Biography
Dr John Mathers was born in St Andrews, Scotland and developed a keen interest in physical activity and performance sport from an early age. He provides sport psychology services to athletes from a wide range of sports including golf, tennis, and football and supports those who compete on professional sports tours and in major championships. He provides sports psychology consultancy services to a number of National Governing Bodies of Sport in Scotland, the UK and in Europe. John participates in a number of different racquet sports, is a regular gym user and competes in elite amateur golf events.
Qualifications and memberships
BEd (Hons) Physical Education and Human Movement (1983-1987)
This course provided a background to human movement, the acquisition of motor skills and the teaching strategies that best allow learners to develop life-long physical and emotional well-being.
MEd Physical Education and Exercise (1987-1990)
This post graduate course centred on physical activity, skill development and the psychological strategies that encourage behaviour change such as adherence to exercise.
MSc Sports Coaching (1993-1996)
Accredited Sport Psychologist, British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) (1997- present)
PhD Psychology (2000-2006)
Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist, British Psychological Society (BPS) (2010 - present)
Registered Practitioner with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (2012 – present)
This course centred on the development of more experienced performers and focused on the processes and features that allow athletes to compete successully in competition.
BASES accreditation was awarded in 1997 following a three-year period of supervised experience. Accreditation status provides a quality assurance standard for consultancy work with National Governing Bodies of Sport.
This doctoral work explored the ways in which elite athletes deliver skilled performance during conditions of stress. It uncovered insights to the resilience shown by elite performers when experiencing both internal and external challenges.
BPS Chartered Status is awarded to those who meet the BPS’ standards for applied practice and who work within the Society’s four primary ethical principles of respect, competence, responsibility and integrity.
The Health and Care Professions Council protect the public by setting standards of conduct, performance, proficiency and continuing professional development for all those working in professions with protected titles such as paramedics, dieticians and practitioner psychologists.
Click on the video below for an insight to a day in the life of a Sport Psychologist
Relevant publications and resources
Tennis
Golf
Mathers, J.F. (2017). Professional Tennis on the ATP Tour: A case study of Mental Skills Support. Sport Psychologist, 31(2), 187-198.
Mathers, J.F. & Grealy, M. A. (2016). The Effects of Increased Body Temperature on Motor Control during Golf Putting. Frontiers in Psychology, 7.
Mathers, J.F. & Grealy, M. A. (2014). Motor control strategies and the effects of fatigue on golf putting performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 4.
Football
Mathers, J.F. & Brodie, K. (2011). Elite Refereeing in Professional Soccer: A Case Study of Mental Skills Support, Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 2 (3), pp. 171-182.
BPS Code of Ethics
The British Psychological Society sets precise forms of ethics, conduct and behaviour around principles of respect, competence, responsibility and integrity which its members are expected to follow.