Sport and Exercise Sport and Exercise PsychologyPsychology

March 30, 2007March 30, 2007

What is sport and exercise What is sport and exercise psychology?psychology?

“ “The scientific The scientific study of the study of the

behavior of people behavior of people engaged in sport engaged in sport

and exercise and exercise activities and the activities and the application of the application of the knowledge gained knowledge gained

(Gill, 2000).(Gill, 2000).

Why study sport and exercise Why study sport and exercise psychology?psychology?

1. to understand how psychological factors 1. to understand how psychological factors affect a person’s motor performance.affect a person’s motor performance.– How does anxiety affect a b-ball How does anxiety affect a b-ball

player’s accuracy in free-throw player’s accuracy in free-throw shooting?shooting?

– Does lacking self-confidence influence Does lacking self-confidence influence a child’s ability to learn to swim?a child’s ability to learn to swim?

– How do a coach’s reinforcement and How do a coach’s reinforcement and punishment influence a team’s punishment influence a team’s cohesion?cohesion?

– Does imagery training facilitate Does imagery training facilitate recovery in injured athletes and recovery in injured athletes and exercisers?exercisers?

Why study sport and exercise Why study sport and exercise psychology?psychology?

2. to understand how participating in physical 2. to understand how participating in physical activity affects a person’s psychological activity affects a person’s psychological development.development.– Does running reduce anxiety and Does running reduce anxiety and

depression?depression?– Do young athletes learn to be overly Do young athletes learn to be overly

aggressive from participating in youth aggressive from participating in youth sport?sport?

– Does participation in daily physical Does participation in daily physical education classes improve a child’s self-education classes improve a child’s self-esteem.esteem.

– Does participation in college athletics Does participation in college athletics enhance personality development?enhance personality development?

Who do sport and exercise Who do sport and exercise psychologists work with?psychologists work with?

Elite athletesElite athletesChildrenChildrenPersons who are Persons who are physically or mentally physically or mentally disableddisabledSeniorsSeniorsAverage participantsAverage participants

Goal: to achieve Goal: to achieve maximum participation, maximum participation, peak performance, peak performance, personal satisfaction, personal satisfaction, and development and development through participation.through participation.

What roles do sport and exerciseWhat roles do sport and exercisepsychologists play?psychologists play?

Research RoleResearch Role– Advance knowledge within the fieldAdvance knowledge within the field

Motivation and children and youth Motivation and children and youth sportsport

Imagery influences on golf puttingImagery influences on golf putting

Running program and anxiety reductionRunning program and anxiety reduction

– Share findings with colleagues and Share findings with colleagues and participants in the field.participants in the field.

– Allows for advances, discussion, Allows for advances, discussion, and debate at professional and debate at professional meetings and in journals.meetings and in journals.

What roles do sport and exerciseWhat roles do sport and exercisepsychologists play?psychologists play?

Teaching RoleTeaching Role– Teach university coursesTeach university courses

Exercise PsychologyExercise Psychology

Applied Sport PsychologyApplied Sport Psychology

Social Psychology of SportSocial Psychology of Sport

Personality PsychologyPersonality Psychology

Developmental PsychologyDevelopmental Psychology

Motor Learning and ControlMotor Learning and Control

Sport SociologySport Sociology

What roles do sport and exerciseWhat roles do sport and exercisepsychologists play?psychologists play?

Consulting RoleConsulting Role– Individuals or teamsIndividuals or teams– Develop psychological skills to Develop psychological skills to

enhance performance and training.enhance performance and training.

U.S. Olympic Committee U.S. Olympic Committee

Major universities to small collegesMajor universities to small colleges

Coaching clinics and workshopsCoaching clinics and workshops

Fitness industryFitness industry

Sports medicine or PT clinicSports medicine or PT clinic

What do I need to do to become What do I need to do to become a certified consultant?a certified consultant?

AAASP certificationAAASP certificationAssociation for the Association for the Advancement of Advancement of Applied Sport Applied Sport PsychologyPsychologywww.aaasponline.orgwww.aaasponline.orgAdvanced coursework Advanced coursework in psychology and in psychology and sport sciencessport sciences400 hours of 400 hours of supervised supervised consultationconsultation

What topics would I work with What topics would I work with athletes/exercisers on?athletes/exercisers on?

PersonalityPersonality

MotivationMotivation

Arousal/AnxietyArousal/Anxiety

Team DynamicsTeam Dynamics

Group CohesionGroup Cohesion

LeadershipLeadership

CommunicationCommunication

ImageryImagery

Self-ConfidenceSelf-Confidence

Goal SettingGoal Setting

ConcentrationConcentration

Exercise AdherenceExercise Adherence

Athletic InjuriesAthletic Injuries

AddictionsAddictions

BurnoutBurnout

Youth SportYouth Sport

AggressionAggression

Character Character DevelopmentDevelopment

What type of sport and exercise What type of sport and exercise psychology suits you?psychology suits you?

Clinical sport psychologistsClinical sport psychologists– extensive psychology trainingextensive psychology training– treat athletes and exercisers with treat athletes and exercisers with

emotional disorders (severe emotional disorders (severe depression, suicidal tendencies, depression, suicidal tendencies, eating disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, substance abuse, etc.)etc.)

– licensed by state boards to treat licensed by state boards to treat emotional disordersemotional disorders

– also have training in sport also have training in sport psychology and sport sciencespsychology and sport sciences

What type of sport and exercise What type of sport and exercise psychology suits you?psychology suits you?

Educational sport psychology Educational sport psychology specialistspecialist– extensive training in sport and extensive training in sport and

exercise science, PE, kinesiology exercise science, PE, kinesiology and the psychology of movement. and the psychology of movement.

– advanced training in advanced training in psychology/counselingpsychology/counseling

– NOT licensed psychologistsNOT licensed psychologists– ““mental coach”mental coach”

What’s new?What’s new?Growing interest in acquiring training Growing interest in acquiring training in psychological skills/applied work.in psychological skills/applied work.Greater emphasis on counseling and Greater emphasis on counseling and clinical training.clinical training.Ethics and competence issues are hot Ethics and competence issues are hot issues.issues.Specializations and subspecialties are Specializations and subspecialties are developing (Exercise psych and life developing (Exercise psych and life skills development through sport)skills development through sport)Tension between academic versus Tension between academic versus applied sport psychologists. applied sport psychologists.

What’s new?What’s new?Qualitative research is on the rise.Qualitative research is on the rise.

Applied sport psychology Applied sport psychology opportunities on the rise – part-timeopportunities on the rise – part-time

Sport psychology is being recognized Sport psychology is being recognized as very useful for more than just as very useful for more than just athletes (PE, coaches, fitness, AT)athletes (PE, coaches, fitness, AT)

Sport psychology is a form of positive Sport psychology is a form of positive psychology (business, artists, psychology (business, artists, dancers, musicians, surgeons)dancers, musicians, surgeons)