The Edexcel specification allows you to discover the importance of psychological preparation. This article aims to improve your understanding of some of the key theoretical aspects of sports psychology by placing them in the context of an elite performer.
Famed and feared for his kicking prowess, Jonny Wilkinson is international rugby’s second-highest points scorer of all time. But what exactly is going through his mind as he prepares to take a kick? The answer is a textbook example of visualisation and this is where Doris comes in. This technique, developed with his kicking coach David Alred, means that instead of merely aiming to kick the ball between the uprights, Wilkinson’s focus shifts to a much smaller target further back behind the posts. He imagines a lady, who they named Doris, holding an ice cream, sitting in a particular seat in the stand. Wilkinson’s aim is to hit the ice cream cone in her hand.
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