SportsPsychologist.com Blog by Dr Victor Thompson

Just as a training plan gives you confidence that you are taking steps towards good fitness and a good competitive performance, so does a rehab program where your physio/sports massage sessions and rehab exercises can give you confidence that you are doing what is required to recover, to get back to usual training, and to be better than before. Plan your rehab recovery. Look out for progress. Celebrate your efforts and achievements. And don’t ditch your rehab exercises too early. Dr Victor Thompson www.sportspsychologist.com

An important element of self-management is the ability to manage attention, focus or concentration. Skilful performers can shift focus when the situation requires it and at will. One dimension is internal-external: Internal: this is your body, how it feels, your perceived exertion, your heart-rate, tension, but also your emotions and thoughts External: that which is outside your body, the competitive arena, your opponent(s), the weather Practice in training to shift your attention from internal to external and back again, plus to learn when it is helpful to have an internal or external focus. Dr Victor Thompson www.sportspsychologist.com