How to charge three batteries for the best performance

#THIS ARTICLE IN DUTCH is written by Emilie Maclaine Pont | translated by Liesbeth Wallien

((Top) atlethes are increasingly open about seeing sports psychologists, also for reasons of prevention. Nineteen years ago, sports psychologist Jan Sleijfer developed his professional vision when he came up with Three Batteries®-method. With this method he seeks to show athletes that body, heart and mind are one.

‘The method is based on a definition of psychology: a science concerned with human behaviour, thinking and feeling. Those three elements are inseparably linked’, Jan Sleijfer explains. ‘Like batteries, each of those three aspects – body, heart and mind – can be fully charged or empty. And the more you are running on empty, the greater the risk that as an athlete you won’t perform like you would or could perform.’

Sleijfer mentions a tough training as an example. ‘By definition, that takes a lot of energy out of our body battery. But perhaps you feel very satisfied afterwards, or the contact with your coach was really good during training, or your fellow athletes supported you. That fills your heart battery. If you were critical of your performance, your mind battery got depleted by the training.’

That doesn’t have to be a problem, according to Sleijfer. What’s more – you really have to recharge your batteries in between. ‘The good thing about sport is the physical fatigue, and then being ready for the next training or match after a period of recovery. And if you have overcome some mental issues, that feeling only gets better when you go out there again. Enjoying your batteries going flat and then recharging – that is what the Three Batteries®-method is all about.’

App as tool
Preventively, but also when they come across some issues, a sports psychologist can help (top) athletes to find their balance. NLsportpsycholoog, also set up by Sleijfer, is an online platform uniting academic (sports) psychologists. For EUR 499 a year they are trained and licensed to use the Three Batteries®-method. Via the platform they can take part in (online) peer supervision every six weeks, and can provide guidance to their clients using the Three Batteries®-method app that was launched in 2015.

‘That app is based on the three elements, and shows athletes how they are doing in each of those areas. After a baseline measurement – an extensive questionnaire – users just need a few minutes every day to register how they are doing in terms of body, heart and mind. At the back end of the app, their sports psychologists can monitor them and use their own tools where necessary. Someone can be very rational, overanalyse things and get paralysed as a result. A sports psychologist might use a technique to charge the mind battery. For athletes who are extremely sensitive to ambiance and the competition within a team, will benefit from filling up the heart battery. For instance by techniques like mindfulness, visualisation, or EDMR or cognitive behavioural therapy. This is not a straitjacket with fixed methods, but a vision rather. Several hooks that together form one hat rack.’

Unlike the Vereniging voor SportPsychologie Nederland (VSPN) NLsportpsycholoog is not a professional association that designs a national code of conduct, and works on making sports psychology a staple of all sports structures in the Netherlands. Sleijfer: ‘Almost all psychologists affiliated with NLsportpsycholoog are also members of VSPN. In that sense the organisations are complementary.’

Focus on Randstad
Over the past ten years, meanwhile 'thousands of athletes' have been using the Three Batteries®-method app. If it were up to Sleijfer many more will follow. ‘Ten years ago I was hoping that in every Dutch province there would a sports psychologist affiliated with NLsportpsycholoog. But so far there are none in the three northern provinces, Flevoland and Limburg. That does not mean that athletes from those areas do not receive guidance using the app. Even sports psychologists work more online these days. So despite my hopes, I will not make an extra effort for that geographical distribution.’

To still boost name recognition NLsportpsycholoog launched a podcast earlier this year. Sleijfer furthermore wrote Mindboxing. Giving numerous examples, the book revolves around the Three Batteries®-method. On 24 September 2024 Nlsportpsycholoog, together with Sportbedrijf Rotterdam, will host a Masterclass XL Sports Psychology and Mental Training in Rotterdam. Sleijfer will be keynote speaker. ‘Although the method may sound simple, it often is an eyeopener for athletes. Making the distinction helps them push the right buttons, often with the support of a sports psychologist.’

For more information: mindboxing.net and www.nlsportpsycholoog.nl