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Sport Psychology (PSY407)

Lesson 01

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY DEFINED

Sport psychology is a science in which the principles of psychology are applied in a sport and exercise setting.

These principles are often applied to enhance performance, however, a true sport psychologist is interested in

much more than performance enrichment and sees sport as a tool for human enrichment. The sport

psychologists are interested in helping every sport participant reach his or her potential as an athlete. Sport

psychology is an exciting subject dedicated to the enhancement of both athletic performance and the social-

psychological aspects of human enrichment. In simple terms sport psychology is the study of the effect of

psychological and emotional factors on sport performance, and the effect of sport involvement on

psychological and emotional factors. These psychological and emotional factors can be fine-tuned and learned

which can have a positive effect on athlete's performance in sport and his overall psychological and emotional

makeup.

History of Sport Psychology

Sport psychology as a distinct field of study is extremely young and is evolving. The first clear historical example

of research being conducted in the area of sport psychology was in 1897.Drawing upon field observations and

secondary data, researchers found out that presence of other competitors could facilitate better cycling

performance. The first sport psychology laboratory was established by Coleman Roberts Griffith at the

University of Illinois in 1925. Following World War II such notable as Franklin M. Henry at the University of

California, John Lawther at Pennsylvania State University, and Arthur Slater-Hammel at Indiana University

pioneered graduate-level courses and developed research laboratories of their own.

1950 to 1980 are considered as the "formative years" for sport psychology. During this time, a number of

research initiatives and textbooks were published. Some of the early textbooks included Psychology of Coaching, by

John D. Lawther 1951, and Problem Athletes and How to Handle Them, by Bruce Ogilvie and Tom Tutko (1966).

Some initiatives in research were Warren Johnson's work with hypnosis and athletic performance (1960s), the

development and testing of anxiety inventories by Rainer Martens in (1970s and 1980s) and Albert Carron's and

P.Chelladurai's work with sport leadership and team cohesion (1970s and 1980s).

Development of Professional Organizations

A number of professional organizations have evolved since the 1960s. In 1965 the International Society

of Sport Psychology (ISSP) is to promote and disseminate information about the practice of sport

psychology throughout the world. In North America a small group sport psychologists from Canada

and the United States started work on forming their own professional organization for sport

psychology. The efforts of this small group came to fruition in 1966 when it was recognized by the

ISSP. The name of this new organization was the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport

and Physical Activity. NASPSPA. Since then NASPSPA has evolved into an influential academic

society focusing on sport psychology in the broadest sense. NASPSPA provided a forum for researches

in the areas of sport psychology, sport sociology motor learning, motor control, and motor

development to meet and exchange ideas and research. Shortly after the emergence of NASPSPA in the

United States, another significant professional organization came into existence in Canada in 1969. This

organization was named the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology

(CSPLSP). In order to better address the interests and needs of sport psychologists interested in

applying the principle of psychology to sport and exercise, the Association for the Advancement of

Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP) was formed in the fall of 1985. AAASP has emerged in the 1990s

as the dominant association for the advancement of applied sport psychology as well as research in

North America, and perhaps in the world. In addition to these specialized organizations, other

associations created interest areas dedicated to sport psychology within their organizations. These

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Sport Psychology (PSY407)

include American Psychological Association (APA), which created its division 47 in 1968 dedicated to

sport psychology.

Issue of Certification

Historically, sport psychology emerged as a discipline from physical education. The question arises that

`which people are qualified to call themselves psychologists and to provide services to athletes?'

AAAPA took the issue one step ahead and adopted a certification document outlining the process an

individual must take to be given the title of "Certified Consultant, Association for the Advancement of

Applied Sport Psychology". As one of the certification criteria, the applicant is required to hold an

earned doctorate in an area related to sport psychology (e.g., psychology, sport science, or physical

education). To be certified by AAASP both licensed and unlicensed psychologists need to meet the

minimum standards as set by the organization.

What Does The Sport Psychologist Do?

Roles and functions of a sport psychologist are described in the categories of clinician, educator and

researcher.

The clinical/ Counseling Sport Psychologist

The clinical/ counseling sport psychologist is a person trained in clinical or counseling psychology and

may be a licensed psychologist. Generally clinical/ counseling sport psychologists are individuals who

are trained specifically to deal with emotional and personality disorder problems that affect athletes.

The Educational Sport Psychologist

Most sport psychologist who received their academic training through departments of physical

education considers themselves to be educational sport psychologists. They use the medium of

education to teach correct principle of sport and exercise to athletes and coaches. Their main purpose is

to help athletes develop psychological skills for performance enhancement. They also help athlete,

young and old, to enjoy sport and use it as a vehicle for improving their quality of life.

The Research Sport Psychologist

For sport and exercise psychology to be a recognized and respected science, the knowledge must

continue to grow. It is the scientist and the scholar who serve this important role. For the practicing

sport psychologist to enjoy professional credibility there must exist a credible scientific body of

knowledge.

Accreditation Issue in Sport Psychology

The issue of who is qualified to deliver sport psychology services has been addressed to some degree by

AAASP with its certification program, the issue still remains as to who is qualified to prepare or train

sport psychologists. Accreditation is the only way to ensure quality and consistency of academic

training. Students graduating from accredited programs would be prepared to be certified AAASP

consultants.

Multicultural Training Issue in Sport Psychology

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Sport Psychology (PSY407)

Another issue that must be addressed is the issue of multicultural training. Graduates of sport

psychology programs should be adequately trained in issues that relate to culture and race. Multicultural

counseling is defined as counseling that takes place among individuals from different cultures/ racial

backgrounds.

Multicultural training of sport psychology students should be provided in four domains. First, Students should

experience a heightened awareness of and sensitivity to cultural groups different from their own. Second they

should gain knowledge about people who belong to cultures different than their own. Third, students should

learn helping and intervention skills through the process of role playing and stimulated interaction. Finally, each

prospective graduate should experience a supervised practicum to gain hands-on experience working with

members of a different culture or race.

References

Cox, H. Richard. (2002). Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications. (Fifth Edition). New York: McGraw-

Hill Companies

Lavallec. D., Kremer, J., Moran, A., & Williams. M. (2004) Sports Psychology: Contemporary Themes. New

York: Palgrave Macmillan Publishers