Sport

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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
  PsychologyAmerican Psychological Association

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Todays 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 ESPs work?
• Why consult with an ESP?
• What are common services and interventions?

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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

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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

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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.

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2 Major Professional Organizations

• APA Division 47 (Exercise Sport Psychology)
• N910, 2006
• AASP
• Association for Applied Sport Psychology
• N1236, 2006

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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)

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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

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Where can you find an ESP?

• Private practice
• University and College counseling centersand
  athletic departments
• Sports medicine centers
• Elite sports academies

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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)

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WHAT ARE SOME COMMON PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT
ISSUES?
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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)

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More Issues

• Increase/maintain confidence
• Handle training competition stress
• Focus, attention, concentration, distraction
• Increase/maintain motivation
• Facilitate team cohesion/communication

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What are some common ESP interventions that
professionals use to help their clients?
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Performance Enhancement Interventions

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Self-talk
• Cognitive restructuring
• Refuting irrational thinking
• Thought stopping

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More PE Interventions

• Imagery and visualization
• Mental practice
• Attention control training
• Biofeedback

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More PE Interventions

• Transferable Life Skills
• Time management
• Goal setting
• Communication skills
• Self-Awareness

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ESP Career Possibilities

• APA Division 47
• Exercise and Sport Psychology
• Tracks I-IV

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Career Possibilities in ESP

• TRACK IV
  HEALTH PROMOTION WORK WITH ATHLETES BUT NOT
  NECESSARILY DIRECTLY IN SPORT PSYCHOLOGY
• Health clubs
• Health organizations
• Community organizations

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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.

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For more information

• Go to http//www.apa.org/about/division/div47.html
  andhttp//www.apa47.org