Transformation at the elite level of sport is not easy

Transformation at the elite level of sport is not easy, and nor should it be.

Everyone is, or at least should be, looking for the incremental gains in their game or event to take them from: Average to good Good to great Great to unstoppable The systems an athlete operates within are fundamental. To name a few, Training Sleep Nutrition Physical condition Recovery They are all crucial for even getting to the point of making a living in professional sport. And, to be honest, these aren't rocket science to work on.

But what lurks beneath which requires transformation? Maslow can give us some guidance on this. At any given time in life, we will be governed by, operate from and yearn for a variety of human needs, some more than others. We may be aware of it or not, and this is where coaching and mental support can really help elite athletes gain perspective. At the top top level, status, ego, and recognition all play their part, and whilst this is part of the game, it shouldn't be the driver. Why? Because it can lead to a fear of failure and a lack of worth if they aren't met. And fear or failure can be a killer in elite sport.

My job as a coach to elite athletes is to help them put things in perspective and, when needed, reframe the significance of moments in sport. At the very top of Maslow's hierarchy of needs is self-actualisation, a place that few reach. That feeling that, no matter what, you have yourself and that is enough. You are enough. You are whole and as good as can be at any given time.

Dropping ranking points, losing a match, missing a shot, false-starting a race, or whatever it may be, isn't as big as it feels when you are at peace with yourself and unattached to the opinion of others. Sport is brutal at the best of times, with pressure and significance of tiny moments, most of which won't really matter in the end. Coaching focuses on helping you feel as comfortable with who you are as you can possibly be, whilst still aspiring to be better.

That's it. Sounds simple, right?

Yes, but it has taken me 25 years of this work to make it simple to me.

And this is what I can offer to elite athletes.