natalie henderson - the story behind the padlock pad.
"I Wanted To Make Something That Locked Both Football & A Healthy Mindset In One Place."
I love it when people use the phrase 'long story short', it gets to the juicy bit instantly - so I'll try and make it quick.
I'm a Professional Football Coach and have years of experience working with Premier League & International Youth Athletes, both male and female.
I was also the first ever full-time female coach to work in a Men's Premier League Academy as well as a proud winner of the Premier Leagues Eamonn Dolan Award.
I am football obsessed & have a huge passion for trying to get the very best out of people. I can’t stand wasted talent. If you were born with even the slightest bit of talent, I believe you should do everything you possibly can in your power to unlock that. I see too many players not reaching their potential & not looking after their own mindset & more importantly, not knowing HOW to.
As well as this, I have a huge fascination in Mental Health & the psychology of the brain. Mental Health is an issue. And from my own personal experience, a BIG issue in the football world. It's not talked about enough & again, in my opinion, there is not enough being done about it. So I wanted to do something.
I wanted to make something that locked both football & a healthy mindset in one place.
Having always been involved in the football world as well as suffering from issues with my own mental health, I wanted to create something that locked all of my knowledge, experience & learning as well as help from researchers, footballers, psychologists & coaches all over the world in one place. I wanted to make it for the people who are the reason I coach... the players.
I therefore give you... the Player Padlock Pad.
The content & reflections will help with football development, the tasks, quotes & information will help the brain stay healthy. It’s what I think, is the perfect blend between good mental health & understanding of what a player needs to make it to the top levels.
The owners of the Player Padlock Pad will become not only better players, but better people & better people… make better footballers.
Bit by bit, I hope this pad will unlock potential players may not even know they have.