Player Perspectives

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PLAYER PERSPECTIVES

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Alex Cairns

First-team goalkeeper, Leeds Utd

"It can be a lonely place, sometimes being in your own head a little bit and not knowing what is right and what is wrong. When things aren’t going so well, you always need something to fall back on and I think them habits and being consistent, helps you mentally get through things a lot easier."
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JOE SNOWDON

Academy scholar, Leeds Utd

"It is important to have something away from football if we need to get stuff off our chests. If it can make us stress free, we can focus on our performance rather than stressing on little things that might affect it. It is brilliant speaking to those that have been in our shoes and know what it feels like."

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Jovanni Sterling

Former Leeds Utd academy scholar & Performance Habits Coach

"A programme like this supporting the players coming through is a great initiative because it is a way for the lads to keep themselves accountable, check in with themselves and focus on their habits and routines. It is a way for them to maximise their performances and their day-to-day lives, to become aware of what is working for them and what is not."

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GRAEME LAW

Ex-Professional footballer, Performance Habits Coach & Lead Researcher

"Good habits are so important as a player. When I first moved to Dundee from York, it was my first time away from home and being new into a changing room. I got into some bad habits quickly, like sleeping after training as I didn’t have local friends and I didn’t know any of the lads socially. I then started to struggle to sleep on a night, meaning I was tired at training and this impacted on how I was performing. I decided I needed to create a good social environment after training, so I played golf a few times a week with some of the other players, and people I had met outside of football, which led to a better social group and a better sleeping routine. This small change massively contributed to me performing better in training and matches."