More about Afke
Interested in people and their motives...
More about Afke
I’ve always been interested in people and what ‘moves’ them (or why they don’t move). For that reason I studied physiotherapy in the early nineties. In that time I also started working in sports: I became the physio of football teams. In physiotherapy most the attention goes to the musculoskeletal system. I got more and more interested in what’s going on in the head. That’s way I continued studying Human Movement Sciences where I did my major in Sport Psychology and minor in Physiology.
Vision and Mission
In both studies I missed the holistic approach: In my opinion there is no separation between body and mind. Because I have a background in both, I can combine the knowledge of the physiology and psychology. It makes it easier to see the athlete as a whole human being and to give him/her the appropriate support. It’s also having a positive influence on the communication with the other staff members, such as the doctor, physio, head-, assistant- and fitness coach.
I also see (sport) psychology as a part of the performance. Just like strength-, condition and technique training. So if you want to improve your performance, you also need to (regularly) train your brain. You don’t ‘need’ a problem to go to a sport psychologist. You just want to perform better!
Way of Working
I like to work in a multidisciplinary team. At VVV-Venlo and FC Utrecht I was a staff member of the squad. Working together with the other disciplines was very effective. We were able to create a complete picture of all players.
Besides that I also have my private practise in Utrecht, where athletes and coaches can come for performance coaching.
Working Experience
Vitesse, FC Utrecht, FC Twente, VVV Venlo, NOC*NSF, KNHB, KNWU, Nevobo, NSkiV, World Football Academy, Bogtstra & Kempers, Van Praag Instituut, NLcoach, Bordercross, Hogeschool Utrecht, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Haagsche Hogeschool, Larensche Mixed Hockey Club, SO Soest, Medicort etc.
Questions? Please contact us!
Education
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, major Sport Psychology, minor Physiology
European Masters Degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology
Teaching agree for Universities of Applied Scienes
Hogeschool Utrecht
Faculty of Health, Physiotherapy
High School, Stedelijke Scholengemeenschap Leeuwarden
Other education:
- NLP Practitioner by, Netherlands Training Institute for Neuro- Linguïstic Programming (NTI-NLP)
- Haptonomy in sport by Synergos
- Praktic Coaching in Sport with Action Type by Peter Murphy, Jan Huijbers
- and Dick Otter (Arko Sports Media)
- Young Talent Development Indicator by Sports Talent Academy
- Therapeutic Touch by Van Praag Instituut
- Yoga education by Saswitha
References
Niels Wijne, head medical staff of FC Utrecht
Afke has good social skills. She is experienced in general and especially in the football world. She is well informed of current developments. Actually she is leading and also contributes to congresses, think-tank’s and other developments in sport psychology. Discrete and conscientious.
Technical staff at VVV-Venlo: Jan van Dijk, Wil Boessen, Ben van Dael, Wim Jacobs
As a mental coach Afke has been very important in becoming champion of the first division of the Dutch Football League and getting promoted to the Premier League.
Before the start of the season 2008-2009 she gave competent advice on what type of trainer would fit it best into the current squad and the technical staff of VVV-Venlo.
In preparation of the season the whole squad has been analysed on personality and personal preferences.
She had individual talks with all the players, so she could give the technical staff a clear picture of the composition of the team and how to communicate to the individual players.
During the season she organised staff meetings on topics like:
Team agreements, standards and values, resilience of the players/ coaches/ team, MBTI/ Action Types, Qualities of players/ team/ tactical staff, communication model, 4 step learning process, building self-confidence, phases of teambuilding, personal development plans, perform under pressure.
Afke made sure that during the season the pressure to perform, was under control. For the players as well as the technical staff of VVV-Venlo.
The tips and tricks from Afke were very useful in football. She helped us to put theory into practice. The enormous football experience of the technical staff is being structured by Afke and used in the communication with the team.
The technical staff would like to make to use of the expertise and qualities of Afke van de Wouw in the future.
Lutger Brenninkmeijer, Coach Men Squad Field Hockey I Fletiomare
My experience in Field Hockey goes on for many years as a coach, technical director (at Field Hockey Club Amsterdam and Fletiomare). I consider it a challenge to get the bes out of players. Often the focus is on technical or tactical talent. But of you want to make a difference, you ‘ll also have to pay attention to the mental component. Actually, the wright mentality in a group is pivotal.
Because of Afke, the staff was able to develop tools to support the team process and to help the group create their own goals. Thanks to her expertise, the team got to know each other better and gained more respect for each other. Due to the cooperation in different phases of team development, we became champion of our division.
I got to know Afke as someone who knows her position in the team very well. She can also trigger groups and individuals to look at themselves which leads to a huge development as a person. In a very engaging way she made the players aware of their possibilities and how they could use possibilities more effectively. Her positivism was overwhelming and worked very contagious on the team.
In short, as a coach you need ‘mental coaching’. Sometimes people laugh about it, but for me it’s an important part of my performance and of the team. Success is not possible without mental support, which Afke implemented very well.
Some reactions about my presentations and/ or workshops
- Afke has an enormous practical experience. She delivers a very good presentation in terms of content, and she also presents it very well and enthusiastic
- Good examples, attractive video’s. We laughed a lot.
- Pleasant way of presenting. She uses Powerpoint for her story and she engages the group by starting discussions.
- She tells in a such a way, that it doesn’t get boring. Was an instructive meeting, with a lot of useful information.
- Instructive, useful information.
- Super explanation about communication with athletes
- Enthusiastic way of presenting. She uses practical examples and video’s
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