Understanding and support for whole team is key to success

Resilience, pressure and mental health for riders and their teams have been on the agenda

- LUCY ELDER

UNDERSTANDING and providing the support each person needs to feel and be their best is key to the success of a rider’s whole team.

The message came as part of the 2021 Aintree Grand Women’s Summit (9 April), with this year’s theme “Sport and Mental Health: a Powerful Relationship”.

Broadcaster Alice Fox-Pitt chaired the discussion, with tennis’s Judy Murray, top eventer Pippa Funnell, London 2012 taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones and physio Kate Davies, whose clients include top riders.

Building resilience, support and why these are important for the health and success of the team, were among the major points.

“We all learn more from our mistakes, defeats and disappointments than we do from our successes,” said Judy.

“It’s really important, whether you are a player, coach or parent, that you learn how to handle frustration, defeat and failure, because you’re never going to win every match you play, or race you run. We only learn by failing – you’ve either won or you’ve learnt.”

She said as a parent, or the person who manages an athlete, you “don’t have to be an expert on everything”, but you have to know enough to find experts at the right time – and knowing when to take a step back is equally important.