Sport

Aaron Kernan: Psychologists can only take you so far in sport

Kerry’s James O’Donoghue did not let his preparation for the All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay in 2014 be disrupted when he forgot his boots 
Kerry’s James O’Donoghue did not let his preparation for the All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay in 2014 be disrupted when he forgot his boots  Kerry’s James O’Donoghue did not let his preparation for the All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay in 2014 be disrupted when he forgot his boots 

ALL across the country at present, there are hundreds of football managers going through a world of different emotions and thought processes. They will be trying to put in place a plan to get the maximum from their squad during the season ahead.

In Castlebar and Ballyboden, they are currently fine-tuning their squads to the last detail to ensure they are primed for the club final showpiece on St Patrick’s Day, while the remaining clubs have or are just about to kick off their new league campaigns. 

Meanwhile, at inter county level, because of the competitive nature of each division and frequency of games, each manager will be in overdrive trying to either maintain their winning run or bring about change in their team’s fortunes to avoid the drop into lower divisions.

Being a manager these days, entails much more than exhausting players twice a week with monotonous laps of a training pitch and picking a team for a match at the weekend. From the current All-Ireland champions Dublin, right down to junior club sides across the country, the past 20 years has seen managerial roles and their support staff change beyond recognition.

It’s common practice for management teams to now include a minimum of two selectors, physical trainer and strength and conditioning coach. At elite club and inter-county level you could add in a logistics officer, kit man, stats analysts, physiotherapist, dietician and sports psychologists.

From this vast group of individuals, the one who seems to have their use in the sporting environment questioned the most are the sports psychologists. As working professionals, I am sure their services come at a cost to club committees and county boards if they are called upon on a regular basis throughout the season. But it always surprises me how dismissive we are as a nation about the benefits to be achieved from allowing their input.

Throughout my time at county level with Armagh, I encountered numerous different psychologists or performance mentors. I admit I was never one to spend too much time in his or her company as I always felt that no-one knew my body or inner belief better than me. If there’s one person I couldn’t fool, it was myself.

However, I do feel there is a place for psychologists within GAA teams. There is a huge gap between a player’s assumptions and what their manager’s actual thinking is. Listening to someone who’s withdrawn from the inner circle of a managerial team can allow you see things from a different perspective. 

Along with physiotherapists, they can also help with players returning from long-term injury, to give them something they can control and strive towards. But what works for some, will not work for others. Sometimes managers insist on having all players sit in on sessions can lead to mental fatigue or annoyance in some of the strong-minded characters within the squad.

I am not saying I was ever rude or dismissive to any of them while offering me advice. In fact, I still remember small details from each one of them which I still use today as triggers when I feel the need arising.

Being conscious of my body language, learning how to control my breathing under pressure and lessening anxiety by focusing on my performances rather than the result are all aspects I have improved on throughout my career as a result of my mentors inputs.

Just like the players, our managers have jobs, families and everyday issues to contend with. But while a player has only his own personal preparation to worry about, managers have 30-plus individuals to deal with. That’s 30 different personalities, with differing abilities and mindsets that all need to be monitored. 

I would guess that there are not many professional sports team in the world who do not enlist the services of a sports psychologist, even though their managers have full control over their players and their daily activities given it’s their profession.

Also, how many companies do we hear of these days employing motivational speakers to help generate team spirit and a sense of belonging to their workforces in order to help them maximise their companies’ potential and investment in their employees?

Why then, is it so surprising that a GAA manager, who has about eight hours personal interaction per week with a group of 30 individuals may require the services of a performance mentor to be sure he is helping them reach their potential?

As I mentioned, I always took full part in-group mentoring sessions, but I know a number of my team-mates would have felt it was gimmicky when the psychologist was trying to get the players to answer his questions rather than their own. Which is why I feel they work best when the majority of the interaction is done on an individual basis when you feel the need.

Mind you, as someone who prides himself on personal preparation, had I found myself in a similar situation to that of James O’Donoghue before the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay, I am pretty sure I would have needed the assistance of a dozen psychologists to get my focus on track. As O’Donoghue togged out alongside his Kerry team-mates, he couldn’t find his boots anywhere, after searching the changing rooms and accusing his colleagues of devilment he realised he’d forgotten to pack them.  

A situation like that would really annoy me as I like to be comfortable in my own gear taking the field but O’Donoghue showed the difference in individuals as he borrowed a spare pair off Declan O’Sullivan and went on to kick 2-6 and pick up the man-of-the-match award. He had prepared well, wearing someone else’s boots wasn’t going to affect him performing well. And for those who cannot afford the services of psychologists, look no further than your peers for inspiration. 

They understand what gets the best out of you. Whether it’s an arm around the shoulders during a dip in form or a kick up the ass. They are able to guide, motivate and inspire you. Yes, we can all learn from professionals but it’s important not to allow it become a burden and distract us from what really matters. Performing.