John Nassoori

Write sport psychology stories for @BBCSport @Guardian & others. Better on Substack than Twitter (link to my newsletter below) 👇

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Articles

Inside the NBA's mental health & performance program

Jan 22, 2025 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

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inside the National Women's Soccer League mental health setup

Nov 22, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

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Does sport psychology have an access and inclusion problem?

Oct 23, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

Psychologists fighting for fair pay. ‘Fake psychs’ exploiting the lack of regulation governing sport psychology in the UK (and elsewhere). The exorbitant cost of training to become a sport psychologist. The issues facing the sport psychology profession are well documented (we’ve covered a whole host of them on The Mind Room over the last couple of years), but they deserve continued scrutiny.
Why are we failing to provide the right psychological support for young athletes?

Sep 29, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

“An athlete comes into an academy and we tell them what to do, and it's very difficult then to give them the self-responsibility or the self-reflection to figure out 'Hey, do you even know what you're doing? Does this work for you? Or are you just following instructions the entire day like a machine?’”German national team psychologist Julia Eyre, speaking to Jonathan Harding, September 2024The last line of Julia Eyre’s quote has followed me around for days.
'Athletes don't have to be super competitive, super ruthless and win at all costs'

Sep 1, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

In our last newsletter, Jonathan Harding wrote about a new study examining the link between personality and performance, focusing specifically on how the ‘Dark Triad’ of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy impacts sporting relationships.
Sport and the 'Dark Triad': how does personality actually affect performance?

Aug 25, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

From the brilliance of Simone Biles to the stamina of Alex Yee and the incredible longevity of Mijain Lopez, the Olympics in Paris delivered many memorable moments. One of the most startling moments came, for those watching on television, in between the events, though.
Dan Abrahams on Feyenoord, Arne Slot and how 'shared mental models' stand up to 70,000 fans (Part 1) on Apple Podcasts

Aug 8, 2024 | podcasts.apple.com | John Nassoori

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit themindroom.substack.comYou’re 2-1 down to your arch rivals in a game that might decide who wins the league. You’ve played as though you’re chasing only your second title in 25 years: the nerves are palpable. You have 45 minutes to put things right. The stakes don’t get much higher than Feyenoord’s match against Ajax in March 2023. The game at the Amsterdam Arena setup the pos…
Karl Marius Aksum on transferring psychology theory from the classroom to the pitch

Aug 2, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

How do you convince an ageing centre back to swap the security of a low block for a high press that might make Ange Postecoglou blush? Karl Marius Aksum may have the answer. The Mjallby assistant coach, who is part of a backroom team that has helped the Swedish club to the highest position in its 85-year history, was refreshingly honest in an explanation which exemplifies how he’s taken his doctorate knowledge onto the training ground. “It's by using video clips in a manipulative way,” he jokes.
Racism in football: progress or platitudes?

Jul 18, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

The Euros are over and football's summer transfer window is open, which means headlines about ‘Berlin Fall’, 'Kane's Pain', and 'insert England player and overused literary device of choice' are about to replaced by 'done deals', baseless speculation about Ligue 1 teenagers and (still) columns by Harry Redknapp. It's reporting The Mind Room typically shuns with the type of cold shoulder Cristiano Ronaldo reserves for teammates who have just missed crucial penalty kicks.
Why are teams still failing to mentally prepare for penalties?

Jul 4, 2024 | themindroom.substack.com | John Nassoori

You’re the manager of a national football team that has lost its last three penalty shootouts. You’re about to enter the knockout stages of a tournament where roughly 1 in 4 of the remaining games will be decided after the end of extra time. You’re up against sides who have armed their penalty taker ‘protectors’ with academic research on tactics employed by nightclub bouncers. You continue to insist that shootouts are a lottery which you can’t train for.

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John Nassoori @johnnassoori

19 Apr 25

RT @GeirJordet: Can you observe, interpret and quantify psychology on the pitch, in football games? @yiaman and I think so, and these pas…

John Nassoori @johnnassoori

6 Feb 25

RT @blzzrd: Our latest issue, issue 55, edited by @jonawils, is out now in print and digital, full of brilliant football writing from @Nath…

John Nassoori @johnnassoori

31 Jan 25

Inside the 'how to win' framework which helped power England, Harlequins and Tom Daley to success Loved speaking to @DrKateHays about her new book - check out our convo here: https://t.co/q6bBIrf1G6 https://t.co/SoZ1ljfmlr

John Nassoori

Articles

Inside the NBA's mental health & performance program

inside the National Women's Soccer League mental health setup

Does sport psychology have an access and inclusion problem?

Why are we failing to provide the right psychological support for young athletes?

'Athletes don't have to be super competitive, super ruthless and win at all costs'

Sport and the 'Dark Triad': how does personality actually affect performance?

Dan Abrahams on Feyenoord, Arne Slot and how 'shared mental models' stand up to 70,000 fans (Part 1) on Apple Podcasts

Karl Marius Aksum on transferring psychology theory from the classroom to the pitch

Racism in football: progress or platitudes?

Why are teams still failing to mentally prepare for penalties?

Contact details

Emails

Socials & Sites

X (formerly Twitter)