Unfortunately, this idea that athletes have narrative needs has not been investigated
empirically as yet.
Figure 1.1 Sport is played with the
body but won in the mind Source:
courtesy of Sportsfile and UCD
Department of Sport
Regardless of whether its origins are pragmatic or therapeutic, athletes’ interest in
consulting psychologists is particularly noticeable at the elite grade of sport performance
because at this level there are minimal differences between competitors in technical
ability and/or physical fitness (G.Jones, Hanton and Connaughton, 2002). This
observation is endorsed by the English tennis player Tim Henman who proposed that “the
mental side is the difference between the top guys and the rest” (cited in Pitt, 1998b, p.
13). Echoing this opinion, Sven-Göran Eriksson, the manager of the England football
team, proclaimed that “in the end, it’s that psychological difference that decides whether
you win or lose” (cited in Winter, 2002a, p. S3). Although anecdotal, these insights into
the importance of psychological factors in sport are supported by scientific evidence. For
example, reviews of research on the “peak performance” experiences of athletes (J.M.
Williams and Krane, 2001; see also Chapter 4) as well as in-depth interviews with
Olympic champions (Gould, Dieffenbach and Moffett, 2002) indicate that “mental
toughness” and the ability to concentrate effectively are among the factors which
distinguish top athletes from less successful counterparts. But apart from having some
vague awareness of its importance to athletic success, what do we really know about the
“mental side” of sport? More generally, how did the discipline of sport and exercise
psychology originate? What type of work do sport psychologists engage in with their
clients and how can one qualify as a professional in this field? The purpose of this
Sport and exercise psychology: A critical introduction 4