The Mental Toughness Research Institute (USA)’s Post

Talent development is like 'path finding'. With a clear 'North Star' on the horizon, the 'right' path towards it needs to be either found, or paved. It's this component that makes coaching talent exciting. From the 30 years that (beach) volleyball has been the centre of my life, I was fortunate enough to spent the last 13 years working with a great diversity of 'talent'. And more importantly, extraordinary people. Besides the fact that every sport claims to be 'different', I genuinely believe that the sport of beach volleyball actually is. The sense of independence is a necessity to have, especially when competing in every corner of the world, whilst at the same time being the most accountable, and collaborative team mate ever, is a 'cruciality'. And then I am not even talking about the sport specific requirements... The understanding that you, as a coach, are able (and allowed) to contribute to other people's destination, and help to get them to places where they couldn't get, or didn't dare to go, alone is indescribable. And an absolute honour. Coaching is within my blood. And the strive to make an impact, and to contribute to a meaningful mission will always continue. Nonetheless, after an incredible 5 years with Volleyball Australia, it is time for a new adventure elsewhere. I couldn't be more proud to have represented Team Australia and Volleyball Australia across the globe. Besides the pivotal AVA project, and the challenging qualification for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, I am mostly proud on my time leading the Developing Volleyroos program. Build from scratch, the first (and next) generation has grown to be a promise for the future towards Brisbane 2032. Trusting to keep up the standard and lead by example: 'Be curious about the unknown. Embrace new challenges with open arms. There is always a way.' #embracetheadventure #progressionmeanseverything #boldandbrave #coachlife #beachvolleyball #passion #forever #seeyoulater #thankyou @ Volleyball Australia

Good morning, Malaysia!! It’s our Merdeka month, and did you watch the badminton match yesterday? We’re smashing through the Olympics with 2 bronze medals!🥉 Congrats to our badminton athletes, Aaron Chia, Soh Woo Yik and Lee Zi Jia who made us beam with pride. I wasn’t an avid sports watcher, but it is so heartwarming to see the entire country becoming one team, supporting, pouring hope and prayers into our badminton athletes in their games! My friends and I ended up having a blast last night as we came across the live stream on YouTube. Haha, it’s so funny that all of us girls were holding each other in excitement and nerves. 😅 This reminds me that just like in badminton, success hinges on a few key principles, highlighting the importance of TEAM: 🏸 Teamwork: Whether it’s doubles or singles, the synergy between players is everything as each move is coordinated and strategized. Similarly, in our work teams, collaboration and cooperation drive us toward our shared goals. 🏸Trust: For doubles, trusting their partners implicitly is a must. At work, trust in your team ensures that tasks are completed efficiently and that everyone can rely on each other’s strengths. 🏸 Support: Athletes have their coaches, trainers, teammates, and supporters who help them through every match. Having a positive and supportive environment in the workplace boosts morale and helps us overcome challenges. Don’t underestimate the power of encouragement—a pat on the back or a kind word can make all the difference! Again, a heartfelt congratulations and thank you to our athletes, aka the heroes! Proud is an understatement. 🏆🇲🇾 So what sports do you think you can excel if you’re in the Olympics? Tell me tell me! #Team #Olympics2024 #Teamwork #Trust #Support #Encouragement #Badminton #Malaysia

