Chris Shambrook on sport psychology and working with the GB Rowing Team

01/20/21 • 71 min

Ep 9. The more I talk to elite rowers and coxes, the more I understand the importance that sport psychology plays in creating the best performances both on and off the river. That's why I was so delighted when expert in sport psychology, Chris Shambrook, agreed to come on the podcast. We had a fascinating chat, covering:

Chris's path into sport psychology
His experiences of working with the GB Rowing Squad
Whether rowers have unique psychological needs compared with other sports
How to deal with a personality clash between athletes or between coach and athlete
The psychology of the Olympic cycle
Developing a challenge mindset instead of a threat mindset
Learning to observe your thoughts and emotions
Chris's work with Planet K2

Chris went on to answer listeners' questions about the following:

Mind over body on the erg
Coping with the fear of the erg test - the gold-silver-bronze approach
Not finishing an erg test
The connection with mindful meditation and using your fear of failure
Imposter syndrome and perfectionism
Helping adult learn-to-rowers
Dealing with the ageing process as an athlete
Supporting young rowers with varying growth rates
What resources are available if you don't have a sports psychologist to hand
How to cope with the uncertainties of the pandemic as an athlete

The books Chris refers to in the interview are as follows:
Chris's own book, The Mental Game Plan, which can be found here.
The Positive Power of Negative Thinking by Julie Norem

Learnings from Five Olympic Games by Frances Houghton

Mind Games by Annie Vernon

The Long Win by Cath Bishop
The blog posts on the Adidas site Chris talks about are here:
https://www.gameplan-a.com/2020/09/how-to-stay-on-track-when-the-finish-line-is-out-of-sight/

https://www.gameplan-a.com/2020/04/when-goalposts-shift-adapting-to-the-changing-world-around-us/

https://www.gameplan-a.com/2021/01/2021-an-unmissable-opportunity-to-live-the-new/

Other resources referred to by Chris :
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences

British Psychological Society
Performance Room including covid self-care resources https://www.theperformanceroom.co.uk/category/cov
Believe PerformChris's business, Planet 2KThis week I released a fun, behind the scenes video to Patreon subscribers. To get perks like this plus early access to episode, click on "support the show"!

Chris's path into sport psychology
His experiences of working with the GB Rowing Squad
Whether rowers have unique psychological needs compared with other sports
How to deal with a personality clash between athletes or between coach and athlete
The psychology of the Olympic cycle
Developing a challenge mindset instead of a threat mindset
Learning to observe your thoughts and emotions
Chris's work with Planet K2

Chris went on to answer listeners' questions about the following:

Mind over body on the erg
Coping with the fear of the erg test - the gold-silver-bronze approach
Not finishing an erg test
The connection with mindful meditation and using your fear of failure
Imposter syndrome and perfectionism
Helping adult learn-to-rowers
Dealing with the ageing process as an athlete
Supporting young rowers with varying growth rates
What resources are available if you don't have a sports psychologist to hand
How to cope with the uncertainties of the pandemic as an athlete

The books Chris refers to in the interview are as follows:
Chris's own book, The Mental Game Plan, which can be found here.
The Positive Power of Negative Thinking by Julie Norem

Learnings from Five Olympic Games by Frances Houghton

Mind Games by Annie Vernon

The Long Win by Cath Bishop
The blog posts on the Adidas site Chris talks about are here:
https://www.gameplan-a.com/2020/09/how-to-stay-on-track-when-the-finish-line-is-out-of-sight/

https://www.gameplan-a.com/2020/04/when-goalposts-shift-adapting-to-the-changing-world-around-us/

https://www.gameplan-a.com/2021/01/2021-an-unmissable-opportunity-to-live-the-new/

Other resources referred to by Chris :
The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences

Previous Episode

Bernie Hollywood OBE on Love Rowing and charity adventures

Ep 8. Most of us have done a little bit of charity fundraising at some point in our lives - we've maybe run a 5K or given up alcohol for a few weeks or completed an erg challenge. Most of us haven't raised £42 million for charity. My guest this week, the amazing Bernie Hollywood OBE, has done just that alongside an incredibly demanding career as a banker. This extraordinarily driven man has run 150 marathons, trekked to both Poles, crossed deserts, and is now planning to row the Atlantic on his own.
Equally importantly, he's just taken up the position of Foundation Manager of Love Rowing - British Rowing's new charitable foundation aimed at increasing diversity and inclusivity in rowing. I was so delighted when Bernie agreed to come on the show as his values align so much with those of Girl on the River, and I was keen to quiz him about exactly what Love Rowing is all about.
In this episode we discuss:

What motivates Bernie to be such a prolific fundraiser and how it all began
Why he always refers to his charity challenges as "adventures"
Bernie's ethos
Love Rowing - its aims and objectives and how it will work
How rowing makes a difference in young people's lives
Bernie's next adventure - the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic challenge
The innovations Bernie is introducing to his Atlantic row
Bernie's ambitions to raise £1 million for Love Rowing and the Samaritans

You can find out all about Love Rowing on its website, here, and on Twitter at @LoveRowing_BRCF. All enquiries about Love Rowing and Bernie's fundraising should be directed to [email protected].
Bernie's website is here.
The British Rowing Inclusive Club Guide that Bernie refers to can be downloaded here.
The artist who is designing the artwork covering Bernie's boat for the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge is Justin Eagleton.
The number for the Samaritans is 116 123 (it's free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year). They also have a self-help app where you can keep track of how you're feeling, and get recommendations for things you can do to help yourself cope, feel better and stay safe in a crisis.

Next Episode

Steven Dowd on spinal cord injury, challenge, resilience and the Endurow Challenge

Ep.10 Steven Dowd insists he's just an ordinary guy. But once you've listened to this episode, I think you'll agree that he has shown himself capable of extraordinary resilience in the face of monumental challenges. Hit by a spinal cord injury at the age of just 37, he has used it as an opportunity for growth and connection. Oh, and he also has the most incredibly soothing voice - I seriously think he should be the Headspace narrator!!!
In this episode we discuss:

Steven's life before his injury
The accident that left him paralysed and what followed
The life-changing clinical trial he signed up for
His 200 day vow to his wife - and how he achieved it
His approach to getting through the dark times
Why there's no hierarchy of challenges
How the Endurow Challenge was born
How you can get involved
What he's learned from his remarkable podcast guests

Sign up for Endurow Challenge here
You can sponsor me here (even £1 would be SO MUCH appreciated)
Find Steven's excellent podcast here.
Learn more about Wings for Life here.
Read about the ISCoPE clinical trial that helped Steven here.
You can find out more about Steven and book him as a motivational speaker here.

Girl on the River - Chris Shambrook on sport psychology and working with the GB Rowing Team

Transcript

Patricia Carswell00:00:08.970

This is Girl on the River, the Podcast. Whole crew, come forward to row.

Patricia Carswell00:00:13.769

Hello, and welcome back to Girl on the River, the Podcast, for episode nine. Thank you so much for continuing to tune in and support the podcast. And to my new listeners, an especially warm welcome. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you'll come back for more. Now talking to the various rowers, and coxes I've