PYC4812
Assignment 2 2026
Unique number:
Due date: June 2026
SECTION A: INITIAL CONTACT WITH A SPORTS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Background information about the professional
For this project, I interacted with a sports psychologist who works with athletes at school,
club, and semi professional level. For ethical reasons, I refer to the professional as Ms N,
because the aim of this report is to discuss my learning experience and not to expose her
identity or the private information of athletes. Ms N explained that her work focuses on
helping athletes manage pressure, build confidence, improve concentration, recover
mentally after injury, and communicate better with coaches and teammates. Her role
showed me that sport performance is not only about physical training, because athletes also
need emotional control, good routines, motivation, and a safe environment where they can
speak honestly about challenges affecting their performance.
,SECTION A: INITIAL CONTACT WITH A SPORTS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Background information about the professional
For this project, I interacted with a sports psychologist who works with athletes at
school, club, and semi professional level. For ethical reasons, I refer to the
professional as Ms N, because the aim of this report is to discuss my learning
experience and not to expose her identity or the private information of athletes. Ms N
explained that her work focuses on helping athletes manage pressure, build
confidence, improve concentration, recover mentally after injury, and communicate
better with coaches and teammates. Her role showed me that sport performance is
not only about physical training, because athletes also need emotional control, good
routines, motivation, and a safe environment where they can speak honestly about
challenges affecting their performance.
The meeting helped me understand that a sports psychologist does not replace the
coach, physiotherapist, doctor, nutritionist, or biokineticist, because each
professional brings a different type of knowledge into the sporting team. The sports
psychologist mainly supports the mental and emotional side of performance, while
still working with other professionals when an athlete’s problem needs broader care.
This links with applied sport psychology literature, which explains that athletes and
coaches use mental skills to manage competitive stress, improve concentration,
strengthen confidence, communicate effectively, and support team harmony
(Williams and Krane, 2021: xiii). I also learnt that the professional must be careful not
to work outside her scope, because some athlete concerns may require referral to
another qualified health professional.
A description of the contacts
My first contact with Ms N took place through a respectful phone call where I
introduced myself, explained the purpose of the university assignment, and asked
whether she would be willing to share general information about her work. I made it
clear that I was not asking for private athlete records, confidential cases, or any
information that could identify a client. After the phone call, we agreed to meet at a
quiet office space near a local sports facility, where she normally meets athletes
before or after training sessions. The first meeting lasted about one hour, and it
, focused on her professional background, daily duties, ethical boundaries, and the
way she forms trust with athletes.
A second contact took place during an arranged observation period at a team
training environment, although I did not sit in on any private counselling session.
During this visit, I observed how Ms N spoke briefly with a coach, greeted athletes by
name, and used informal conversation to create a relaxed atmosphere before
training started. She explained that trust is built slowly, especially because some
athletes still believe that mental support is only for people who are weak or failing.
This matched the reading which notes that consultants must often deal with athlete
reluctance, build trust, maintain contact, and gain cooperation from the coaching
staff when implementing mental training programmes (Weinberg and Williams, 2021:
379).
The final contact was a short follow up discussion after the observation, where I
asked questions about what I had seen and reflected on what I had learnt. Ms N
explained that her first task is normally to listen carefully before suggesting any
intervention, because athletes often arrive with a performance complaint that has
deeper personal, social, or team related causes. She also emphasised that
confidentiality, informed consent, and respect for the athlete’s welfare guide her
practice. This is important in the South African health context, because ethical
guidance for health professionals includes informed consent and confidentiality as
key areas of responsible practice (HPCSA, 2025).
My impression of the professional’s reaction to the meeting
My impression was that Ms N responded positively to the meeting, although she was
also careful and professional from the beginning. She did not rush into giving
dramatic examples or private stories, which made me respect the ethical limits of her
work. At first, she asked me several questions about the assignment, my course
expectations, and how I intended to use the information. This showed that she
wanted to protect herself, the athletes, and the sporting organisation before agreeing
to take part in the project.
