Pressure

DAILY MAIL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR FOREWORD BY ARSÈNE WENGER 'The definitive guide on how not to choke on penalties.' The Daily Mail ' One of the world's preeminent minds on one of sport's most pressurised dramas'. The Independent 'I hope that this book will find its way into the hands of anyone, players or managers, who might have to take part in the inevitable penalty shootouts, watched by more than a billion people, that will bring synapse-stunning excitement to this year's European Championships.' Roger Alton, The Times 'A gripping, surprising and deeply humane look at one of the most intense pieces of drama on earth.' James Graham, author of Dear England Includes exclusive interviews with Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Robert Lewandowski and other Premier League players 'I can score penalties in my sleep, so why not that one?' Marcus Rashford, Euros 2021 The penalty shootout is the most intense drama in sport. The anxious wait, the building dread, the lonely, heavy-legged walk towards the penalty spot. One kick while the world holds its breath. Even football's most casual observers cannot escape the nerve-wracking suspense. What happens to a footballer's brain and body in these heart-pounding moments of pressure? Why do some thrive while others choke? In this ground-breaking book, sport psychology Professor Geir Jordet dissects each agonising element of the shootout's duel and the universal human stress mechanisms that it triggers and illuminates. Drawing on two decades of studying the atomic nuances of performance under pressure, Jordet's vivid case studies take you behind the scenes of football's most nail-biting moments. He interviews superstars and shares stories from his work with top teams and some of the world's best players. In the penalty shootout, as in life, it is often the tiny, seemingly invisible decisions that impact success and failure. After reading this book, you will have fresh insights and a newly acquired understanding of those dreaded moments when the pressure builds - how to handle them.

DAILY MAIL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR FOREWORD BY ARSÈNE WENGER 'The definitive guide on how not to choke on penalties.' The Daily Mail ' One of the world's preeminent minds on one of sport's most pressurised dramas'. The Independent 'I hope that this book will find its way into the hands of anyone, players or managers, who might have to take part in the inevitable penalty shootouts, watched by more than a billion people, that will bring synapse-stunning excitement to this year's European Championships.' Roger Alton, The Times 'A gripping, surprising and deeply humane look at one of the most intense pieces of drama on earth.' James Graham, author of Dear England Includes exclusive interviews with Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Robert Lewandowski and other Premier League players 'I can score penalties in my sleep, so why not that one?' Marcus Rashford, Euros 2021 The penalty shootout is the most intense drama in sport. The anxious wait, the building dread, the lonely, heavy-legged walk towards the penalty spot. One kick while the world holds its breath. Even football's most casual observers cannot escape the nerve-wracking suspense. What happens to a footballer's brain and body in these heart-pounding moments of pressure? Why do some thrive while others choke? In this ground-breaking book, sport psychology Professor Geir Jordet dissects each agonising element of the shootout's duel and the universal human stress mechanisms that it triggers and illuminates. Drawing on two decades of studying the atomic nuances of performance under pressure, Jordet's vivid case studies take you behind the scenes of football's most nail-biting moments. He interviews superstars and shares stories from his work with top teams and some of the world's best players. In the penalty shootout, as in life, it is often the tiny, seemingly invisible decisions that impact success and failure. After reading this book, you will have fresh insights and a newly acquired understanding of those dreaded moments when the pressure builds - how to handle them.

"Marvelously creepy reading...the horror in this tale of twisted friendship is relentless." -Publishers Weekly Alex stared at the red pocketknife shown to him by his daughter. A pocketknife owned by somebody he hadn't seen in years... CHILDREN They met first in boarding school at age twelve. Alex Fletcher, shy and scared. Darren Rust, always furiously scribbling away in a private journal. It was not an immediate friendship, but then one night Darren convinced his roommate to sneak off school grounds to see something glorious. There was a sleazy strip club, you see, and every once in a while the back door opened just long enough to maybe catch a quick glimpse... Though a bond was formed from their pre-pubescent interest in naked women, Darren had another interest. A morbid curiosity about death. A curiosity that turned into something much more sinister. FRIENDS They crossed paths again in college and became the best of friends. But Darren wasn't just looking for a friend. He had dark, ghastly urges squirming around in his head, and he believed he saw the same things-the urge to hurt, the urge to kill-in Alex. He was looking for somebody who understood. A partner. But Alex could never become a monster. Not even when Darren tried to bring out his friend's most deeply buried feelings of rage. Not even when Darren tried to show him the euphoria of having that much power over another human being. It just couldn't happen...right? ENEMIES Now Alex has a wife and a daughter. And Darren is back. He's hiding. He's patient. His mind is twisted in the worst possible way. And he's seeking a soulmate.

