Sports Psychology - An Exploration

Dear readers:

For the next few weeks we will be looking at the field of Sports Psychology and giving you what we know and have used in this area. We are Sports Educators and have coaching Experiences and Educational Background in the same areas. You will note that many of the Sports Psychology topics such as Leadership, Goal Setting, and Self Talk have already been featured in our Blogs.

  In addition, Sports Educators work with children and young adults and with their Coaches and Parents.

  At the end of this blog you will find future topics in this series.

Educational Sport Psychologists  - Wikipedia Definition

Educational sport psychologists emphasize the use of psychological skills training (e.g., goal setting, imagery, energy management, self-talk) when working with clients by educating and instructing them on how to use these skills effectively during performance situations. The common goal of an educational sport psychologist is performance enhancement by teaching skills to athletes on how to manage the mental factors of sports to maximize potential.

Note the use of “Sport” rather than “Sports.” We will use both versions.

Sports Psychology Definition Association

Sports Psychology is a field that explores the relationship between mental factors and athletic performance. It focuses on how psychological principles can be applied to enhance athletic performance, improve mental health in athletes, and foster a positive sporting experience, including:

Performance Enhancement: 

Developing mental skills such as visualization, positive self-talk, and goal setting to improve their performance and manage stress. 

Mental Health:

Addressing mental health issues that can affect athletes, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, and provide support for coping with injuries and setbacks. 

Motivation and Confidence:

Helping athletes build motivation, confidence, and a positive mindset to achieve their goals. 

Team Dynamics:

Working with teams to improve communication, cohesion, and leadership, creating a more positive and productive environment. 

Injury Recovery:

Helping athletes recover mentally from injuries, addressing fears and anxieties related to returning to play. 

Requirements of Sports Psychologists  

According to the American Psychological Association, most sports psychologists have a master's or doctorate degree in clinical, counseling, or sports psychology. In addition to these requirements, they generally need additional coursework in subjects such as kinesiology, sports medicine, physiology, marketing, and business. More on this is Future Topics (below).

A Favorite Sports Psychologist

In 1995 I discovered a very interesting sports psychologist, Bob Rotella, and his book Golf  is Not a Game of Perfect. I will be quoting him and from his book often during this series. 

Future Topics

The History of Sports Psychology 

Examples of  Sports Psychology 

Education of a Sports Psychologist 

Users of Sports Psychology Careers in Sports Psychology