Sports psychology key to Ben Francis success at Glenmuir
Published:Tuesday | December 13, 2022 | 1:03 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
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Glenmuir High School’s first schoolboy football title in 13 years cannot only be attributed to the success on the field but for the emphasis that the programme has placed on the mental health of its athletes, something that head coach Andrew Peart...
Glenmuir High School’s first schoolboy football title in 13 years cannot only be attributed to the success on the field but for the emphasis that the programme has placed on the mental health of its athletes, something that head coach Andrew Peart says has been crucial to their run this season.
Glenmuir captured the Ben Francis Cup title two weeks ago defeating last year’s champions Edwin Allen High 2-0 in the final for their first title since 2009, getting revenge after Edwin Allen ended their run in the daCosta Cup competition.
Glenmuir’s record-equalling seventh title success tied with Clarendon College came after Peart played down title aspirations this season, preaching patience to a team that he said was finding its way although it was more experienced than last year. However, the performances were not down to just the hard work put on the training ground but the emphasis that they have placed in addressing the mental health of the players, with the addition of sports psychologist Dr Olivia Rose to their staff, a move that he said was important.
“Athletes are humans first with a lot of emotions. To unlock their potential, we figured having Dr Rose working with us could bring us closer to maximising these abilities in the student-athlete experience. I have known Dr Rose for over a decade, first as a student-athlete, then as a coach at The University of the West Indies and I have seen the positive impact she has in not only helping players to reach their potential but also in cultivating a high-performance environment that has helped us achieve our goal,” Peart said.
The strongest test of that work was when Edwin Allen ended their daCosta Cup title hopes. However, Dr Rose said that the disappointment led to them refocusing their efforts using the various techniques they have learned, giving themselves a season of brotherhood.
“I was secretly pleased and felt I had accomplished more than a win even in the face of a reflective and difficult period. When I asked the coaches how the team was coping, the reports of resilience were music to my ears,” Dr Rose said. “The boys were attending training on time without being told, bonding together and exhibiting much discipline and determination and hunger and belief of what they could achieve – and in their words, “Bringing Uncle Ben home!”
For captain Zakari Messam, it was an experience he has cherished which has seen this season come full circle.
“This experience was new to me but helped me significantly. I discovered various ways to control my emotions that I faced on and off the pitch, it helped the team to communicate better and brought us closer together. Overall, I would say it was a wonderful experience.” Messam said.
With the importance that mental health has become for athletes, Dr Rose is hoping that it will open the door for more persons to not only be trained in sports psychology but also to contribute to their local teams.
“I have trained a few persons who can deliver some of these services but that is not enough given the number of teams and competitions annually. One of my mentors, Clement Branche, former head of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work at The University of the West Indies, suggested working with the guidance counselling and physical education units in the high schools to help in the training of interim peer counsellors who can provide psychological support to the various teams from their schools,” Dr Rose suggested. “I am more than open to implementing this suggestion with formal support through the Ministry of Education and Sport.”