The secret of champions lies in their minds

“We are coaches. We only become ‘mental’ coaches in sport,” says Sonja Caramagno. She is the president of ICF Italia, the national chapter of the world’s largest association of coaches. “Coaching originated in the world of sport. It was then brought into the corporate sphere to harness the potential of individuals, leaders and teams in tackling challenges and change.” The additional adjective is not insignificant: “The human side of athletes used to be the sole preserve of their coaches and trainers. They were the all-round coaches. Today, we’re here too, providing additional specialist support.” Awareness of the importance of the mental aspect has necessitated professionalisation in this field. “Not least because coaches are now the ones who have to cope with the most pressure and, consequently, the first to need support.”

Physical, technical and tactical training may not be enough. The number of athletes who not only turn to this professional but also publicly acknowledge their value is constantly increasing. “Interest has grown exponentially over the last 15 to 20 years.” Federica Pellegrini has often highlighted the need to seek help without feeling ashamed. Marcel Jacobs cited Nicoletta Romanazzi as one of the key figures behind his victory in the 100-metre race in Tokyo. But a mental coach isn’t just there to help you win Olympic gold. They provide support to manage every stage of any career, not just to overcome a difficult spell. According to the most recent accounts, midfielder Stefano Sensi, now playing in Bulgaria, confided to La Gazzetta dello Sport that he regrets not having sought the help of such a professional sooner, having struggled to cope on his own with the string of injuries that have hampered his career. Alessandro Romano, a 20-year-old who is making a name for himself at Cagliari, told Transfermarkt last January that he had been working with a mental coach for years.

“A footballer, like any athlete in a team sport, has to contend with two dimensions: the individual and the collective. As well as developing their own ability to overcome mistakes and cope with pressure, they must offer constant support to their teammates,” explains Caramagno. “When working with youth teams, it often becomes apparent how a poor performance can be influenced by the body language of the captain, the recognised leader. If he shows he doesn’t believe in a comeback, there’s a risk that no one else will either.” For this reason, clubs set up ad hoc partnerships. A professional is made available to the group, but the individual can still choose a personal path: “Having two sources of support isn’t a problem; the important thing is that the person who works with you one-to-one is different from the one who supports you within the team.”

Learning that there are limits. “Coaching is not psychotherapy or psychology; it does not make diagnoses or treat disorders. This is a golden rule: the coach is a partner who seeks to guide the athlete’s actions, development and direction. It is a reflective and creative process.”

Some lucky few may have the solution at their fingertips: “A positive example is Julio Velasco; the impression is that he knows how to create environments where, when a mistake needs rectifying, there is complete trust amongst everyone.” Before reaching Velasco’s level, however, there is a risk of getting lost: “There are no standard formulas. Two athletes may have the same problem caused by opposite factors. Some are afraid to take the leap to the next level because they lack belief in their own abilities, whilst others are simply not mentally prepared to reorganise their lives to meet the required standard. Sinner says he’s happy to give up three extra minutes on the phone so as not to disrupt his sleep. Not everyone is willing to do that.”

Bernardo Cianfrocca