The Team Behind the Team – Kylie Wilson
July 18, 2015
The response to our first instalment of Team Behind the Team was so positive, we decided we couldn’t wait until next Tuesday – so here’s another!
This time, silverferns.co.nz caught up with the Mental Skills Lead, Kylie Wilson.
Are you a SilverFan? Want special offers, exclusive access to the team, the latest news and much more! Join the team and become a SilverFan today!
SF: What’s the most enjoyable part of working with one of the world’s top sports teams?
Kylie: When you are working at the elite level, the athletes bring so much to the relationship that it really is a collaboration of their and my expertise. The management, team and athletes challenge me and my thinking which is healthy, and motivates me to be better every day at what I do.
SF: How did you come to be the Silver Ferns Mental Skills Lead?
Kylie: My first Netball role was supporting the NZU21 team in their preparation for World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow, in which they won gold. In 2012 I joined the Silver Ferns support team.
I studied a Bachelor of Physical Education at Otago University in the late 1990’s, focusing on sport psychology. I then went to the UK to complete a part-time PhD in Sport Psychology, which was funded by the British Gymnastics Association, who I worked for part-time supporting their Olympic gymnasts in a mental skills role. A six year stint lecturing in sport psychology followed before taking up the role of Mental Skills Consultant at High Performance Sport NZ.
SF: How do you see your role with the team?
Kylie: My role has evolved over the four year cycle with the Silver Ferns but in the past 12 months in particular I’ve been focusing on executing all processes linked to optimising performance, both at individual unit and team level.
SF: Do other sports utilise sport psychologists/mental skills coaches?
Kylie: The majority of high performance teams in NZ either have a dedicated psychologist/mental skills coach or have access to this expertise. In the past, this area of support may have been utilised in more of an illness/dysfunction model, But now, psychology is viewed as an area of performance enhancement, with the opportunity to provide support for athletes experiencing dysfunction if required.
SF: How important is the mental game on court?
Kylie: It’s extremely important as it is those players who are able to execute skills/game sense under pressure, maintain their focus and reset effectively when their focus has been disrupted, that are the ones who perform to their potential.
Fans have the opportunity to support the Silver Ferns on the road to NWC2015 with the New World Netball Series for the Taini Jamison Trophy later this month, when they face Fiji and South Africa.
A special presentation to the team will take place at the conclusion of the final Test Match against the SPAR Proteas on Tuesday 28 July at The Trusts Arena, Auckland. Make sure you secure your seat to farewell the Silver Ferns
This time, silverferns.co.nz caught up with the Mental Skills Lead, Kylie Wilson.
Are you a SilverFan? Want special offers, exclusive access to the team, the latest news and much more! Join the team and become a SilverFan today!
SF: What’s the most enjoyable part of working with one of the world’s top sports teams?
Kylie: When you are working at the elite level, the athletes bring so much to the relationship that it really is a collaboration of their and my expertise. The management, team and athletes challenge me and my thinking which is healthy, and motivates me to be better every day at what I do.
SF: How did you come to be the Silver Ferns Mental Skills Lead?
Kylie: My first Netball role was supporting the NZU21 team in their preparation for World Youth Netball Championships in Glasgow, in which they won gold. In 2012 I joined the Silver Ferns support team.
I studied a Bachelor of Physical Education at Otago University in the late 1990’s, focusing on sport psychology. I then went to the UK to complete a part-time PhD in Sport Psychology, which was funded by the British Gymnastics Association, who I worked for part-time supporting their Olympic gymnasts in a mental skills role. A six year stint lecturing in sport psychology followed before taking up the role of Mental Skills Consultant at High Performance Sport NZ.
SF: How do you see your role with the team?
Kylie: My role has evolved over the four year cycle with the Silver Ferns but in the past 12 months in particular I’ve been focusing on executing all processes linked to optimising performance, both at individual unit and team level.
SF: Do other sports utilise sport psychologists/mental skills coaches?
Kylie: The majority of high performance teams in NZ either have a dedicated psychologist/mental skills coach or have access to this expertise. In the past, this area of support may have been utilised in more of an illness/dysfunction model, But now, psychology is viewed as an area of performance enhancement, with the opportunity to provide support for athletes experiencing dysfunction if required.
SF: How important is the mental game on court?
Kylie: It’s extremely important as it is those players who are able to execute skills/game sense under pressure, maintain their focus and reset effectively when their focus has been disrupted, that are the ones who perform to their potential.
Fans have the opportunity to support the Silver Ferns on the road to NWC2015 with the New World Netball Series for the Taini Jamison Trophy later this month, when they face Fiji and South Africa.
A special presentation to the team will take place at the conclusion of the final Test Match against the SPAR Proteas on Tuesday 28 July at The Trusts Arena, Auckland. Make sure you secure your seat to farewell the Silver Ferns