The Sport Psychologist

Dr Hannah McCormack is the campaign manager for Tackle Your Feelings, a wellbeing initiative from Rugby Players Ireland.  They've created a really useful app to help you monitor your own feelings and emotions – just search for Tackle Your Feelings, as soon as you've finished listening to this. You don't need to be a rugby player to use it. It's free, and has tools to help you keep track of how you're doing, set goals and lots more.

Today Hannah explains how to add positive thoughts to your day, which has been proven to help mindset and performance. She also discusses some of the psychological challenges rugby players are currently dealing with and what we all can do to help ourselves be better. You’re really going to get a lot from this one.

Lawrence Puff Summers is now synonymous with Irish basketball. He could've been a rich banker, but chose to follow his heart and the sport he loves. A graduate of Davidson, he even trained with that 'other' Davidson scholar Steph Curry before heading overseas, and finally putting down roots in Ireland with his own basketball training business. 

This chat is only a snippet of Puff's life. He talks about being black in America, being black in Ireland, opening up conversations, challenging beliefs, fear of the police, the fears his mother had for him and the fears he now has for his daughters. Black Lives Matter. 

Dr Ciara Losty is course leader for the MSc in Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology programme in Waterford IT and has an extensive background in supporting athletes, including working with Team Ireland for the Olympic games. In recent years, her work in developing the jockey pathway has received acclaim within Ireland and further afield, and she liaises with other sport science professionals to support licensed jockeys. 

In this podcast Dr Losty explains why jockeys are in the high risk category when it comes to mental difficulties, and outlines the challenges and immense difficulties they face in their careers. Even if you've no interest in racing, the psychology behind the main protagonists is fascinating. It also helps that Dr Losty is a really interesting interviewee. Enjoy!

Today's topic is one for the cocooners, especially those who are older. Paul Gallier develops national initiatives to help older people become and remain physically active… something that has been a challenge for us all in these times, but perhaps even more so for those who were advised to withdraw from society for a while. Paul also has an extensive background in clinical exercise, working primarily with older people, and here he explains how it’s never too late for any of us to become more active, even during a pandemic.

...let them play instead!

In this episode, coach and primary school teacher Shane Smith gives us an insight into his philosophy when it comes to coaching children. It's a must listen for any parent, coach or educator who wants to help kids develop a love for sport and to be the best they can be. Shane doesn't just talk the talk. He's walked the walk, from returning to education in his early 30s to coaching children and people of all ages and levels. Here, you'll get advice and tips that work in the real world, with the focus purely on children enjoying themselves and having fun. 

Ciaran Casey is from Gorey in County Wexford, and after working in Ireland and the UK across a number of Olympic sports, he moved to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to join their Podium Program. In this episode, Ciaran explains the challenge of cultural differences and what it’s like to be hired by a nation yet to win an Olympic Gold Medal. 

In this episode, MT is joined by journalist and criminology graduate Joanne O'Riordan, who explains how countries, organisations and companies use the shine of sport to polish up their image and how we're all complicit in one way shape or form. If you've ever wondered what kind of mindset a football hooligan has, the answer is right here as Joanne dissects the psychology of a hooligan, drawing upon her studies and from her own experiences. 

In this episode MT is joined by Dr Mark Campbell to talk about the fascinating psychology of golf.

Golf is a game that requires extensive mental skills and fortitude and Mark lays out what kind of personality makes a good golfer (and if that isn't you, never fear, he'll tell you how to get there). Mark also highlights what to do if your game hits the rough, and he tells us about the latest research into how all athletes and not just golfers should prepare for big events. And it turns out the golf yips are a thing, sometimes.