AM8 International

When we shine a closer lens on the sporting world, irrespective of the level of play, expectations reside both internal and external — for the athlete and/or player and those who have their own ‘expectations’ of their performance. Whether intentional or not, expectations come with the territory and they can be managed in a more well-rounded way to avoid that over-consuming burden of expectation that often spirals an athlete’s mindset into one less than effective.

It is fundamental for parents and coaches alike to be conscious of this area that is tied to a player’s and/or athlete’s development. Whether the player is in the midst of their adolescent years or entering their early 20s, these expectations are a continuous thread that need to be shaped early on to condition a sound response to these expectations. By conditioning the associated response to a good and/or bad performance, the weight of expectation can shift steadily when the player/athlete knows that their world ‘isn’t ending’ if their performance is less than optimal.

By conditioning this action to outcome relationship, we can condition our players/athletes how to better cope with their performance outcomes.

Not only does this empower athletes/players to push their performances further, they’re able to do so more freely without fear of consequence if their result is less than desirable. On another note, this conditioned response allows a player/athlete to view the notion of ‘risk’ through a different lens — with less constraints this is an incredibly healthy mindset that can crossover into their day to day life and benefit the player/athlete as a whole and position them for future success.

But, it also comes in the form of what you can expect from you coach. Tune into this week’s episode to learn more.

To learn more about our data, predictive analytics and how to optimise your own performance, head on over to AM8 International. To learn more about AM8 International check out our selection of Books and/or options to join Dr B’s Pack to gain exclusive access to the best in the world. Not quite ready? Head on over to Beyond Top 10 Tennis for free access to 100+ episodes directly from Dr Berge of what it really takes to win multiple Grand Slams to securing that Top 10 tennis ranking with new episodes each week. More? Catch up on our Tips over on TikTok, Twitter, Threads or Instagram for quick snippets to apply in your game, today. 

As we look towards removing the stigma around mental health and its varied connotations, flipping our language towards pressure whilst including the broader term is integral for moving the value of a players and/or athletes mental health forwards. No matter if you are a player, coach or parent — or are an individual for that matter, it is so fundamentally important to open the dialogue around mental health for what it means to and for you. When we look at the sporting spectrum, mental health has been around forever — as in, FOREVER. We typically refer to this as “Mental Strength” to “Mental Conditioning”. This has included visits to “sports psychologists” and those that fall near this discipline and it has been incredibly normal to do so for more than 25 years — WOW! And I say “WOW” because that’s when I first experienced a visit from a sports psychologist as a young player and how it was encouraged for us players and athletes to not only book these sessions in, but we were even given a presentation on its benefits.

Tell me what went wrong between then and now and the language around this topic? Tell me how when we move from outside the sporting arena, mental health takes a whole new meaning and is associated with negative stigmas irrespective of where you look?

Looking at this topic from a broader lens, the idea of pressure has been evident in sports forever. That’s right — pressure is a near constant when we’re looking at optimising our performances and the right balance can be incredibly rewarding. However, learning to deal with pressure remains fundamental to achieving this level of balance. Including conditioning around this in varied forms — on and off court to field or wherever you may be, begins to transition this topic from outside performance specific to. create a more life specific approach with variable offshoots but also, a more balanced outlook on a players/athletes life and what it entails — school/university through to family and friendship dynamics. Pressure is not always performance related and for those who do not play sport, this is a given. It comes in many shapes and forms and for some reason, as soon as you step off the court or field, it alters in its form to “mental health” with near dire consequences if this is a topic broaches with someone who does not understand nor see how common this topic really is (albeit for a change in terms).

Take a listen at this week’s episode on Mental Stability and pause for a moment to reflect on the language used inside the sporting spectrum and why this changes as soon as we step back into our ‘everyday’ life, irrespective what age and/or level you’re playing at and please leave your thoughts along with answering the episodes key question that can be found at the bottom of your screen when listening (only available on Spotify).

To learn more about our data, predictive analytics and how to optimise your own performance, head on over to AM8 International. To learn more about AM8 International check out our selection of Books and/or options to join Dr B’s Pack to gain exclusive access to the best in the world. Not quite ready? Head on over to Beyond Top 10 Tennis for free access to 100+ episodes directly from Dr Berge of what it really takes to win multiple Grand Slams to securing that Top 10 tennis ranking with new episodes each week. More? Catch up on our Tips over on TikTok, Twitter, Threads or Instagram for quick snippets to apply in your game, today. 

This week we’re looking at the role of player behaviour and how it is formed which is such an important topic that is often overlooked. I cannot tell you how many coaches I have come across over the years who want to be the “cool” coach and befriend their players. It is such a common practice and the ethics around that are just unfathomable but it happens left, right and centre and neither player or parent are made aware of the susceptibility that is so incredibly evident when it comes to not only the players performance, but also their overall behaviours.

The sporting world is no different to the real-world in such as whether you’re a tennis player, swimmer to basketball player, you’re just as susceptible to another persons behaviours as you would be in the classroom, office to boardroom. The more time you spend with someone, the more likely you’re to pick up specific character traits. This gets even more entrenched when you begin to view that person in a more ‘powerful’ light with greater impressions. Take for example the framing of a role model.

