Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1037216
44 // Ladies Gaelic Football Association PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN COACHING PEIL Autumn | Issue No 3 | Volume 14 What are the basic ingredients required to create an environment that supports a team to achieve its potential at the top level? To succeed at the top level, you must have an innate skill or aptitude. However, giftedness does not guarantee success; the world is full of gifted failures. All potential means is that you haven›t done a thing yet. PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY IN COACHING Dr. Anders Ericcson, a professor at Florida State University, studied experts' performances across a range of areas including sports, music and mathematics. He found that the single greatest predictor of who would become successful was how many hours they devoted to the activity. Hard work means putting in the necessary time, sticking with it when it's not always fun, persevering in the face of setbacks and failures, and developing all the skills necessary to become successful. Success at the highest level also requires access to optimum training facilities, precise technical coaching, education and information for players, strength and conditioning training and injury management. These are the building blocks for success. While the physical and technical aspects of sport performance are essential it is paramount that coaches recognize that having mental strength is as important for players as physical fitness. The mind is a key ingredient in being a successful player and the mindset of a team is essential in developing a successful unit. Dr. Elaine Kelly is a Clinical Psychologist, an All Ireland winner with Dublin, a TG4 All Star, and has been a member of the Dublin Ladies Coaching Team in 2017 and 2018. She shares some thoughts on the Psychological element of Sports Performance & Coaching