How often have we seen golfers do erratic things at the most inopportune times? Ernie Els made a six-putt at the first hole at The Masters at Augusta in 2016. Such poor skill execution can often be seen in golf – known as "the yips". This often occurs when golfers feel under pressure and anxious during performance.
Over time, we have seen how winning teams always seem to have a very positive team ethic and culture. While having a positive team culture doesn't necessarily guarantee success in the sense of winning silverware, it generally ensures that a team gets the most out of itself.
In 2007, the All-Blacks were set to win their first Rugby World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987. They led France 13 to 3 at half time in the quarter final. In the second half, it went a little pear shaped for them and they lost 20 18 in the process. Star player Anton Oliver likened the feeling afterwards...
Great athletes inspire. Kids make them their idols and dream of one day emulating them while adults thrill at the sight of watching the very best. Lesser athletes, through lack of ability may never become as good as the champions, but they strive to improve themselves copying their behaviours or what they know of them.
Manchester United sacked Jose Mourinho after two and a half years in charge a number of years ago. It was reported that senior figures at the club were unhappy with a lack of progress in form, style of play and development of their younger players. The club felt they had sufficiently backed Mourinho with £358.7million in the transfer market on...
Numerous accounts of high profile athlete's suffering from depression have surfaced in recent times. This openness and honesty is both refreshing and healthy as it normalises issues that affects the majority of families at some level in some shape or form. Previously, people suffered in silence, almost ashamed to reveal their reality to the people...
The nervousness started the night before the game. A former team-mate, with whom he shared a room in the early stages of his career, once called his attention to it. "He said he did everything he could to try to fall asleep before me. Before games, my right foot would twitch so hard that the entire duvet would rustle....
Let The Kids Play
He stands there in his jersey, fulfilling all his dreams, Representing club and family, and he is on the team. The ball thrown in, the game is on, there is movement all around, Some parents shouting frantically, as the ball's played up and down.
In a recent post on All-Black culture, I discussed some of the value systems that have been put in place. The All-Black culture puts the needs of the team above that of all individuals. The challenge is for each individual to leave the jersey in a better place than they found it – to add value to it.
Freddie Mercury and Queen sang the line 'Pressure, Pushing down on me, Pressing down on you, No man ask for, Under pressure, That burns a building down, Splits a family in two'.
