Inside the Mind of an Elite Sports Psychologist | Jacqui Louder (Collingwood & Melbourne Storm)
In this episode of Mindclickers, I’m joined by Jacqui Louder, one of Australia’s most respected sport and performance psychologists, currently working with Collingwood Football Club (AFL) and Melbourne Storm (NRL). With decades of experience in elite sports, Jacqui brings deep insight into the mental side of performance, behaviour change, team culture, and athlete identity.
We explore what it’s like to support players at the highest level, how to deal with setbacks, ego, pressure from social media, and the psychology behind building winning teams. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, or simply passionate about performance, this episode is packed with takeaways.
🗂️ Topics Covered
0:00 Intro
1:10 Jacqui's introduction to high performance
6:00 First experiences supporting athletes with no prior psych help
8:22 Multidisciplinary team involvement
9:20 Resistance to psychological support and behaviour change
11:20 Team connection in traditional sports
13:00 Team vs individualised performance plans
14:30 Dealing with personal losses in sport
17:00 Expectations and being results-focused
18:30 Overcoming underdog mindset
20:20 Performance mindset: can’t lose what you don’t have
21:00 Staying present in the moment
23:00 Placebos and belief systems in performance
25:40 Performing in front of crowds
27:00 Controlling the controllables
28:45 Navigating social media as a professional athlete
32:00 Managing ego in elite environments
32:45 Identity challenges around injury and retirement
34:30 Separating professional from personal identity
36:00 Team culture and personality trait dynamics
39:00 Two-way communication and growth
41:00 Avoiding the "yeah but" mindset
42:00 Receiving compliments with purpose
43:20 Feedback styles and effectiveness
45:30 Promoting athlete self-assessment
47:00 “What did I do wrong? Nothing.”
47:40 Timeout strategies during performance
49:00 The five types of 1-minute breaks
52:00 Recognising and preventing burnout
53:50 “Manage your moments, or they’ll manage you.”
55:00 Advice for the next generation of athletes
58:00 “Delayed doesn’t mean denied.”
🔗 Jacqui Louder Socials
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-louder-74680a4a/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquilouder/?hl=en
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