Players at the Irish FA’s JD Academy have been learning how to boost their mental resilience.
They took part in an intensive workshop that focused on various aspects of resilience.
It was delivered by former Northern Ireland international Pat McGibbon on behalf of Mindwise.
During the workshop the academy players looked at navigating challenges, managing pressure and adapting effectively to the demands of professional football and life.
Through group activities and focused conversations, the primary goals were to foster the ability to bounce back from adversity and how to transform setbacks into genuine opportunities for personal and professional growth.
The workshop focused on several distinctive areas, including:
Understanding resilience: the players learned that they could improve and strengthen the important skill set of resilience over time;
Stress management techniques: they looked at methods to help reduce stress, such as mindfulness, deep breathing and self-care practices;
Emotional regulation: the players explored techniques to help them to regulate intense emotions and maintain a positive, performance-focused outlook, even in scenarios where pressure tested them;
Cognitive reframing (growth mindset): they learned how to actively challenge unhelpful thought patterns, with a particular focus on using setbacks as learning experiences;
Social support and connection: the players were taught the value of building and having a strong support network around them, such as friends, family, coaches or other influential people;
Problem-solving skills: they engaged in activities to help them develop creative and analytical approaches to overcome obstacles, whether on or off the pitch.
