Every player could benefit with psychological counseling. It will help players by working on their goal setting, mental stamina and performance anxiety and so on. Many sports coaches attribute to the fact that about 50-70% of successful players have personal psychological counsellors.

Counselling should not be attributed to that of a weakened player or as something that needs to be given to any player with low levels of performance. Infact, sports counselors work towards bettering and improving a players psyche.

The Following Factors May Directly Affect A Player And His/ Her Performance On The Field.

  • High expectations of the player from parents and peers, clubs, selectors and the media causes enormous pressure, frustration and stress.
  • Assimilation Problems. Players come from a diverse range of socioeconomic backgrounds. This leads to anxiety and confusion about correct behaviour and standards.
  • Communication Barriers. The inability to communicate due to language differences may cause players to miss vital information and lead to confusion, frustration and embarrassment.
  • Extreme competition. Research suggests that ‘competition’ may not be the best factor for motivating players to perform at their peak. Consequently it may not be the best method to select players especially for national teams.
  • Lack of experience at the national and international level can be harmful. Players from rural areas may require a strategy of systematic exposure to their new environment in order to avoid unnecessary disruption and distraction.
  • Unhealthy habits such as drugs, smoking, binge alcohol consumption and unprotected sex can have a great negative impact on individual performance, undermine team discipline and team morale. Such behaviour is also harmful to the cricket industry at large.
  • Irresponsible health management. For example ignoring minor injuries, lack of awareness of injury or fear of disclosing injury due to fear of not being selected.
  • Personal Problems have a negative impact on player’s performance particularly on young players. Research shows that reduced confusion of identity and positive relationships are vital to enhance performance. It has been apparent that a number of star players recently experienced devastating effects on their performance due to relationship problems. Further to that a significant number of incidents have come to light wherein personal/family conflicts directly affect individual performance on the field. This further supports the necessity of appropriate psychological support for each and every player of the team.
  • Financial related difficulties affect a player’s interest, motivation, concentration and even jeopardize their whole career. Most upcoming young players from rural areas constantly battle financial barriers due to lack of support.
  • Political and economical instability also negatively effects performance in various ways. It hinders school and club level cricket practice and matches, blocking new players from performing well and progressing to the national level. Furthermore, teams from other cricketing nations. which also negatively affects local player’s performance and confidence.
  • It has been suggested that nepotism and favouritism are prevalent. In all teams, clubs and even at the national level. These malpractices are discouraging for talented, ambitious players and ultimately effects performance, team morale and harmony.
  • In addition, the recent Tsunami disaster generated a range of significant negative impacts on player’s psychological well being. Some of the player’s families were directly affected and their traumatic experiences have direct impact on individual player’s performance.
  • In addition, the recent Tsunami disaster generated a range of significant negative impacts on player’s psychological well being. Some of the player’s families were directly affected and their traumatic experiences have direct impact on individual player’s performance.

The above mentioned negative factors affect individual players physiologically and psychologically in numerous ways.

Research Into The Experience Of Professional Players Show That The Following Psychological Disadvantages Are Prevalent:

  • Depression, low self esteem, lack of concentration, complaints of physiological discomfort without physiological illness, sleep disturbances, Anorexia Nervosa (Quite common among players; characterized by intense fear of becoming obese can lead to dramatic weight loss).
  • Anxiety related conditions such as Agoraphobia: research shows that a certain amount of anxiety is common and some cases can be healthy for players. However if a player is anxious about being in certain places or situations from which escape might be difficult their performance is negatively affected.
  • Phobias Specific situational type (Air travel, elevators, enclosed places), Social phobic situation (Quite common among many sports players; A marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing. This fear may hinder their communication with the authorities, social functions, and building rapport with international players).
  • Obsessive – compulsive tendencies; with two essential characteristics:
    Recurrent and persistent thoughts, ideas and feeling
    Repetitive, ritualised behaviour. Quite common when a player is under tremendous pressure. Players tend to show agitated, erratic behaviour followed by ritualised behaviour such as compulsive hand washing, ordering, checking their equipment, shoe laces etc, repetitive praying, counting, body postures, different mannerisms, nail biting, too much spitting, sledging, dreaming, repeating words silently etc.,
  • Mental Conditioning for Athletes training helps average players excel and elite players achieve record breaking performances. Offered as a series of information and technique packed classes, each Mental Conditioning for Athletes class builds on the previous one to provide competitors with the essential mental skills training needed to boost performance and create a winner’s mentality for enduring success.

Players Learn

  • How to focus and define individual goals and ways to successfully achieve them.
  • Power visualization to assist in mentally rehearsing winning performances and make course corrections when peak performance is not achieved.
  • Methods and techniques to control physical and emotional energy in order to maintain stamina throughout the athletic performance.
  • Effective thinking using 3-D thought and cognitive awareness processes. How to incorporate mental conditioning skills deliberately into the athletic success program.
  • Mental toughness training – planning for the unexpected. Master the mind skills to block out distraction, overcome disappointment, manage high emotions, and enjoy the game. Balancing accountability and responsibility to oneself and the team.
  • Playing in the zone for the love of the game.

Classes are offered individually or in team settings. Just imagine a powerful team coalescing into one harmonized unstoppable unit. With Mental Conditioning for Athletes players accelerate their success, play more powerfully and win more games. Unleash athletic potential by combining mental skills with physical skills. It’s a dynamic duo.( create a game which make them understand the coordination can enhance the happiness in the group and effectivity of team increase, an invisible undercurrent of happy thread keep connecting everybody.)