Eriksson's bedroom mind games

Now we know, whatever Ulrika and Nancy may say, what Sven Goran Eriksson takes to bed with him. The answer is "formations, tactics" and associated football problems, although he no longer wakes up weary. And for that he credits sports psychology.

With the exception of some honourable amateurs from Eriksson's profession – notably Bill Shankly, whose former goalkeeper Ray Clemence proclaimed him "the best sports psychologist the world's ever seen" – the use of psychology in football once amounted to little more than tea cups hurled against a dressing-room wall or the insistence that a rival team were now favourites.

The days of crockery-abuse and kidology have not yet passed, yet the growing influence of sports psychology was reflected by the turn-out of managers and coaches at Derby's Pride Park stadium yesterday. Organised by the Football Association, the Psychology for Football Conference played to a full house of believers, sceptics and the downright curious.

Delegates heard not only from Eriksson (on video) but from administrators and psychologists. There was a moment, when a risqué joke fell flat for Clemence, which evoked David Brent in The Office, but the England manager's endorsement of sports psychology was received with respectful, even intrigued, silence.

Eriksson's interest dates from the 1970s, when he managed an amateur side in the Swedish Third Division. Twice in succession they won their league only to collapse in a promotion play-off. When they qualified again, he was reading a book by a Norwegian sports psychologist, Willi Railo. "I invited him to talk to them. We became a calm team, played our normal football and went up," he said.

Having reached Serie A, Eriksson found the same methodology also worked with millionaire internationals. It particularly helped one Lazio midfielder, who, in the words of his then coach, "created lots of goals but never scored". A psychologist was employed to work on his confidence and mental strength. He went from two goals a season to 15.

"In the past, old-fashioned people thought you used a psychologist only to treat sick people," Eriksson said. "Now the future is very big for this area, although football is behind individual sports like golf and tennis. I've also used it for myself. I used to take things like line-ups and tactics to bed and wake up after two hours' sleep more tired than the night before. It's given me a button to switch off."

David James, the West Ham and England keeper, decided to try psychology during a difficult spell at Liverpool. Also on video, he explained that he found personal consultations useful, though for improving performance rather than alleviating pressure. It had made him "a better player and a better person".

James admitted he had imagined "lying on a couch and seeing a shrink". He added: "That myth has to be dispelled. It's a matter of getting the best out of your mind to get the best from your body. Positive thoughts should encourage positive actions."

To that end, he pictures himself catching crosses; it is common for him to jerk his head upwards, as if rising to collect a corner, while in his car at traffic lights. Confidence, James argued, could not be turned on and off but was "something you practise".

Dr Steve Bull, psychological consultant to the British Olympic Association and the England cricket team, underlined the point by quoting Michael Atherton. Working on mental toughness, or "coping with pressure", was as important to him as preparing in the gym or nets.

In a world of negligible difference between the prowess of élite sportsmen, Dr Bull said psychology was about "getting individuals to challenge themselves to improve, and what goes on up here [the head] often makes the difference".

However, only 10 League clubs currently own up to using psychologists. According to one of their number, Dave Houlston, who bravely confessed to helping West Ham's back four develop their concentration and communication skills, others "mask" the title by labelling them "education officers".

It was time for sports psychologists to "come out of the closet", he said, or at least the laundry room in which some clubs put them. "We're there to enhance performance, not as a treatment for something that's wrong."