Sport psychologist George Shirling's sympathetic but no-nonsense perspective exposes the absurdity of the many myths that are clamped with the tenacity of barnacles to modern sport. The author scrutinizes the vulnerability of the innate adventurous spirit that drives sports' participants.
He examines the damaging approach of unimaginative coaching, the barrage of 'experts', stubborn governance, the growing confusion about drugs in sport, the commercial realities and limitations of professional sport, and much, much more.
The book is introduced by Rod Macqueen AM, former Australian 'Wallabies' coach, and the author is introduced by one of Australia's most respected sports journalists, Jim Webster OAM.
The extraordinary photographs in the book are by Tim Clayton.
Rod Macqueen: "It is my sincere hope that from this book, other coaches, as well as players, and those who administer sport, will gain as much inspiration as I have experienced with the author"
Jim Webster: "Readers will not agree with every assessment made in this book, but you will be left thinking deeply about how cluttered or restrictive your own approaches may be. And what may even be more useful, you will be tempted to take into account how your own beliefs and attitudes were formed"
Philip Derriman (Sports writer): "George Shirling has come up with some surprising approaches to the oldest problem in sport... how to get players performing at their best"
Peter FitzSimons (Sports journalist, broadcaster and author): "George used to work on my head as a sport psychologist. Need I say more?"
