UEL academics talk psychology in sport

Academics at the University of East London have been looking at how Olympic athletes can given themselves a psychological advantage this summer.

In a recent lecture at the Science Museum in London, chartered sport and exercise psychologist, James Beale, and sport and exercise psychology lector, Dr Richard Buscombe, offered an insight into how competitors can use the tool to improve their performance during high profile events.

As part of the ‘Psychology of Sport’ lecture, UEL and other leading experts in the field of sports psychology explored the factors that could influence athletes at the Olympic Games.

Numerous questions were posed, such as the advantage of being based on home ‘turf’ to Team GB, and whether positive psychology techniques will be the next big thing in competitive sport?

Mr Beale said: “The importance of psychology in sporting competition at the highest level should never be underestimated, as athletes have claimed that up to 90 per cent of their performance is down to the psychological side of their game.

“It was really beneficial for us to speak to fellow academics and the public about sport psychology. It also gave us an excellent opportunity to dispel a few widely held myths around sport psychology.”