The Good Athlete

Dr Paul McCarthy PhD MSc BSc is a chartered psychologist working in sport, education and business settings.

Most of his work is online and he works with clients across the world. Dr Paul McCarthy PhD MSc BSc is chartered sport and exercise psychologist with the British Psychological Society. He is a practitioner psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council. He works with athletes, teams and companies acorss the world. He also lectures on psychology and researches within social and cognitive

psychology, especially sport psychology. He has over 50 publications and has published 10 books on sport psychology.

14/09/2026

How did tiny goals help an Olympic champion? 🥇 Discover how John Naber used small, consistent targets to climb to gold — and how you can apply the same approach to your training or daily goals. Read the full story and practical takeaways here: https://wix.to/2XM3OxS

Sports performers logically set challenging, specific goals to stretch them towards success. The research to date argues in their favour (Kremer et al., 2019). But what if setting teeny tiny goals helps along the way too? We can all learn a wonderful lesson from one of the most famous examples of a....

11/09/2026

New on the blog: "On Failure" — a short, honest reflection about sitting with loss, disappointment and what comes after. Read the full piece and reflect with me: https://wix.to/5rF55kb

How have you sat with failure in your life? Share a thought below.

I once sat with an athlete a few hours after the biggest competition of his career. For years, he had imagined how the day would unfold. He knew where his family would be sitting. He knew what he would say in post-match interviews. He had rehearsed the victory long before it arrived. Then he lost. N...

09/09/2026

Intrusive thoughts can appear at the worst moments on the pitch — and they’re more common than you think. In my new article I unpack what players really face, why the mind floods with doubt in decisive moments, and practical strategies (visualization, mindfulness, grounding) to regain focus and perform under pressure. Read the full piece: https://wix.to/aeNE3Hl

Footballers know the feeling well. The ball arrives at their feet in a decisive moment, and rather than reacting instinctively from years of training, the mind floods with noise – doubts, images, worries – pulling attention away from the task at hand. Research suggests that visualization techniq...

08/09/2026

New on the blog: Coaching Psychology — how to give motivational feedback that actually creates lasting performance gains. Learn why intrinsic motivation (personal goals, enjoyment) beats extrinsic rewards and how to craft feedback that builds athletes’ long-term drive and resilience. Read the full article: https://wix.to/xJpXprO

Recent research in coaching psychology, analysing 97 studies, offers a finding worth sitting with: intrinsic motivation rooted in personal goals and genuine enjoyment creates sustained athletic success, whereas extrinsic motivation driven by rewards produces gains that are, at best, short-lived[1][2...

07/09/2026

Stress is part of sport — but it doesn't have to control performance. In our latest post, Dr Paul McCarthy breaks down evidence-based mental strategies elite athletes use to manage pressure, stay focused, and perform when it matters most. Read practical tips on reframing, routines, breathing, and more. 16 min read — perfect for coaches, athletes, and sports parents. Read more: https://wix.to/c5WchwP

Competitive sport, at its most fundamental level, places athletes in environments where demands are high, outcomes are uncertain, and the margin between performing well and falling short can feel razor-thin. Research suggests that stressors in sport affect approximately 91% of athletes to some degre...

05/09/2026

Families are the silent partners behind every elite athlete — but the emotional toll on those families is often unseen. New blog: Elite Athlete Family Dynamics: The Hidden Challenges Behind Every Champion explores how nearly half of elite athletes experience mental health symptoms and what that means for parents, partners and siblings. Read more and join the conversation: https://wix.to/MRwqxRg

Families form the bedrock of elite athletic development, yet the pressures they absorb remain largely invisible to those watching from the stands. Research tells us that 46.4% of elite athletes experience symptoms of mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety[1]; a sobering figure th...

04/09/2026

Struggling season? Use off time to rebuild confidence, sharpen team identity, and return stronger. In our step-by-step guide, Dr Paul McCarthy walks coaches through practical drills, mindset resets, and team-building strategies tailored for youth football squads. Read the full plan and get your team back on track: https://wix.to/g1LnWFg

Week after week without a win – perhaps not securing one until late into your second season[1] – presents a particular kind of pressure that compounds over time. Opponents who have played together for several seasons or years[1] arrive with rhythm and cohesion already built, leaving your squad s...

03/09/2026

What is Identity Foreclosure and how does it affect athletes and young people? In this short read, Dr Paul McCarthy explains how making commitments without exploration can shape beliefs, values, and life paths — and what to do about it. Read more: https://wix.to/E8arLXJ

What is Identity Foreclosure?Identity foreclosure describes a developmental status where individuals make firm commitments to beliefs, values, or life paths without engaging in personal exploration or experiencing an identity crisis. Developmental psychologist James Marcia introduced this concept as...

02/09/2026

Understanding family patterns can transform how sport psychologists support athletes. In my latest blog, I explain the genogram key — core symbols, how to build a genogram, and practical uses in sport psychology when working with athletes and families. Read the full guide: https://wix.to/TiiLX50

Key takeaways: building family maps, recognising intergenerational patterns, applying insights to athlete care. Share with a colleague who works with athletes and families.

Here, I introduce the genogram as a clinical mapping tool, with particular attention paid to the genogram key, its core symbols, and its application in sport psychology service delivery. We shall examine what a genogram is, walk through how to create one, and explore how it serves practitioners work...

01/09/2026

New on the blog: Sport Commitment — explore what drives athletes to stay dedicated, how mindfulness and routine support consistency, and practical tips to strengthen your own commitment to sport. Read the full post: https://wix.to/IfVVIs1

What is Sport Commitment?Sport commitment is a motivational force that reflects a person's desire and resolve to continue participation in sport[1]. This psychological construct captures the connection and dedication athletes maintain toward their chosen sporting activities; essentially, it function...

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Glasgow
G24HF

Telephone

+448009756070

Website

https://drpaulmccarthy.com/

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