Hello!

Hello all!


My name is Eoghan McNeill and I am the co founder of the SPS podcast and blog. A short biography is always useful to give you an understanding of who we are, what we do and what we're trying to achieve here at the Sport Psych Sesh. I'm from County Clare in Ireland and have have always had a keen interest in performance psychology.

In 2014, I completed an undergrad degree in Psychology and English at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. My undergrad research focused on how mental framing (the regulatory fit model) could improve putting performance in club level golfers. Golfers were primed to frame putts as 'must make' or 'can't miss' as part of the study. This research was supervised by Dr. Deirdre Ryan in MIC.

Following the completion of my undergrad I moved North to study a MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology at  Ulster University Jordanstown. My MSc research project examined the role of the caddy in facilitating the golfer's psychological performance. I interviewed a number of professional golfers in a series of semi-structured interviews to determine the processes used by caddies that golfers found most beneficial to facilitating their psychological performance. This research was supervised by Dr. Mary Margaret Meade.

In October 2015 I was lucky enough to begin a PhD supervised by Dr. Tadhg MacIntyre and Dr. Drew Harrison in the PESS department in the University of Limerick. My PhD studies focus on a Motor Cognition/Meta Cognition approach to Pre Performance Routines in Elite Golfers and Elite Rugby place kickers. Ultimately, because of the self paced or closed nature of these tasks we hope to expand the research into determining how/if PPR could help Stroke patients in their rehab process to regain motor control in their extremities.

It was through UL that I was lucky enough to meet Brett and together we thought it would be worthwhile to create a platform for people to discuss Sport Psychology in a fun, accessible and worthwhile manner. I look forward to seeing where we can take it and am excited by the array of talent that we have lined up to guest on and contribute to both the blog and the podcast. This project is in its infantile stages and I hope you continue to read and interact with it as it continues to grow.

Thanks for reading,

Eoghan

Twitter ; @EoghanMcNeill