Sport & Exercise Psychology Presentation based on a presentation created by Dr. Jack Watson and Dr. Ed Etzel, West Virginia University for Division 47,

Sport & Exercise Sport & Exercise PsychologyPsychology

Presentation based on a presentation Presentation based on a presentation created by created by

Dr. Jack Watson and Dr. Ed Etzel,Dr. Jack Watson and Dr. Ed Etzel,West Virginia University for West Virginia University for

Division 47, Sport and Exercise PsychologyDivision 47, Sport and Exercise PsychologyAmerican Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological Association

Today’s Path…Today’s Path…

What is Exercise and Sport What is Exercise and Sport Psychology (ESP)?Psychology (ESP)?

A little bit of ESP historyA little bit of ESP history What are some of the roles of a What are some of the roles of a

ESP professional?ESP professional? Where do ESP’s work?Where do ESP’s work? Why consult with an ESP? Why consult with an ESP? What are common services and What are common services and

interventions?interventions?

““What is Exercise and Sport Psychology What is Exercise and Sport Psychology (ESP)?(ESP)?””

The The study of behavioral factorsstudy of behavioral factors that influence and that influence and are influenced by participation in are influenced by participation in sport, exercise sport, exercise and physical activityand physical activity

The The applicationapplication of the knowledge gained through of the knowledge gained through this study this study to everyday settingsto everyday settings (e.g., amateur and (e.g., amateur and elite sport, fitness and wellness settings, sports elite sport, fitness and wellness settings, sports medicine, athletics, counseling, performing arts, medicine, athletics, counseling, performing arts, business)business)

The study of howThe study of how participationparticipation in sport, exercise in sport, exercise and physical activity may and physical activity may enhance personal enhance personal development, well-being and mental health over development, well-being and mental health over the life spanthe life span

Overview of ESPOverview of ESP( A bit of history( A bit of history…)…)

• It is not a new fieldIt is not a new field – it has been an – it has been an area of scientific study for area of scientific study for approximately 100 yearsapproximately 100 years

• Its Its rootsroots are in physical education are in physical education and coaching and coaching

• Early research was conducted on Early research was conducted on cycling and audience effects by cycling and audience effects by Norman TriplettNorman Triplett in 1897 in 1897

Overview of ESPOverview of ESP( A bit of history( A bit of history…)…)

• G. Stanley HallG. Stanley Hall reported on benefits of reported on benefits of physical education in 1908physical education in 1908

• Coleman GriffithColeman Griffith has a sport psychology has a sport psychology lab at University of Illinois in 1925. He lab at University of Illinois in 1925. He studied personality, motor learning and studied personality, motor learning and motivation and also served as a motivation and also served as a consultant to major league baseball, the consultant to major league baseball, the Chicago Cubs.Chicago Cubs.

2 Major Professional 2 Major Professional OrganizationsOrganizations

APA Division 47APA Division 47 (Exercise & Sport (Exercise & Sport Psychology)Psychology)

[N=910, 2006][N=910, 2006]

AASPAASP

Association for Association for Applied Sport Applied Sport PsychologyPsychology

[N=1236, 2006][N=1236, 2006]

What do ESP Professionals do?What do ESP Professionals do?

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

ResearchResearch (Some professional conduct (Some professional conduct research on topics such as anxiety, injury research on topics such as anxiety, injury prevention, exercise adoption, retirement, prevention, exercise adoption, retirement, coaching behaviors, athlete stress, coaching behaviors, athlete stress, recovery, mental health of athletes)recovery, mental health of athletes)

What do ESP Professionals do?What do ESP Professionals do?

PracticePractice (Many ESP professionals are in (Many ESP professionals are in private practice. They work counseling private practice. They work counseling centers, sports medicine, wellness settings centers, sports medicine, wellness settings and health clubs.)and health clubs.)

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

There is no “typical” sport and exercise There is no “typical” sport and exercise psychologist in this psychologist in this rapidlyrapidly growing field growing field

Where can youWhere can you find an ESP?find an ESP?

Private practice Private practice University and College counseling University and College counseling

centerscentersand athletic departmentsand athletic departments

Sports medicine centersSports medicine centers Elite sports academiesElite sports academies

Why would clients seek the services of Why would clients seek the services of an exercise and sport psychology an exercise and sport psychology

professionalprofessional??

ToTo improve or optimize improve or optimize performance to help make performance to help make performance more effectiveperformance more effective

To help overcome obstacles that To help overcome obstacles that prevent the reaching of potential prevent the reaching of potential

To assist with adopting or To assist with adopting or maintaining an exercise programmaintaining an exercise program

To facilitate efficient/healthy To facilitate efficient/healthy functioning of sport or other functioning of sport or other teams (team building, conflict)teams (team building, conflict)

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON WHAT ARE SOME COMMON PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT ENHANCEMENT

ISSUES?ISSUES?

