Leading US Sports Psychologist Teams up with Piranha for Summer 2015

[Phil Sykes]

Dear Piranhas,

We have a fantastic extra resource to offer you that comes all the way from the USA to help you get the best out of the 2015 racing season and to set you up to be a better athlete.

For June and July, we are being joined by Professor John Coumbe-Lilley who is leading a Sports Psychology Study Abroad programme over the Summer here in Ireland, based in UCD. One of John’s objectives while he is here is to partner with a sports club in Dublin. Fortunately for us, out of all the clubs in this great City, John has picked Piranha Triathlon Club!

John is the Director of Undergraduate Studies and Clinical Assistant Professor of Kinesiology & Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He has a B.Sc in Kinesiology, a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology. He is a specialist Sports Psychologist and Mental Skills Coach and has worked at an Olympic Games and two Rugby World cups. He is also on the Olympic Committee’s Sports Psychology Register. As if this wasn’t enough, he has conducted a three-year research study into Triathlon and regularly leads coaching workshops. He is also a triathlete himself. One of John’s areas of speciality is helping athletes cope with injury – something with which many of us are familiar. John is very generously offering his services to us as a Club, and to you individually, free of charge.

We are going to set aside four consecutive Wednesday evenings, at a venue to be confirmed – possibly WestWood if a room is available, during which John will give us the benefit of his insights and expertise. The running order will be as follows, probably with a 7.30pm start:

Week 1 – Wednesday, 24th June
Sport Psychology for Triathlon (Interactive presentation)
PLUS: Consultant clinics: Individual consultations as requested/work with club coaches.

Week 2 – Wednesday, 1st July
Strategies for Swimming (Interactive presentation)
PLUS: Mental skills clinic for Swimming: Individual consultations as requested/work with club coaches.

Week 3 – Wednesday, 8th July
Strategies for Biking (Interactive presentation)
PLUS: Mental skills clinic for Biking: Individual consultations as requested/work with club coaches.

Week 4 – Wednesday, 15th July
Strategies for Running (Interactive presentation)
PLUS: Mental skills clinic for Running: Individual consultations as requested/work with club coaches.

We may be able to fit in a “wrap up” session in Week 5 but will structure that after we see how the programme progresses.

In order to help John prepare for his time with us and to help him make his sessions as focussed on the needs of our Club as possible, he would like as many of us as possible to complete an online survey. The closing date for the completion of the survey is 12th June in order to give John time to work through the responses and tailor his programmes. You can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PirTri

This is a fantastic opportunity for us as a Club to have access to a leading Sports Psychologist and Mental Skills Coach and I would ask as many of you as possible to complete the survey and to come along and listen to what John has to say. John has agreed to conduct one-on-one sessions where possible by arrangement and he may be able to come along to WW on a Saturday morning to join us after training for informal chats.

I’m really looking forward to meeting John when he gets over from the USA and to welcoming him to the Club during his stay. I think this is a fantastic opportunity to banish any racing gremlins that you feel may be holding you back and ensure that you remain positive, revved up and ready for action at all times!

I will confirm the venue in a couple of days when I have sorted it out!

Bring it on!

Phil Sykes
Club Secretary (and 1st in the queue!).

[debbrawalters]

That’s great! Thanks Phil.

[stevenmoody]

Sounds great Phil – count me in (survey completed too!)

[Siobhan Forman]

Thanks Phil,

A great resource! Survey complete.

Siobhan

[Phil Sykes]

Thanks, guys. There is no limit on numbers but it would help to get an idea of how many of you might like to attend – I can book a room to suit then.

Cheers,

Phil

[paulod]

Thanks Phil. Survey completed.

[darraghk]

Yes please.

[Ogradylo]

Phil is it ok if I can attend as an associate member? Louise

[Ger.F]

WOW sounds great. Survey completed.

Ger

[Phil Sykes]

No problem, Louise, you’ll be very welcome to come along.

Phil

[BarryMc]

Can attend first two. Could we record the 4 sessions and keep them in the members only section of the website for future reference?

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[antje]

This looks great. survey completed. Can’t attend week 1 but will be at the others.

[Phil Sykes]

Please feel free to come along to as many sessions as you wish or can attend. I’m hoping John will be joining in a bit of training etc. with us so that you will see him at a few sessions as well. He might even do a race! I will try and bring John to join in a Saturday coffee session as well as this would be a great place for a few informal chats.

Good suggestion, Barry. I’ll just have to check out the recording options as we may get into copyright issues etc.

Phil.

[aileenmccarthy]

This sounds brilliant! Survey is done.

Aileen

[casso]

Cool look forward to these, thank you Phil and John
Casso

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