From the pitch to the feed: How coaches help players thrive under pressure (infographic)
Performance anxiety and social media scrutiny are reshaping the lives of sports players. The Alberton Rugby Club’s strength and conditioning coach, Derek Harwood, shares his practical blueprint for keeping players mentally strong, grounded, and game-ready.
Sport has always demanded the best from people. But today’s players face pressures that did not exist a generation ago – not just from coaches, parents, and selectors, but from the relentless scrutiny of social media.
A poor performance no longer stays on the pitch. It can be replayed, commented on, and shared before the final whistle blows. “As a strength and conditioning coach, I work with the physical side of player development every day”, said coach Derek Harwood.
Description: Coach Derek Harwood on player wellbeing in the social media age.
Photo: Sylvester Raraza
“But you cannot separate the body from the mind. A player drowning in anxiety or distracted by their online profile will never perform to their potential – no matter how fit they are.
“Over the years, I adopted a 10-point approach to protecting and supporting player wellbeing in this high-pressure environment,” said Harwood.
