Bove (Director of Performance, New Orleans Pelicans)
Deceleration ability; testing, developing underpinning qualities and the braking strategy framework with Damian Harper (Lecturer at the Institute of Coaching & Performance)
Weight machines; the most under utilised way to train in-season in the NBA with Cory Schlesinger (Director of Performance at the Phoenix Suns)
Rethinking rehabilitation, tendon health and the rise in popularity of blood flow restriction training with Luke Vella (Lead S&C Coach at Melbourne Rebels)
Winning the Super Bowl, getting fired and making an impact in the NFL with James Hanisch (ex Director of Performance Science at Philadelphia Eagles)
Changing the way we think about training speed and agility, and implementing the methods of Frans Bosch with Leigh Egger (Head of Performance at Feyenoord Rotterdam)
How to develop some of the Premier League‘s most promising young talent with Matt Allen (Head of Academy Physical Development at Tottenham Hotspur)
Harnessing ego to increase player and coach performance with Martin Buchheit (Head of Performance Research at Kitman Labs) and George Perry (athletics coach and sports writer)
Jumping and plyometrics; testing options, the importance of jump strategy and its link to speed with Joseph Coyne (Director of High Performance at Lindisfarne Anglican College)
Why speed should be at the top of the decision making tree in a performance based approach to rehab with Jonas Dodoo (Speedworks) & Alan Murdoch (Speedworks - Bath)
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