About SF Erimus
My name is Stewart Flaherty and i have been involved in Sport Psychology on both a research and applied basis since 2004 when I graduated from Loughborough University with a Master’s Degree in the subject. At the time, this was one of my proudest achievements, given Loughborough’s status as the number 1 school in Europe for the subject.
After graduation, I began teaching classes in Sport Psychology at Loughborough College, and working as a volunteer assistant coach with the college team, as well as some paid work with local youth teams including Shepshed Dynamo.
Primarily motivated at the time by gaining a secondary income, I began using my degree to work as a sport psychology consultant. Clients in the early days consisted largely of Loughborough University athletes, and reached into some youth academy players for Championship (English second tier) teams. While I was excited to work in sports, I did not anticipate this would become some of the most rewarding work I had ever done in my life.
I believe something exists in human nature that makes us at our best when in joint pursuit of common goals. When we are able to manifest a path towards desired outcomes, then see and feel our progress on the path towards them, it gives us stability and purpose. Beyond that, if in the process we can give to others help as they reach their own goals, it is a special feeling. This is the best way I can explain the experience of successful work in this field.
As time went by I followed my own goal to coach at the top end of the college or professional game. While similarities exist, the reality is that there is a vast difference in how you must approach leading a group of over 20 athletes and doing individual consultant work. This difference is something that both educated me, and sharpened my ability to work in both areas.
In team sports, there is a heavy emphasis in creating a culture, a set of expected behaviors enforced not only by the coach but the players within the team. Building relationships among the team is important, and the ability to take each individual approach and merge into the overall team goal is as much as art as it is a science. This is something focused on in the coach education we offer, and something I have experienced from many different angles.
Personal experience includes coaching a Portland Phoenix USL League Two team, for an equivalent think Triple A Minor League Baseball. The team was blessed with talent and consisted of former professional adult players, international players as well as All-American and All-conference players from throughout NCAA Divisions I, II and III. On that team we won five Northeast Division titles, lost close one goal games to professional teams in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and had 45 alumni go on to play in the professional ranks.
On the other end of the scale, I took over as head coach of an NCAA DIII school coming off and 0-10 conference season, having gone winless in two of the previous three seasons. In my final season at that school before leaving for a Division I assistant job, we gave the school an 8-6-2 record for it’s best season in a decade. This time include snapping an 8 year winless streak in home conference games, winning on the road against a nationally ranked opponent for the first time since 1979, and giving the school it’s first playoff appearance in 9 years. In my first ever head coaching job with a girl’s high school team in Wyoming, we broke the school’s all time record for wins in a season.
While these three challenges were different, uniform methods were used in terms of player relationships and group cohesion. A role I continue every day at present in my role as assistant coach for an NCAA Division Ivy League team.
In terms of consultancy work, the relationship and work done can reach a much deeper level, and be primarily focused on attaining the maximal output of one individual (issues such as favoritism do not come into play!). My most recent clients have included soccer players, basketball players as well as mixed martial arts fighters, including a regional champion.
Before working together, I would like to speak or facetime, as it is important on both ends that we know what is required to make our work together a success.
Email: [email protected]
SF Erimus is a sport psychology consultancy firm based primarily on 1 to 1 work between athlete and consultant, and education coaches based largely on the mindset/team building end of the sports world.
Such is the material in the curriculum, we are confident that successful work will go far beyond solely performance during the times an athlete is competing. We incorporate a holistic approach that means techniques, values and behaviors we develop will just as easily lead to success in the workplace, classroom and personal relationships.
From graduating with a master’s degree in the field, to working with basketball players Sixers Camps (an affiliate of NBA franchise Philadelphia 76ers) in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania, to teaching sport psychology classes at Loughborough College, to working one on one with Mixed Martial Arts champions in Maine, to coaching soccer in the Ivy League with Dartmouth College, Our staff have a range of experiences that shape this daily work.
Over the last decade, coach Flaherty has successfully worked with clients who have went on to play professional soccer, won regional MMA championships, quit smoking, found their dream career and monetized their passion.
For enquiries, we can be reached at [email protected]