(Quick heads-up: These posts were written back when I was still training and figuring things out. You can tell because, well, I’ve definitely grown since then! (If you spot me sounding a bit like a rookie, just remember: even pros start somewhere 😉)
Perseverance
A couple hundred emails, dozens of phone calls, and a handful of meetings later… I finally found the club that would give me my first real experience of practicing as a sport psychologist.
At first, I had my sights set on working with men’s football teams, even academy or development squads, but wasn’t getting anywhere. That’s when I paused and asked myself: why haven’t I tried women’s football?
I took the same approach and began reaching out to women’s teams across the West Midlands.
That’s when I came across Birmingham City Women’s Football Club and they showed immediate interest. At the time, the club had no formal mental performance training or sport psychology support, so the fit made sense.
A meeting was arranged with the general manager of operations, the S&C coach, physio, and head coach. From the moment I walked in, the professionalism stood out. It felt real – like this was what it might actually be like to work in the field full-time. I loved it.
The First Meeting
The staff were fully engaged and asked me practical, thoughtful questions:
- How would I introduce sport psychology to the players?
- What was my plan for working with injured athletes?
- How could I contribute to team cohesion?
They also gave me the lowdown on team dynamics — the personalities I might connect with easily, and those who’d likely be more resistant. I could already tell it would be a challenge to build cooperation and buy-in across the group — and I was completely up for it.
A Month of Observation
For the first month, I did nothing but observe. I watched training sessions, matches, and everything that happened behind the scenes.
I paid close attention to how the club functioned — how analysis was conducted, how tactics were delivered, how staff engaged the players. These are all fundamental parts of performance, and I realised just how much can be optimised when you truly understand the environment.
Had I not taken this opportunity, I wouldn’t have gained such insight so early in my journey.
I made notes on absolutely everything — whenever I could. That included:
- Dominant and quieter personalities
- Changing room conversations and team cliques
- How coaches addressed mistakes and delivered feedback
- Player confidence levels and body language
- Areas for improvement in analysis sessions
- Players I thought might benefit from 1:1 sport psych work
The list goes on.
I did this for two key reasons:
1. I can’t remember every detail — and I don’t want to miss anything that matters.
2. Because everything can be refined, improved, or used to influence performance
Whether it’s how a coach communicates or how a message is delivered in analysis, it all counts. Keeping detailed notes meant I could step back, reflect, research, and eventually advise in a more meaningful way.
Accessibility & Autonomy
After a month of observation, I felt ready to start offering 1:1 sessions and I was given a surprising amount of freedom.
I had access to all the players and didn’t really have to report to anyone. It felt unconventional… and honestly, I don’t expect that level of autonomy to be the norm in most environments.
But in that freedom, I noticed something deeper.
Sport psychology often exists on the outside of performance systems.
While S&C, technical, and tactical work are integrated, discussed, and developed together, mental performance still feels separate. Too often, it’s viewed as an optional add-on rather than a core part of player development.
That disconnect was eye-opening. And it reminded me why advocating for integration, not just inclusion, is so important.
This placement taught me that perseverance gets your foot in the door. But observation, presence, and patience? That’s what really builds trust and creates space for change.
Written by Natasha Bains
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