Sport _ Exercise Psychology

							Sport & Exercise
  Psychology

   Presentation based on a presentation
                created by
     Dr. Jack Watson and Dr. Ed Etzel,
        West Virginia University for
Division 47, Sport and Exercise Psychology
    American Psychological Association
          Today’s Path…

   What is Exercise and Sport
    Psychology (ESP)?
   A little bit of ESP history
   What are some of the roles of
    a ESP professional?
   Where do ESP’s work?
   Why consult with an ESP?
   What are common services and
    interventions?
“What is Exercise and Sport Psychology
                (ESP)?”
   The study of behavioral factors that influence and
    are influenced by participation in sport, exercise
    and physical activity
   The application of the knowledge gained through
    this study to everyday settings (e.g., amateur
    and elite sport, fitness and wellness settings,
    sports medicine, athletics, counseling, performing
    arts, business)
   The study of how participation in sport, exercise
    and physical activity may enhance personal
    development, well-being and mental health over
    the life span
Overview of ESP( A bit of history…)

 • It is not a new field – it has been an
   area of scientific study for
   approximately 100 years
 • Its roots are in physical education
   and coaching
 • Early research was conducted on
   cycling and audience effects by
   Norman Triplett in 1897
Overview of ESP( A bit of history…)
 • G. Stanley Hall reported on benefits of
   physical education in 1908
 • Coleman Griffith has a sport psychology
   lab at University of Illinois in 1925. He
   studied personality, motor learning and
   motivation and also served as a
   consultant to major league baseball, the
   Chicago Cubs.
            2 Major Professional
               Organizations
   APA Division 47
    (Exercise & Sport
    Psychology)
    [N=910, 2006]


   AASP
    Association for
    Applied Sport
    Psychology
    [N=1236, 2006]
    What do ESP Professionals do?

   Teaching (Many teach college; others
    teach as part of consultations and
    outreach including workshops, coaching)

   Research (Some professional conduct
    research on topics such as anxiety, injury
    prevention, exercise adoption, retirement,
    coaching behaviors, athlete stress,
    recovery, mental health of athletes)
    What do ESP Professionals do?
   Practice (Many ESP professionals are in
    private practice. They work counseling
    centers, sports medicine, wellness settings
    and health clubs.)

   Often there is a “mix” of these activities.

   There is no “typical” sport and exercise
    psychologist in this rapidly growing field
    Where can you find an ESP?
   Private practice
   University and College counseling
    centers
    and athletic departments
   Sports medicine centers
   Elite sports academies
    Why would clients seek the services of
     an exercise and sport psychology
               professional?
   To improve or optimize
    performance to help make
    performance more effective
   To help overcome obstacles that
    prevent the reaching of potential
   To assist with adopting or
    maintaining an exercise program
   To facilitate efficient/healthy
    functioning of sport or other
    teams (team building, conflict)
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON
    PERFORMANCE
    ENHANCEMENT
       ISSUES?
COMMON PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT ISSUES

    Perform more consistently up to
     potential
    Set useful training & competition
     goals
    Prepare mentally and develop
     routines to better control thoughts &
     emotions
    Manage energy (psyching up and
     down)
           More Issues

   Increase/maintain confidence
   Handle training & competition
    stress
   Focus, attention, concentration,
    distraction
   Increase/maintain motivation
   Facilitate team
    cohesion/communication
What are some common
 ESP interventions that
professionals use to help
      their clients?
    Performance Enhancement
          Interventions

 Cognitive-behavioral therapy
 Self-talk

 Cognitive restructuring

 Refuting irrational thinking

 Thought stopping
  More PE Interventions

 Imagery and visualization
 Mental practice
 Attention control training
 Biofeedback
      More PE Interventions

   “Transferable” Life Skills
    • Time management
    • Goal setting
    • Communication skills
    • Self-Awareness
ESP Career
Possibilities
 APA Division 47
Exercise and Sport
   Psychology
   Tracks I-IV
           APA D47
  http://www.apa.org/divisions/div47/

Welcome to Division 47, Exercise and
Sport Psychology, founded in 1986.
Division 47 represents an exciting and
quickly developing specialization that
cuts across psychology and the sport
sciences. Through the Division,
scientists and practitioners with a
common interest have the opportunity
to interact and to further their personal
and professional capabilities.
         Career Possibilities in ESP

   TRACK I
    TEACHING/RESEARCH IN SPORT
    SCIENCES AND WORK WITH
    ATHLETES ON PERFORMANCE
    ENHANCEMENT
   Full or Part-time teaching area
    institutions (HS, college, university,
    sports med)
   Part-time consulting
         Career Possibilities in ESP

   TRACK II
    TEACHING/RESEARCH IN
    PSYCHOLOGY AND ALSO
    INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH
    ATHLETES
   Full or Part-time teaching area
    institutions (HS, college, university,
    sports med)
   Part-time consulting
        Career Possibilities in ESP

   TRACK III
    PROVIDE CLINICAL or COUNSELING
    or PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT
    SERVICES TO VARIOUS
    POPULATIONS, INCLUDING
    ATHLETES
   Private practice
   University counseling centers &
    athletic departments
   Sports medicine clinics
        Career Possibilities in ESP

   TRACK IV
    HEALTH PROMOTION & WORK WITH
    ATHLETES BUT NOT NECESSARILY
    DIRECTLY IN SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
   Health clubs
   Health organizations
   Community organizations
        How DO You Become a Sport
              Psychologist?
   Earn an undergraduate degree, preferably in
    clinical/counseling psychology with coursework in
    the sport sciences.
   Earn a graduate degree, ultimately a doctorate.
   Examine the Division 47 Proficiency in Sport
    Psychology to identify prerequisite skills and
    knowledge
   Join professional organizations as a student,
    especially Division 47.
   Attend sport psychology conferences and read sport
    psychology journals.
   Get some research experience.
   Get competitive experience at some level.
         For more information
   Go to
    http://www.apa.org/about/division
    /div47.html and
    http://www.apa47.org