Took part in an interesting Radio Wales three way discussion on the importance of sport psychology as part of the build up to major sporting events.

Olympic Gold Medallist Darren Campbell and sport psychologist and Mental Performance Coach Andy Barton and I were assessing the place of mind games in the build up to international contests against the backdrop of Warren Gatland’s claim that the All Blacks had lost their sense of aura and the build-up to the David Haye bout.

Darren Campbell revealed the role that mind games played in the build up to the some of his major sprint events,most notably in events involving the American sprinter Maurice Greene who was keen exponent of external aggression in his efforts to upset fellow athletes in the moments prior to races, Both myself and Andy Barton suggested that the use of the ‘wind-up” be it loud, and short-term, such as sledging or quieter, and deliberate, is merely ritualistic. To be effective, either approach has to be married to skill, such as the process of “mental disintegration" practiced by the Australian cricket side during their recent period of dominance in both the Test Match and One Day format.

Furthermore, the value of sport pscychology is difficult to assess because it remains one of a number of tools that the coach, mentor and captain of a team have at their disposal as a means of asserting superiority. However, on recent evidence it would be difficult to deny the value and impact of Jeremy Snape’s advice and guidance to both the South African cricket team and to the Rajasthan Royals in their victory in the first IPL Tournament.