England’s Lionesses go into their game against Colombia facing two challenges – overcoming their lacklustre performance against Nigeria and playing without their red-carded forward Lauren James. Both are tough for the team’s confidence. Step forward Dr Kate Hays, head of women’s psychology at the FA. Hays specialises in elite athlete self-confidence, having worked with Olympic Champion Tom Daley, Harlequins RFC and as Head of Psychology at the English Institute of Sport.
She has created what she calls a “how to win” culture, working one-to-one on motivation, giving players tools to focus – especially at stressful moments like penalty shootouts – and creating team cohesion from pre-match preparations to the style of play.
The results have been impressive. She joined the FA in October 2021, a month after Lioness manager Sarina Wiegman. The following year the team won the Euros, beating Germany in extra time – the first silverware for an England team since 1966. The penalties win against Nigeria was the first time the women’s team had won a shoot-out at a major tournament. That means the women’s team have one tournament cup and have won 30 per cent of their shootouts – both achieved under Hays and Wiegman – which brings them level on both counts with the men’s team. And, the Women’s World Cup only started in 1991.
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