COMMON PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT ISSUESCOMMON PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT ISSUES

Perform more consistently up to Perform more consistently up to potentialpotential

Set useful training & competition goalsSet useful training & competition goals Prepare mentally and develop routines Prepare mentally and develop routines

to better control thoughts & emotionsto better control thoughts & emotions Manage energy (psyching up and Manage energy (psyching up and

down)down)

More IssuesMore Issues

Increase/maintain confidenceIncrease/maintain confidence Handle training & competition Handle training & competition

stressstress Focus, attention, concentration, Focus, attention, concentration,

distractiondistraction Increase/maintain motivationIncrease/maintain motivation Facilitate team Facilitate team

cohesion/communicationcohesion/communication

What are some common What are some common ESP interventions that ESP interventions that

professionals use to help professionals use to help their clients?their clients?

Performance Enhancement Performance Enhancement InterventionsInterventions

Cognitive-behavioral therapyCognitive-behavioral therapy Self-talk Self-talk Cognitive restructuringCognitive restructuring Refuting irrational thinkingRefuting irrational thinking Thought stoppingThought stopping

More PE InterventionsMore PE Interventions

Imagery and visualizationImagery and visualization Mental practiceMental practice Attention control trainingAttention control training BiofeedbackBiofeedback

More PE InterventionsMore PE Interventions

““Transferable” Life SkillsTransferable” Life Skills•Time managementTime management•Goal settingGoal setting•Communication skillsCommunication skills•Self-AwarenessSelf-Awareness

ESP Career ESP Career PossibilitiesPossibilities

APA Division 47APA Division 47

Exercise and Sport PsychologyExercise and Sport Psychology

Tracks I-IVTracks I-IV

APA D47APA D47 http://www.apa.org/divisions/div47/http://www.apa.org/divisions/div47/

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

Career Possibilities in ESPCareer Possibilities in ESP

TRACK I TRACK I TEACHING/RESEARCH IN TEACHING/RESEARCH IN SPORT SCIENCESSPORT SCIENCES AND WORK WITH AND WORK WITH ATHLETES ON PERFORMANCE ATHLETES ON PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTENHANCEMENT

Full or Part-time teaching area Full or Part-time teaching area institutions (HS, college, university, institutions (HS, college, university, sports med)sports med)

Part-time consultingPart-time consulting

Career Possibilities in ESPCareer Possibilities in ESP

TRACK II TRACK II TEACHING/RESEARCH IN TEACHING/RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY AND ALSO AND ALSO INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH ATHLETESATHLETES

Full or Part-time teaching area Full or Part-time teaching area institutions (HS, college, university, institutions (HS, college, university, sports med)sports med)

Part-time consultingPart-time consulting

Career Possibilities in ESPCareer Possibilities in ESP

TRACK III TRACK III PROVIDE CLINICAL or COUNSELING PROVIDE CLINICAL or COUNSELING or PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT or PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT SERVICES TO VARIOUS SERVICES TO VARIOUS POPULATIONS, INCLUDING ATHLETESPOPULATIONS, INCLUDING ATHLETES

Private practicePrivate practice University counseling centers & University counseling centers &

athletic departmentsathletic departments Sports medicine clinicsSports medicine clinics

Career Possibilities in ESPCareer Possibilities in ESP

TRACK IV TRACK IV HEALTH PROMOTION & WORK HEALTH PROMOTION & WORK WITH ATHLETES BUT NOT WITH ATHLETES BUT NOT NECESSARILY DIRECTLY IN SPORT NECESSARILY DIRECTLY IN SPORT PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

Health clubsHealth clubs Health organizationsHealth organizations Community organizationsCommunity organizations

How DO You Become a Sport How DO You Become a Sport Psychologist?Psychologist?

Earn an undergraduate degree, preferably in Earn an undergraduate degree, preferably in clinical/counseling psychology with coursework in the clinical/counseling psychology with coursework in the sport sciences.sport sciences.

Earn a graduate degree, ultimately a doctorate.Earn a graduate degree, ultimately a doctorate. Examine the Division 47 Proficiency in Sport Psychology Examine the Division 47 Proficiency in Sport Psychology

to identify prerequisite skills and knowledgeto identify prerequisite skills and knowledge Join professional organizations as a student, especially Join professional organizations as a student, especially

Division 47.Division 47. Attend sport psychology conferences and read sport Attend sport psychology conferences and read sport

psychology journals.psychology journals. Get some research experience.Get some research experience. Get competitive experience at some level.Get competitive experience at some level.

For more informationFor more information

Go to Go to http://www.apa.org/about/division/http://www.apa.org/about/division/div47.htmldiv47.html and andhttp://www.apa47.org http://www.apa47.org