SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SPECIALILITIES

Clinical Sport Psychologist- Helps athletes who experience severe emotional problems, where intervention continues over an extended period of time

* Depression

* Eating disorders

* Panic attacks

* Extensive training to detect/treat emotional problems

*Licensed by state medical boards

Educational Sports Psychologists- Helps athlete develop the psychological skills necessary for optimal participation in sport

-Training

-Exercise Science

-Physical Education

-Kinesiology

-Exercise or movement Psychology

*Skills Training

-Relaxation Training

-Anxiety Management

-Confidence development

-Use of imagery

U.S Olympic Committee’s requirements to work with our Olympic athletes

• A doctoral degree in psychology or sport sciences (programs that emphasize sport applied psychology)

• A Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) certification, and

• A membership in either the American Psychology Association (APA), Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), or American Counseling Association (ACA).

• Professional Liability Insurance

Information from the www.teamusa.org website

Employment data in sport psychology

Most Sport Psychology jobs are found in academia

Finding full time employment in the marketplace is often a combination of:

* Ability

* Training

* Luck

*Self-Promotion

Private practice is only a minor aspect of the discipline

The marketplace currently does not support full time employment in sport psychology

There is a reluctance to support Sport Psychology in the world outside of Academia

Most professionals who work in the field do so part time as a limited aspect of their overall work activities

Waite & Pettiet (1993)

Analyzed response from 34 individuals of Sport Psychology graduate programs

32 received doctoral degrees from P.E. Departments

Majority reported satisfaction with their work

17 worked in some capacity with athletes

*Most in unstable/Low paying jobs

Marked absence of practica in doctoral training

This information goes back a number of years. However, I am sharing it with you because I don’t believe much has changed as it the intervening years

One of the major organizations in the field now supposedly tracks this type of information. But, I have never seen any of this data publicized or published

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY ORGANIZATIONS AND JOURNALS

Organizations

Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)

American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47- Exercise and Sport Psychology

North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)

International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP)

European Federation of Sport Psychology (FEPSAC)

Journal

Journal of Applied Sport Psychology

Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

The Sport Psychologist

International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology

International Journal of Sport Psychology

ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHLOGISTS

These are six areas outlined in the AASP ethical guidelines:

1) Competence. Sport psychologists strive to demonstrate the highest level of competence and

expertise in the course of fulfilling their work responsibilities. They recognize their strengths

while at the same time making sure not to exceed their level of education, training, or

experience.

2) Integrity. The sport psychologist endeavors to demonstrate the highest levels of integrity in

all their professional activities. They make every effort to be honest, up front, and above

board in all their relationships and interactions.

3) Professional and scientific responsibility. The sport psychologist work to protect and

safeguard sport psychology as a professional discipline. They also attempt to

uphold the highest moral and ethical standards in their interactions with the public.

4) Respect for people’s rights and dignity. Sports psychologists are mindful of the fundamental

human rights of all people. They attempt to minimize and eliminate biases that may

negatively impact their interactions with clients, colleagues, and the general public.

5) Concern for the welfare of others. Sport psychologists attempt to protect and positively

impact the welfare of those whom they work and come into contact. They always put the

well-being of others above their own self-interest.

6) Social responsibility. The sport psychologist is aware of their responsibilities to their

communities and society as a whole. They strive to always protect the rights of research

participants, avoid unethical conduct, and always make sure they are in compliance with all

legal requirements.

REFERENCES

Weinberg, R. and Gould, D. (1995). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology. 2^th ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Weinberg, R. and Gould, D. (2019). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology. 7^th ed. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.