SportsPsychologist.com Blog by Dr Victor Thompson

It is a shame that on big occasions, when things aren't going your way, some will not manage the emotions of frustration or anger and lash-out. When they don't get a corrective response straight away - like being pulled off the pitch and then sanctioned - fans, including children, learn that this is probably okay. The behaviour today of role models such as Luis Suarez will be reflected on football pitches, school playgrounds and streets tomorrow. Anger management can help, but does Suarez want to change? If not, there will be no change in behaviour. Why does anger happen for top players such as Luis Suarez? Because the setting is important to them, their performance is key to the outcome and they perceive that they are heading towards and undesirable outcome. That within an individual with poor self control creates a dynamite situation. For me, this echos the Zinedine Zidane situation in the previous World Cup final.

With all the time energy, effort, hope, worry and expectation that goes into our marathon campaign, once we cross the finish line and the dust has settled, we can experience a post-marathon dip.  For some this dip is mild and not-too-significant and others, the post-marathon blues are more significant. There are many reasons why we can have this experience. One of the main ones, which is often overlooked, is that when the body is physically tired, along with this can come at dip in mood. Another reason is that the marathon is such a big goal in our lives and when it passes we can feel somewhat lost without another goal to pursue. If we don't have another event planned, training can seem quite pointless. Or, if we have another goal, it can be difficult to get up for it. So how do we remedy this and bounce-back after a spring marathon? If you feel the post-marathon blues, and recognise it as a common and normal experience. Rest up and recover, take it easy for a whil...

When we think of managing our emotions when performing, we usually think of managing nerves, anxiety or stress. While this is important, these aren’t the only emotions to manage so that we perform well. Top athletes – or any athletes trying to perform at their best – need to learn to manage frustration or they risk expressing their anger or aggression in unhelpful ways. Last night’s Champions League football match between Chelsea and Barcelona showed a ‘great’ example of this, when Chelsea’s John Terry kneed the lower back of Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez . Terry was observed, sent off and will now miss the Champions League final. Lashing out can be tempting when feeling frustrated at your performance, competitors, officials or something about the situation. However, lashing out in most sporting contexts will almost certainly get you in trouble and give you more to deal with than the original frustrating experience. The great athletes learn to manage their emotions and how the...

Reviewing your performance is important. This can be comprehensive and complex – but that is likely to put most athletes off from doing it, as it becomes too cumbersome and a pain. Instead as yourself these brief questions now that the dust has settled after your event: What went well that you’d want to do again or learn from? There will be plenty, so make sure you extract this. What didn’t go so well, that you’d want to change? There will be some negatives or learning points. Look at these dispassionately. Okay, so how will you modify your training and events in the future to repeat the good and address the not-so-good? Review – learn – move on – improve Victor Dr Victor Thompson www.sportspsychologist.com

BBC website announces today: ‘Former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards is happy the British Olympic Association's lifetime ban for drug cheats looks set to be overturned.’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17818958   Without going into how we as spectators think or feel about this issue, I’m interested in the impact that this issue might have on other competitors – those competing in the sports that the previously banned athletes compete in. Athlete A:   With a strong sense of right and wrong, Athlete A gets further fired-up and motivated to show the drug cheats that they are better, that they can win clean, expecting their performance to do the talking. This news of allowing, or potentially allowing, the banned athletes back in, is motivating, helping them prepare and perform. Athlete B:   With a belief that the sports officials, system or the world lets them down, Athlete B becomes angry at the developments. They may either get fired-up...

London 2012's chairman, Sebastian Coe, told a news conference at Kew Gardens: "I am delighted to announce the motto 'Inspire a generation'. With 100 days to go to the start of the Games, millions of people are getting ready to do the best work of their lives and welcome the world this summer. Expectations are high and we won't disappoint." The 2012 Olympics in London will be great for many who watch (on TV, or in-person for the lucky ones with tickets). We will watch great performances and see missed opportunities. But will it ‘Inspire a generation?’ For me this will demonstrated in 2 ways With more athletes involved in sport staying the course, reaching international standards in competition (European, World, Olympic championships)   With more people becoming more active, reaching the Government / NHS DoH targets for activity, halting the increase in sedentary lifestyles and associated ill-health in the general (non-sporting) population Whil...