Great players get aroused, not anxious. Nadal watched a
TASK: Watch
two set advantage slip and let Federer back into this year’s
http://www.blinkx.com/videos/jonny+wilkinson+winning+kick
imagine you are Jonny Wilkinson. What would you want to be
Wimbledon final. He didn’t worry; he got pumped up, hit
thinking and feeling when you are facing a similar situation? his forehands harder and produced some of the best tennis
in history. Torres didn’t worry when he was one on one
with Lehmann in the final of the Euro Championships.
TASK: Imagine you are a sports psychologist working with He just confidently chipped the ball over the onrushing
a hockey player who takes penalty flicks. Write down some of
German. Lewis Hamilton didn’t get nervous about the
the strategies you may use to reduce their anxiety.
torrential rain at Silverstone this year. The rain was more
of a motivator and he drove the race of his life to win the
British Grand prix.
THE ATHLETE’S
STORY:
SARAH THOMAS –
BRITISH OLYMPIC
HOCKEY PLAYER
ABOUT ATHLETES DIRECT
Athletes Direct is a simple, exciting new scheme designed
The outcome: “I scored, our goalkeeper saved the next goal
to facilitate school visits by elite athletes. Sarah and other
and we won gold and got promoted to the European
athletes can be accessed for visits to schools by visiting
‘B’ Division.” www.athletesdirect.org
Sport IQ : September 2008 25