JUNE 23, 2024. THE MENTALLY TOUGH MAKES HISTORY Chua: "I just made sure I was on target every shot I threw [CONCENTRATION]." "The last few shots were pretty nerve-racking, but coach Jensen (Lim) helped me refocus myself on making the shots, [COHESION]" Soo: "I’m feeling absolutely thrilled and grateful. It is a culmination of all my work over the last year. We have a pretty harmonious relationship on the lanes. He is a fantastic partner [COHESION]." Neo: "Personally, I was not paying attention to the score because I didn’t want it to get in my head [CONCENTRATION]. But I think it was pretty close, as it came down to Isabelle’s spare on the last frame." "It’s a good comeback for both of us. I’m happy that we both didn’t let a bad day affect us. I changed my game a little bit, and it ended up working very well in the end. [COPE-ABILITY]" Wee: "It’s definitely very surreal winning the doubles gold for Singapore because it’s my first time at this tournament and the training leading up to this was tough. I’m very proud of the synergy both Jean and I displayed today. [COHESION]." *LESSONS: (1) Maintaining focus and refocusing when under pressure are keys to success. (2) Fostering strong emotional connections to the one's coaches and teammates is vital in securing wins. (3) This also underscores the important abilities of being able to ignore distractions, bounce back from setbacks, and cope with challenges to achieve success. Congratulations! 👏🏻 #Concentration #FocusOnWhatMatters #Copeability #CopingWithChallenges #Cohesion #Teamwork #MentalToughness #PeakPerformance #Bowling

Athletes may be the best people to learn discipline from – they follow strict regimes, and discipline is paramount to their success. This resonates deeply when we consider the strategies for preventing overtraining and burnout. Discipline isn’t just about pushing harder; it’s also about knowing when to rest, recover, and adjust your training. It’s about listening to your body, prioritizing recovery, and implementing structured training plans like periodization to ensure sustainable success. By embracing discipline, we can achieve a balanced approach that promotes long-term physical and mental well-being. Let’s take a page from the athletes' playbook and apply these principles to our own journeys. #Discipline #AthleteMindset #MentalResilience #SustainableSuccess

When we work with padel clubs, a question we seem to be answering a lot is: “Padel is easy to play, do I even need a coach at my padel club?” This is most often from club owners without a tennis or padel background and it is a valid question. The sport is easy to play, no doubt, it is why it has grown so quickly! The game lends itself to new players starting and quite often players will play dozens of times before looking for coaching advice. So initially to fill your peak hours you may not need a coach! BUT when it comes to filling those spaces from 9am-4pm during the week you will almost certainly need a good coach! AND when players start to plateau or want to improve their games they start looking for clubs with good coaches! If there’s one thing we have learned from the early padel adopters, it is that the clubs with decent coaching programs and events (put on by good coaches) are the ones that thrive (or in some cases survive)! Remember, that even if you don’t have competition now, it won’t be long until another club opens down your road! How important is good coaching to your club (whatever the sport)? #Sport #Padel #PadelTennis #ThePadelSchool #PadelTips #PadelLessons #PaddleTennis #GBpadel #WorldPadelTour #PadelVideos #PadelFun #PremierPadel #CoachPadel #OnlineCoaching

When you at gym and you receive messages like this from athletes competing at Thai Nationals last week (gave me a boost and felt like i could bend the weight plates haha) Jokes aside, it is great seeing him performing optimally and being in a zone favourable to the goals he has. This is after he had struggled to perform optimally at the last two major competitions a few months ago. Great to see that some of the keywords and techniques we worked on had helped set the 'stage' for him to set new personal bests. Coached Success #sportpsychology #mentalperformance #mentalskills #worldaquatics #peakperformance #coachedsuccess