As the meeting continued, she became more open and seemed willing to explain the
real working context of sport psychology in a practical way. She did not present her
Assignment 2 2026
Unique number:
Due date: June 2026
SECTION A: INITIAL CONTACT WITH A SPORTS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Background information about the professional
For this project, I interacted with a sports psychologist who works with athletes at school,
club, and semi professional level. For ethical reasons, I refer to the professional as Ms N,
because the aim of this report is to discuss my learning experience and not to expose her
identity or the private information of athletes. Ms N explained that her work focuses on
helping athletes manage pressure, build confidence, improve concentration, recover
mentally after injury, and communicate better with coaches and teammates. Her role
showed me that sport performance is not only about physical training, because athletes also
need emotional control, good routines, motivation, and a safe environment where they can
speak honestly about challenges affecting their performance.
,SECTION A: INITIAL CONTACT WITH A SPORTS HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Background information about the professional
For this project, I interacted with a sports psychologist who works with athletes at
school, club, and semi professional level. For ethical reasons, I refer to the
professional as Ms N, because the aim of this report is to discuss my learning
experience and not to expose her identity or the private information of athletes. Ms N
explained that her work focuses on helping athletes manage pressure, build
confidence, improve concentration, recover mentally after injury, and communicate
better with coaches and teammates. Her role showed me that sport performance is
not only about physical training, because athletes also need emotional control, good
routines, motivation, and a safe environment where they can speak honestly about
challenges affecting their performance.
The meeting helped me understand that a sports psychologist does not replace the
coach, physiotherapist, doctor, nutritionist, or biokineticist, because each
professional brings a different type of knowledge into the sporting team. The sports
psychologist mainly supports the mental and emotional side of performance, while
still working with other professionals when an athlete’s problem needs broader care.
This links with applied sport psychology literature, which explains that athletes and
coaches use mental skills to manage competitive stress, improve concentration,
strengthen confidence, communicate effectively, and support team harmony
(Williams and Krane, 2021: xiii). I also learnt that the professional must be careful not
to work outside her scope, because some athlete concerns may require referral to
another qualified health professional.
A description of the contacts
My first contact with Ms N took place through a respectful phone call where I
introduced myself, explained the purpose of the university assignment, and asked
whether she would be willing to share general information about her work. I made it
clear that I was not asking for private athlete records, confidential cases, or any
information that could identify a client. After the phone call, we agreed to meet at a
quiet office space near a local sports facility, where she normally meets athletes
before or after training sessions. The first meeting lasted about one hour, and it
, focused on her professional background, daily duties, ethical boundaries, and the
way she forms trust with athletes.
A second contact took place during an arranged observation period at a team
training environment, although I did not sit in on any private counselling session.
During this visit, I observed how Ms N spoke briefly with a coach, greeted athletes by
name, and used informal conversation to create a relaxed atmosphere before
training started. She explained that trust is built slowly, especially because some
athletes still believe that mental support is only for people who are weak or failing.
This matched the reading which notes that consultants must often deal with athlete
reluctance, build trust, maintain contact, and gain cooperation from the coaching
staff when implementing mental training programmes (Weinberg and Williams, 2021:
379).
The final contact was a short follow up discussion after the observation, where I
asked questions about what I had seen and reflected on what I had learnt. Ms N
explained that her first task is normally to listen carefully before suggesting any
intervention, because athletes often arrive with a performance complaint that has
deeper personal, social, or team related causes. She also emphasised that
confidentiality, informed consent, and respect for the athlete’s welfare guide her
practice. This is important in the South African health context, because ethical
guidance for health professionals includes informed consent and confidentiality as
key areas of responsible practice (HPCSA, 2025).
My impression of the professional’s reaction to the meeting
My impression was that Ms N responded positively to the meeting, although she was
also careful and professional from the beginning. She did not rush into giving
dramatic examples or private stories, which made me respect the ethical limits of her
work. At first, she asked me several questions about the assignment, my course
expectations, and how I intended to use the information. This showed that she
wanted to protect herself, the athletes, and the sporting organisation before agreeing
to take part in the project.
As the meeting continued, she became more open and seemed willing to explain the
real working context of sport psychology in a practical way. She did not present her