'I felt I was stepping off the edge of the world into silence' Chris Waddle A penalty shoot-out is the ultimate stress test. So much hangs on that 90-second ordeal. In this gripping book, psychologist Professor Geir Jordet reveals the elaborate psychological elements of a penalty shootout, and the universal human stress mechanisms that it illuminates. What happens to players' brains and bodies under severe pressure? Why do some thrive while others choke? How can they turn a seemingly uncontrollable outcome into one that is positive and more predictable? Drawing on two decades of studying the atomic nuances of performance under pressure, Jordet shares fascinatingly detailed case studies and stories from working with top national teams, as well as the surprising techniques he has devised to enable players to succeed. This is a book for anyone who has been fascinated by a World Cup penalty shoot-out, or simply fallen apart during an important conversation.

'I felt I was stepping off the edge of the world into silence' Chris Waddle A penalty shoot-out is the ultimate stress test. So much hangs on that 90-second ordeal. In this gripping book, psychologist Professor Geir Jordet reveals the elaborate psychological elements of a penalty shootout, and the universal human stress mechanisms that it illuminates. What happens to players' brains and bodies under severe pressure? Why do some thrive while others choke? How can they turn a seemingly uncontrollable outcome into one that is positive and more predictable? Drawing on two decades of studying the atomic nuances of performance under pressure, Jordet shares fascinatingly detailed case studies and stories from working with top national teams, as well as the surprising techniques he has devised to enable players to succeed. This is a book for anyone who has been fascinated by a World Cup penalty shoot-out, or simply fallen apart during an important conversation.

DAILY MAIL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR FOREWORD BY ARSÈNE WENGER 'The definitive guide on how not to choke on penalties.' The Daily Mail ' One of the world's preeminent minds on one of sport's most pressurised dramas'. The Independent 'I hope that this book will find its way into the hands of anyone, players or managers, who might have to take part in the inevitable penalty shootouts, watched by more than a billion people, that will bring synapse-stunning excitement to this year's European Championships.' Roger Alton, The Times 'A gripping, surprising and deeply humane look at one of the most intense pieces of drama on earth.' James Graham, author of Dear England Includes exclusive interviews with Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Robert Lewandowski and other Premier League players 'I can score penalties in my sleep, so why not that one?' Marcus Rashford, Euros 2021 The penalty shootout is the most intense drama in sport. The anxious wait, the building dread, the lonely, heavy-legged walk towards the penalty spot. One kick while the world holds its breath. Even football's most casual observers cannot escape the nerve-wracking suspense. What happens to a footballer's brain and body in these heart-pounding moments of pressure? Why do some thrive while others choke? In this ground-breaking book, sport psychology Professor Geir Jordet dissects each agonising element of the shootout's duel and the universal human stress mechanisms that it triggers and illuminates. Drawing on two decades of studying the atomic nuances of performance under pressure, Jordet's vivid case studies take you behind the scenes of football's most nail-biting moments. He interviews superstars and shares stories from his work with top teams and some of the world's best players. In the penalty shootout, as in life, it is often the tiny, seemingly invisible decisions that impact success and failure. After reading this book, you will have fresh insights and a newly acquired understanding of those dreaded moments when the pressure builds - how to handle them.

DAILY MAIL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR FOREWORD BY ARSÈNE WENGER 'The definitive guide on how not to choke on penalties.' The Daily Mail ' One of the world's preeminent minds on one of sport's most pressurised dramas'. The Independent 'I hope that this book will find its way into the hands of anyone, players or managers, who might have to take part in the inevitable penalty shootouts, watched by more than a billion people, that will bring synapse-stunning excitement to this year's European Championships.' Roger Alton, The Times 'A gripping, surprising and deeply humane look at one of the most intense pieces of drama on earth.' James Graham, author of Dear England Includes exclusive interviews with Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Robert Lewandowski and other Premier League players 'I can score penalties in my sleep, so why not that one?' Marcus Rashford, Euros 2021 The penalty shootout is the most intense drama in sport. The anxious wait, the building dread, the lonely, heavy-legged walk towards the penalty spot. One kick while the world holds its breath. Even football's most casual observers cannot escape the nerve-wracking suspense. What happens to a footballer's brain and body in these heart-pounding moments of pressure? Why do some thrive while others choke? In this ground-breaking book, sport psychology Professor Geir Jordet dissects each agonising element of the shootout's duel and the universal human stress mechanisms that it triggers and illuminates. Drawing on two decades of studying the atomic nuances of performance under pressure, Jordet's vivid case studies take you behind the scenes of football's most nail-biting moments. He interviews superstars and shares stories from his work with top teams and some of the world's best players. In the penalty shootout, as in life, it is often the tiny, seemingly invisible decisions that impact success and failure. After reading this book, you will have fresh insights and a newly acquired understanding of those dreaded moments when the pressure builds - how to handle them.