They’re everywhere but really, they’re leveraging your vulnerabilities to latch onto the views you resonate with most.

In simple terms, if your coach becomes your friend, you’re automatically more susceptible to behaviours that potentially you’ve already been taught are less than acceptable or encouraged. On the flip side, a good report between a player and their coach whereby a wonderful respect is shared, is conducive towards an effective role model opposed to one whereby susceptibility is a natural offshoot whether the traits are good or bad — it still happens.

To have a dive a little deeper, listen to this week’s episode on Player Behaviour and remember to share your thoughts to insights in the Question shared (on your screen as you tune into the episode).

To learn more about our data, predictive analytics and how to optimise your own performance, head on over to AM8 International. To learn more about AM8 International check out our selection of Books and/or options to join Dr B’s Pack to gain exclusive access to the best in the world. Not quite ready? Head on over to Beyond Top 10 Tennis for free access to 100+ episodes directly from Dr Berge of what it really takes to win multiple Grand Slams to securing that Top 10 tennis ranking with new episodes each week. More? Catch up on our Tips over on TikTok, Twitter, Threads or Instagram for quick snippets to apply in your game, today. 

Mental health is no joke. It has become more and more frequent over the past few years as one of the most pressing topics to be discussed and no longer ignored and pushed to the side. With some of the world’s biggest names shedding light on their own personal mental health and what it means, it’s such an important topic to be shared with players and athletes, irrespective of their level of play, and for tools to be given on how best to deal with these challenges.

Mental health is just as important as our emotional health to physical health. See what I did? It’s a banner term synonymous with health and is merely ‘another’ to be catered towards. If we can look at changing our perceptions around the stigma — the connotations associated with mental health, we can push the greater health of our players/athletes forwards which also corresponds with the general wellbeing in their day to day lives.

Mental health conditions to the likes of depression to anxiety are largely invisible and are not readily identifiable. More often than not, someone who is experiencing depression and/or anxiety will often go unnoticed unless you know how to look for the signs, and even then, there’s a good chance you still won’t be able to be right of the mark. And that’s besides the point.

Being conscious that mental health is invisible is significant. This allows a greater conciseness around mental health to begin and that the primary instigator is to engage with players/athletes — to listen and to ask questions that genuinely care about their overall health and wellbeing. As a coach and/or parent, being open to listen and talk through these challenges is a primary superpower to open the dialogue to normalising these feelings to reactions and working with the player/athlete to manage these symptoms with better awareness and access around tools to coping mechanisms.

There’s never a one shoe fits all answer, but the more conversations that are had, the greater the acceptance will become around mental health and with that, reducing the stigma around these conversations and/or their respective topics.

To learn more about our data, predictive analytics and how to optimise your own performance, head on over to AM8 International. To learn more about AM8 International check out our selection of Books and/or options to join Dr B’s Pack to gain exclusive access to the best in the world. Not quite ready? Head on over to Beyond Top 10 Tennis for free access to 100+ episodes directly from Dr Berge of what it really takes to win multiple Grand Slams to securing that Top 10 tennis ranking with new episodes each week. More? Catch up on our Tips over on TikTok, Twitter, Threads or Instagram for quick snippets to apply in your game, today. 

Continuing along the lines of controversy, Talent Identification (ID) systems are in all sports and have the potential to lift players and athletes alike towards their sporting ambitions, whilst also derailing them if the conversation is not handled in a conducive manner — best to serve a player’s and/or athlete’s future ambitions. Whilst many parents are under the impression that these programs are what’s best for their child’s sporting future, there us a lot of misinformation out there around these systems to programs that are not all good news.

What remains pivotal is that the player/athlete remains informed and is afforded a decision opposed for the decision being made for them.

Too often then not players and/or athletes alike are pulled away from their current coaching environment into a new one without any fundamental adjustments being made. This poses quite a significant risk on the players/athletes development and being inside a Talent ID program is more often than not, not the right decision for the player/athlete as a whole.

This week’s episode looks into the concerns around Talent ID and steps in navigating this process. It remains internal to be mindful of the benefits of these programs but also the risks they also pose. Depending on your sport of choice, these are all slightly different. But, if there’s one thing we know for sure and what the data reaffirms over and over again, is the coach-athlete relationship and its stability. Entering into a new program with a new coach and for this dynamic to constantly be on a rotation, is not what serves the player/athlete for long-term driven ambitions. Choose wisely and remember the triangular dynamic that will keep the team strong and better informed.

To learn more about our data, predictive analytics and how to optimise your own performance, head on over to AM8 International. To learn more about AM8 International check out our selection of Books and/or options to join Dr B’s Pack to gain exclusive access to the best in the world. Not quite ready? Head on over to Beyond Top 10 Tennis for free access to 100+ episodes directly from Dr Berge of what it really takes to win multiple Grand Slams to securing that Top 10 tennis ranking with new episodes each week. More? Catch up on our Tips over on TikTok, Twitter, Threads or Instagram for quick snippets to apply in your game, today.