MJ at Moor Farm

[Bear DCFC]

Not Michael Jackson and not the ex Derby player...the olympian.

Does anyone know why he was with us today? Maybe motivational speech for playoffs? - view external link

[Bear DCFC]

further to this - view external link

[ellafella]

further to this

I've read MJ's material on Sport Motivation and seen some of his work especially on getting into "the Zone". Johnny Wilkinson, Michael Atherton and other top athletes have used the techniques to great effect, and it is something that really works, especially to help players maintain the right mental approach after a long season, when they can become "burned out" and lacking that edge that is required to produce top performance. Credit to the Derby County staff in getting perhaps the leading exponent of psychological preparation. It is something that Steve McClaren has been an exponent of for some time. You may remember that when McClaren was at Middlesborough they employed a sport psychologist (Bill Beswick).

[Bear DCFC]

Isn't Bill Beswick doing some work with the Rams now anyway? Him and Steve, they got a thiiiing, goooing ooooonn.

I'm sure it will be of great benefit to the team, but the example of Michael Atherton probably isn't the best illustration of how getting 'in the zone' can work for people. Probably best just to use Johnny from now on (and the Rams when we get promoted )

[Bear DCFC]

Oh and Ella, cheers for replying to my thread. I just gathered people were ron-bothered about one of the best olympians of all time coming to have a chat with the squad.

[RamFromCornwall]

If Wilkinson was helped by MJ's techniques and advice, then maybe we don't need to worry about any of our players putting away a single kick, to win us a trophy in a final under enormous pressure?

[ellafella]

Isn't Bill Beswick doing some work with the Rams now anyway? Him and Steve, they got a thiiiing, goooing ooooonn.

I'm sure it will be of great benefit to the team, but the example of Michael Atherton probably isn't the best illustration of how getting 'in the zone' can work for people. Probably best just to use Johnny from now on (and the Rams when we get promoted )

Really Bear? Don't you remember his match-saving 185 not out v South Africa, an innings that lasted 492 balls and spanned nearly 11 hours. 90 degree heat, and Alan Donald bowling flat-out at Athers at speeds in excess of 105 mph.
Athers' own account "[i]By the afternoon, and for the only time in my career, I was in the zone. It is a state of being much talked about by sports psychologists and while I can describe my feelings that afternoon, I couldn't begin to explain how to replicate it. The zone for me was a feeling of absolute control...I was in an alm

[Bear DCFC]

I don't remember that, all I remember about Atherton is when we were getting smashed by the Ozzies all the time. What year was that in?

[ellafella]

I don't remember that, all I remember about Atherton is when we were getting smashed by the Ozzies all the time. What year was that in?

2nd test, South Africa, 1995/96 series. Atherton's career-defining innings. I was lucky enough to talk to Atherton about "the zone" when I met him at his book-signing in Nottingham. He said that he had a feeling of invincibility even though he was facing the most hostile fast bowling attack on the planet at that time.

[roger_ramjet]

Hmmmm? by his own words he only got "in the zone" once in his career? I don't quite see that that qualifies to teach others. By his own admission a few words later he says he couldn't explain it to others...

Besides I preferred Jack Russell's knock in that match but as a Gloucestershire born and bred cricket person, I suppose I would.