TOM SCORES ROLE AS SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST AT MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL ACADEMY

We love keeping in touch with our former students and were thrilled to hear that Tom Short has been appointed as Sports Psychologist at Middlesbrough Football Academy.

As the Academy’s psychologist, Tom is responsible for over 150 children and young men from the age of 9 to 22. The role requires him to develop individual psychological programmes by profiling their performance-based psychological needs and devising individual-based programmes to aid performance.  He develops team-based programmes for all the age groups, incorporating the core values of the academy. Tom also works closely with the young people’s parents by devising and delivering parental workshops, which support both the parent and the young person during their academy journey.

Tom said: “My role as Sport Psychologist means that I’m responsible for the mental performance of the players and staff through the Academy system. This involves working with the coaches, to develop and implement psychological practices on- and off-the-pitch, as well as working with the players directly to build a high-performance mindset, ensuring they are in the best position they can be in to thrive and become the best players they can be.

“The professional football environment has been challenging to get to pace with, but a challenge that I have thrived on and will continue to do so while surrounded by people who want to become the best they can. Being responsible for over 150 players has tested all of the knowledge that I have learnt so far but I continue to learn and develop on the job, with each day being different from the last.

Barry Dawson, Head of Education/Welfare DSO at Middlesbrough Football Club, said: “Tom is enthusiastic, passionate about people, hardworking and has a continuous improving mentality to drive the academy psychology provision forward.”

Well done Tom, this is fantastic news.