🏉 Day 7: Classification and Preparation 🏉 Hello! Day seven marked a pivotal moment in our journey as we navigated through crucial processes and preparations ahead of the Paralympic qualifier tournament. Yesterday, four of our players underwent the classification process—Maia Marshall-Amai, Jacinta Richardson, Ian Simpson, and Mike Todd. Classification is fundamental in Para sports, determining eligibility and grouping athletes based on the impact of their impairment on their ability to compete. In wheelchair rugby, this involves assigning players a point value based on functional mobility, ensuring parity in athletic ability on the court. It was an hour-long process, resulting in Jacinta's international classification, a significant milestone in her career, while the others await confirmation pending court observation. Following lunch, we convened for the manager's meeting—an essential step in the competition, where all managers and officials gathered to finalise crucial details. Exciting news emerged regarding hydration, with our players now permitted to consume electrolytes in the green room at New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport—a significant development in ensuring optimal performance on the court. Later in the afternoon, a pivotal video session saw us meticulously studying our first opponent, the Netherlands, in preparation for tomorrow's game. This was followed by our final training session—the captain's run—an opportunity to fine-tune strategies and rehearse our haka, infusing us with a sense of unity and purpose. Chaperons from Drug Free Sport New Zealand were present to conduct player tests, underscoring our commitment to fair play and integrity. As evening descended, we gathered for a nourishing dinner before retiring for the night, nerves and anticipation swirling as we braced ourselves for the tip-off of the Paralympic qualifier tournament tomorrow. As I reflect on the day's events, a mixture of nerves and excitement fills the air, reminding us of the significance of the journey we're embarking upon. Stay tuned for updates as we enter this crucial phase of competition with determination and resolve. Sport New Zealand #Classification #Preparation #ParalympicQualifier #RoadToVictory #Day7

Where it all started. 😇 Since then I’ve coached over 70 athletes in New Zealand with more than half reaching NZ representative level. It takes hard work, guts and passion. A real dedication to refining and perfecting many small intricate skills. There are always hurdles, let downs and failures along the way. No one makes it without having to dig deep and overcome. However, when any of us look back on what we have achieved the things that give the most pleasure are those we have worked hard for. Effort = reward. What are you willing to spend time on to get results? https://lnkd.in/eXjhM4VR

The journey towards my graduation also signifies the end of my chapter in “competitive” badminton. Looking back, the journey has been bittersweet, while also being fun and challenging. Aside from the usual persistence in training, I want to give a little insight into what I’ve done to inch myself closer and closer to success in my short-lived “amateur badminton” career. 1. To gain an advantage, you must first have passion for what you do. Initially, badminton was part of what I perceived as a “responsibility”, causing pressure while performing, fortunately, I was given a nudge to remember why I had enjoyed playing badminton in the first place. 2. Finding a professional coach is always a step in the right direction. The right guidance helps jumpstart your improvement immediately. 3. Great sparring partners are essential to solidify your game plan, as you practice the shots with different opponents, you gain more confidence and know how to improvise accordingly. 4. Furthermore, strength and conditioning was an integral part of training, and the specificity of training was highly relevant in helping. 5. Finally, success only comes when you have the guts to never give up despite failures. For me, going through my matches (especially losses) with my coach pinpoints specific weaknesses and strengths that would allow me to make tweaks and adjustments which ultimately creates a ready player. In a nutshell, I have found that these steps can be applied in all fields in life to achieve improvement, eventually achieving your own definition of success. PS: this photo was taken two weeks ago where I had taken part in a local badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, managing to win first place in men singles. Despite the achievement, I’ve always fallen short in previous participations of the same tournament, losing constantly in quarter finals and semi finals. (A rough estimate of up to 10 participations in the same tournament from 2020 till date) Moral of the story? Don’t ever give up ;) May the force be with you on whichever journey you partake in. #badminton

Participation or Competition sport - where is padel at right now in the UK?🇬🇧 We’re 10 years from producing a player who can compete with these guys 👇🏼 But that’s OK and normal - to be expected. Spain 🇪🇸 has 35+ years head start and a coaching and development programme that’s second to none. 75% of people in Spain who play amateur (participation) padel have regular coaching - I’d say the UK is the complete opposite right now. That’s because we don’t have the quantity or quality of coaches and padel is a sport where early progress is rapid up to a level. Soon we’ll need lots and lots of coaches as the masses who participate want to compete, improve and win. This isn’t something to complain or whinge about but rather a MASSIVE opportunity for the sport in the UK. This type of sporting phenomenon hasn’t come around before so we need to careful. But let’s grasp the nettle together and embrace the overwhelming numbers who want to participate and help them to compete and win 🏆 #padel #participation #growth #sport #coaching #development #competition