How FA Cup final underdogs can bite back - a sports psychologist reveals all

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

Article featured in The Telegraph, 20/05/16.

Subject

The body can go into “fight-or-flight” mode, which happens when an area of the brain called the amygdala – which houses fear – fires a signal to freeze what we’re doing and wants us to get out of there fast. If individual players can master their anxiety, their team can perform better on the day.  

Period20 May 2016

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleHow FA Cup final underdogs can bite back - a sports psychologist reveals all
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletThe Telegraph
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryUnited Kingdom
    Date20/05/16
    DescriptionIndividual players’ coping response to an FA Cup final will vary dramatically. There is always a risk that some players may have too much adrenaline, and emotions may run too high, thus impacting their focus.

    Often with a big event, a player’s focus can be too broad and be more weighted toward outcomes, such as wanting to play well, winning, or scoring. Having discussed good and poor performances with many footballers, they frequently link good performances to when they focus more naturally on processes rather than outcomes.
    URLhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/05/20/how-fa-cup-final-underdogs-can-bite-back/
    PersonsLouise Ellis
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