In a game of inches, gurus of the mind could make all the difference

THEY are the elusive enigmas of the modern GAA, men and women whose impact can only be quantified in the minds of their subjects. But sift through the speeches uttered in the Hogan Stand at this time of year and the trend is clear: more and more players are testifying to the value of the mind coach.

In recent weeks the Limerick hurlers were among the most vocal supporters, referencing the work of performance psychologist Caroline Currid, who has worked with various All-Irelandwinning teams: Tyrone footballers in 2008, Tipperary hurlers in 2010 and the Dublin footballers in 2011.

It’s not a new addition, but it’s an area that in previous generations was so often written off as quackery. Indeed back in 2005, Mickey Harte recruited a sports psychologist to work with the Tyrone senior footballers, who after a couple of sessions approached Harte to get rid of him.

“It was nothing personal,” said Peter Canavan in 2015. “We didn’t want to listen to the psychologist. We wanted to listen to Mickey. He was the only one who could get inside our heads.”

In recent days the six-time All-Star offered a more blunt assessment, describing it as “a load of waffle”.

A representative from Tyrone GAA confirmed that the current senior football team does not have any psychologist working with them, while inquiries by the Irish Independent to establish whether Dublin currently utilise one went unanswered.

“I know for certain Dublin do have people with a psychology background – they had two last year,” says Keith Begley, a performance psychologist who has worked with the Carlow senior Jim Gavin is an outstanding leader hurlers, Clare senior footballers and Cuala senior hurlers.

Over the years Begley has seen his trade gain traction at all levels of the GAA, and these days most players – if not all – will vouch for its role.

“There’s always going to be naysayers: if you walk into a dressing-room you’ll get 10 out of the 30 who would not be for it. It’s where physiotherapy was 20 years ago. Back then many people would laugh at the concept of fellas getting a rub before a match but now it’s normal.”

Begley has listened to Jim Gavin speak at coaching conferences and he believes the Dublin manager is extremely well-versed in the field.

“He looks at a modern leadership approach as opposed to the old-style autocratic. Jim creates an environment where the players want to do the right thing whereas an autocratic guy might create an environment where they tell the players to do the right thing.

“In that system the players feel valued and the No 28 in Dublin probably feels equally as valued as one and two.”

There are many myths surrounding sports psychologists, the foremost being that teams use them across the board with players, but Begley says that it’s often far more selective.

“I’ve done work just working with the manager, getting them to engage in a manner that gets the most out of players, or working with four or five players in a leadership group who are setting the tone for the rest,” he says.

“Some managers want sports psychologists in the whole time and others want the knowledge off sports psychologists so they can do it themselves.”

But just what exactly do they do? Part of it is establishing a structure that empowers players, ensuring they are spoken to in a way that motivates them. On huge days like tomorrow, it’s all about controlling anxiety.

“People talk about getting psyched up for matches but the cauldron and atmosphere of an All-Ireland final would naturally psyche you up so some need to be psyched down,” says Begley.

“Their anxiety levels can rise so high they’re unable to perform and their fundamental skills are no use.”

Curiously, Begley finds it’s highly intelligent players who are at the highest risk, those most likely to overthink it. Deep breathing is one strategy he recommends before big games, while on the field it’s relying on things like attentional focus cues and instructional self-talk.

“You’re telling yourself what to do,” he says. “Because if the psychology is right, performance will follow.”