iPsychology

Sport psychologists help athletes set goals that are ambitious but attainable. An athlete who is only motivated only by winning is more likely to lose motivation when the competition doesn't go his way. A sports psychologist will help him set goals that are intrinsically motivated, such as a finishing time rather than order of finish in a swimming race. A sports psychologist can also help set intermediate short-term goals that are process-oriented, meaning that they focus on one aspect of the overall goal. For example, a swimmer might set a goal of improving his flip turns.

Sports psychology is the study of how psychology influences sports, athletic performance, exercise and physical activity. Some sports psychologists work with professional athletes and coaches to improve performance and increase motivation. Other professionals utilize exercise and sports to enhance people’s lives and well-being throughout the entire lifespan.

History of Sports Psychology

Sports psychology is a relatively young discipline within psychology. In 1920, Carl Diem founded the world’s first sports psychology laboratory at the Deutsche Sporthochschule in Berlin, Germany. In 1925, two more sports psychology labs were established – one by A.Z. Puni at the Institute of Physical Culture in Leningrad and the other by Coleman Griffith at the University of Illinois.

Griffith began offering the first course in sports psychology in 1923, and later published the first book on the subject titled The Psychology of Coaching (1926). Unfortunately, Griffith’s lab was closed in 1932 due to lack of funds. After the lab was shut down, there was very little research on sports psychology until the subject experienced a revival of interest during the 1960s.

Ferruccio Antonelli established the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) in 1965 and by the 1970s sports psychology had been introduced to university course offerings throughout North America. The first academic journal, the International Journal of Sport Psychology, was introduced in 1970, which was then followed by the establishment of the Journal of Sport Psychology in 1979.

By the 1980s, sports psychology became the subject of a more rigorous scientific focus as researchers began to explore how psychology could be used to improve athletic performance, as well as how exercise could be utilized to improve mental well-being and lower stress levels.

Sports Psychology Today

Contemporary sports psychology is a diverse field. While finding ways to help athletes is certainly an important part of sports psychology, the application of exercise and physical activity for improving the lives of non-athletes is also a major focus.

Major Topics Within Sports Psychology

There are a number of different topics that are of special interest to sports psychologists. Some professionals focus on a specific area, while others study a wide range of techniques.

• Imagery: Involves visualizing performing a task, such as participating in an athletic event or successfully performing a particular skill.


• Motivation: A major subject within sports psychology, the study of motivation looks at both extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. Extrinsic motivators are external rewards, such as trophies, money, medals or social recognition. Intrinsic motivators arise from within, such as a personal desire to win or the sense of pride that comes from performing a skill.


• Attentional Focus: Involves the ability to tune out distractions, such as a crowd of screaming fans, and focus attention on the task at hand.

Sport psychology is the scientific study of people and their behaviours in sport and exercise activities. The aim of the study of sport psychology is to be able to apply the knowledge learned about these to practical uses. There are two objectives that the field of sport psychology aims to meet. These are:

1. To understand the effects of psychological factors on physical performance.
2. To understand the effects of participating in physical activity on psychological development, health and well-being.
   

Typical questions that a sport psychologist might ask are:

• How does anxiety affect the accuracy of an athlete's movements?
• Does lacking self-confidence influence a person's ability to learn a certain sport?
• How does a coach's reinforcement or punishment influence a player's performance?
• Does imagery training help the process of recovery in injured athletes?
• Does running reduce anxiety and depression?
• Does participating in youth sports cause young athletes to be overly aggressive?
• Does participation in daily physical education classes improve a child's self-esteem?
• Does participation in athletics enhance personality development?
  

Sports psychology applies to a broad population of people - seniors, children, people who exercise daily, elite athletes, average athletes, the physically and mentally challenged, coaches, teachers and fitness leaders.

Sport psychologists conduct research, teach about what they have learned about sport psychology and also consult with athletes and coaches.

Careers in Sports Psychology

Becoming a sports psychologist could be an exciting career choice for many psychology students, especially those who have a strong interest in sports and physical activity. If you are interested in this career, learn more about the educational requirements, job duties, salaries and other considerations in this profile of careers in sports psychology.