Mental skills training does not have to start by fixing weaknesses. Drawing on insights from psychologically informed practitioners, this blog explores how strengths-based approaches can help athletes and dancers build confidence, increase engagement, and take greater ownership of their development through practical tools such as strengths profiling, compliment cards, and strengths-focused reflection.

Match play places unique psychological demands on golfers, from managing pressure and shifting momentum to making confident decisions under uncertainty. This follow-up to our Solheim Cup psychology series explores how mental imagery can help golfers prepare for competition, build confidence, reset after setbacks, and perform more effectively when every hole counts.

What makes the Solheim Cup such a fascinating psychological challenge? From resetting after mistakes to making high-pressure decisions and performing as part of a team, this blog explores the mental side of one of women's golf's most prestigious events.

Ask any athlete what happens after six weeks without training, and the answer is rarely optimistic. Injury, the off-season, a heavy travel schedule, or simply a demanding period of life can all force time away from the gym, and strength often seems to disappear with it. This post explains why motor imagery can help, what the evidence shows, how to practice it properly, and who stands to benefit most.

What do elite athletes and surgeons have in common? Both perform in environments where precision, timing, and decision-making matter, often under pressure. In these contexts, the ability to prepare effectively for performance is critical. Mental imagery is a well-established psychological skill used by elite athletes to prepare for high stakes performances. Although most commonly associated with athletes, there is increasing interest in how it can be used in other high-perfor

Learn about our mental skills training day at the Dance Science Symposium

Drawing on sport psychology research and practical coaching strategies, this post explores how to refine simulation training so it builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and prepares athletes to thrive under pressure.

Mental health is increasingly recognised as a core component of performance, wellbeing, and safeguarding in sport and dance. While awareness has grown, the challenge remains in translating research into practice. MST4Life™ (Mental Skills Training for Life) is one programme that demonstrates how mental health research projects in sport psychology can be applied to support young people in meaningful, community-based ways.

Mental skills aren’t just for elite performers, they’re for everyone navigating pressure, recovery, learning, or leadership. At The SPRINT Project, we’ve curated a rich collection of blogs, toolkits, and academic resources to help you explore mental skills like goal-setting, imagery, emotional regulation, and resilience. This interactive hub offers practical tools and reflective insights to support wellbeing and inclusive practice.

I'm excited to share that I will be presenting at the GAMeS International Conference for Mental Health and Sport conference this...

We are thrilled to announce that our recent pre-print, Mental Skills Training for Youth Experiencing Multiple Disadvantage , has reached...

At the end of last week, the SPRINT Project welcomed the St Basils Youth Voice Youth Advisory Board to the University of Birmingham....

As a researcher, getting your work published in a scientific journal is important. Some might even argue that it is the bread and butter...

After all the excitement of the Paris Olympic Games 2024, we are ready for even more world-class sporting action coming up over the next...

Dr Grace Tidmarsh, Dr Mary Quinton and Prof Jennifer Cumming recently wrote an article highlighting the world-class athletes who are...

Image description: The imagined Paris 2024 Olympic games, showing crowds of spectators surrounding athletes from all nations in front of...

This week we are reflecting on the incredible efforts and achievements shown by a wide range of elite athletes who have recently...

Are you planning on watching Inside Out 2 at the cinema? Here in the SPRINT Project, we are excited to watch the new Pixar film which...

Have you been watching the Euros? As we gear up for England's next UEFA European Football Championship match this week, we are sharing a...

Dr Grace Tidmarsh, Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the SPRINT Project, will soon be launching a new poetry e-book, which she has created...