Dr Michael Martin

So who is Dr Michael Martin?

I've been coaching the mental game most of my working life.  Helping committed performers take the next step didn't come as an academic calling, but out of being a frustrated coach.  In the eighties I was the NSW Surfing Coach and I could see my athletes weren’t performing to their potential because of the pressure of competition.  I started out looking for ways to help them win the mental game and it went from there.  In the past 20 years I've had some great success stories - World record-holders; World Champions; Olympic Gold Medalists.  But it didn't start out very easily for me.

When I started working with athletes over 20 years ago I was on a steep learning curve.  I had read the books and done the study, but I didn’t get the big picture of how high performance thinking really worked.  It took me a long time to learn exactly what I needed to do and how I needed to do it.  The upside of my long learning curve is that I learned from the ground up, from real performers, exactly what worked day-in-day-out and what was just theory.  It emphasised to me that everything I do has to be very practical.

When I finally cracked the high performance thinking code I realized that it wasn't really all that hard after all.  I've always tried to stick to one key principle: emphasise practical strategies and tactics that people can actually use to stay focused and positive. I also do my best to practice what I preach.  My goal is to show you how you can do that, so you can consistently perform to the best of your ability.

I'm always working to stretch the limits of my knowledge and abilities.  For instance, I still read sport, psychology and motivational books voraciously.  I give talks on continuous high performance to several sport and professional groups each year.  I like to share my knowledge, and I make it a practice to give away whatever I can.

One of my key values is “continuous personal best performance” (vs. winning) in sport.  Everyone wants to win.  That's why you are a committed performer.  But as your performance levels progress, you might have found that it was a struggle.  When you turn your attention to personal best performance, then competing becomes easier. You don't have to focus on winning your events, but delivering your very best effort. It's a big shift in perception.

What if you could be a great performer?  What if you could double, triple or quintuple your competitive successes in only a few short years?  I've done it with committed performers who learned that success depends not only on their ability to focus and stay positive under pressure, but to break through self-imposed limitations.  There's no reason you can't do the same.  I hope I can help you do so.

Dr Michael Martin is the former Head of Performance Psychology at the Australian Institute of Sport.  He is also the former Head of Sport Psychology at New South Wales Institute of Sport.  He has worked with Olympic teams, Paralympic teams, World Champions, World Record Holders and Olympic Medallists from over 40 different sports.

His client list is extensive, including the following teams and clubs:

Penrith Panthers RLFC
Parramatta RLFC
Sydney City RLFC
Wests Tigers RLFC
Sydney Swans AFLC
Australian Junior Baksetball Team - Men’s & Womens
Australian Sprint Canoe Team
Australian U/21 Cricket Team - Men’s
Australian Diving Team
Matildas - Australian Womens Soccer Team
Hockeyroos - Australian Men’s Hockey Team
Australian Paraylmpic Alpine Program
AFL Academy
Australian Beach Volleyball - Men & Women
Australian Canoe Slalom Team
Australian Track Cycling Team
Australian U/21 Mens Soccer Team
Australian U/21 Netball Team
Australian Paralympic Swimming Team
Australian Triathlon Team
Australian Institute of Sport Rugby League Program
Australian Sailing Team
Australian Water Polo Team - Womens
Australian Institute of Sport Tennis Program
Australian Winter Sports Program
Australian Institute of Sport Mens Artistic Gymnastics Program
Athletics Australia
Australian Skydiving Team
Wallabies - Australian RU
NSW Institue of Sport Basketball Program
NSW Lawn Bowls Team
NSW Canoe Slalom Team
NSW Sprint Canoe team
NSW Institute of Sport Track, Mountain Bike and Road Cycling Team
NSW Institute of Sport Diving Program
NSW Institute of Sport Equestrian Program
NSW Institute of Sport  Golf Program
NSW Institute of Sport Hockey Program - Mens & Women
NSW Institute of Sport Mens Artistic Gymnastics Program
NSW Institute of Sport Netball Program
NSW Institute of Sport Rowing Program
NSW Institute of Sport Sailing Program
NSW Institute of Sport Soccer Program - Mens & Womens
NSW Institute of Sport Swimming Program
NSW Institute of Sport Tennis Program
NSW Institute of Sport Track & Field Program
NSW Institute of Sport Triathon Program
NSW Institute of Sport Water Polo Program - Mens & Womens
NSW Institute of Sport Weightlifting Program
NSW Institute of Sport Wheel Chair Track & Road Program
NSW Institute of Sport Winter Sports Program
AFL (NSW/ACT)
Archery Society of NSW Inc.
Athletics NSW
Australian Paralympic Committee
Australian University Sport Inc.
Blind Sporting Association of NSW
Boccia NSW
Confederation of Aust Motor Sport Ltd
Cricket NSW
Cycling NSW
Equestrian NSW
Football NSW Ltd
Golf NSW
Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation
Motorcycling NSW
NSW Basketball Association Ltd.
NSW Ice Skating Association Inc.
NSW Rowing Association Inc.
NSW Rugby League Ltd  
NSW Rugby Union Ltd
Riding for the Disabled Association (NSW)
Surfing NSW
Surf Life Saving NSW
Swimming New South Wales Limited
Yachting NSW