Latest news from Loughborough University
| 29 March 2006 | PR 06/37 |
Sounds of success
The use of audio CDs before and after football matches can positively influence the motivational and emotional states of players, according to Loughborough University’s Dr Chris Harwood.
‘How to create the most effective CDs to enhance performance’ is the subject of a workshop being held by Dr Harwood at the British Psychological Society’s Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology Football Psychology event at the City Hall, Cardiff, on Wednesday 29 March 2006.
Pre-match audio CDs should deliver a range of messages, including reminding players about past successful performances, visualising success, emphasising their place in the team and developing a sense of emotional and physical control. This serves two purposes: to build self-confidence and achieve mental readiness for the event.
A player’s favourite music may also be a key part of the CD. Many professional athletes have advocated the use of songs to motivate and mentally prepare them. It has been widely reported that tennis star Andrew Murray listens to The Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Let’s Get It Started’ as part of his pre-match preparation.
While audio is widely used in elite sport circles to provide pre-match motivation, the use of audio in post-match routines can sometimes be overlooked.
As Dr Harwood notes: “Post-match CDs are just as important. To be at their most effective, they should emphasise relaxation and recovery as well as help the player to recall and review their performance. They can help the player both wind down emotionally after a game and maintain self-belief between matches.”
– Ends –
For further information during the conference (noon Wednesday 29 March to noon Saturday 1 April) call:
- The Conference Press Office, T: 02920 827 200 or 02920 827
300, or
The BPS PR Team mobiles – M: 07793 800 366 / 07793 800 373
or 07793 803 289 / 07793 803 291
After the conference contact:
- Hannah Baldwin, Head of PR, Loughborough University,
T: 01509 222239, E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk
Notes to editors
Loughborough has an established reputation for excellence in teaching and research, strong links with industry, and unrivalled sporting achievement. Assessments of teaching quality by the Quality Assurance Agency place it in the top flight of UK universities; the National Student Survey ranked Loughborough equal first among full-time students; and industry highlights the University in its top five for graduate recruitment. Around 40% of Loughborough’s income is for research, and 60% for teaching. The University has been awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes: for its collaboration with aerospace and automotive companies such as BAE Systems, Ford and Rolls Royce; for its work in developing countries; for pioneering research in optical engineering; for its world-leading role in sports research, education and development; and for its outstanding work in evaluating and helping to develop social policy-related programmes.
In 2006 Loughborough celebrates the 40th anniversary of its University Charter, awarded on 19 April 1966 in recognition of the excellence achieved by Loughborough College of Advanced Technology and its predecessor Colleges. Loughborough University of Technology was renamed Loughborough University in 1996.