Chapter 1: Sport psychology: A discipline and profession
The ultimate goal of a sport psychology consultant should be to teach clients to teach or
counsel themselves.
Positive psychology is an approach to human behaviour that focuses upon wellness and
not merely absence of disease.
Evidence-based practice: sound application and practice must be based upon good
science.
Sport psychology: a science in which the principles of psychology are applied in a sport or
exercise setting. It is dedicated to the enhancement of both athletic performance and the
social-psychological aspects of human enrichment. It is the study of the effect of
psychological and emotional factors on sport and exercise performance and the other way
around.
Norman Triplett (1897) analysed the performance of cyclist under conditions of social
facilitation.
Coleman Griffith: the father of sport psychology in North America. He established the first
sport psychology laboratory at the university of Illinois (1925).
Because of his pioneering work with personality and applied sport psychology, Bruce
Ogilvie is referred to as the father of applied sport psychology in North America.
Rainer Martens: father of modern sport psychology.
In 1925 Piotr Antonovich Roudik founded the first sport psychology laboratory in the
Soviet Union.
Clinical/counselling sport psychologist is trained in clinical or counselling psychology and
may be a licensed psychologist. They are prepared to deal with emotional and personality
disorder problems that affect some athletes.
Educational sport psychologists have mastered the knowledge base of sport psychology
and serve as practitioners. They teach correct principles of sport and exercise psychology to
athletes and coaches.
Research sport psychologists amplify the knowledge base.
The practice of sport psychology involves two diverse components:
- Teaching
- Clinical services
Diversity: people form diverse cultural backgrounds are represented in any group.
Inclusiveness: individuals are not excluded from a group because of their race, ethnic
background, gender, sexual orientation or religion.
Cultural competence: coach or sport psychologists understands his client’s racial identity
and his own and the role that race and cultural ethnicity play in the athlete/consultant
relationship.
Enculturation: by being born and raised in a particular group/culture.
Acculturation: learning to look at the world through a multicultural lens.
Multicultural counselling: counselling that takes place among individuals from different
cultural/racial backgrounds.
Multicultural training of sport psychology students should be provided in four domains:
- Students should experience a heightened awareness of and sensitivity ot cultural
groups different from their own.
- They should gain knowledge about people who belong to other cultures.
- Should learn helping and intervention skills through the process of role playing and
simulated interaction.
The ultimate goal of a sport psychology consultant should be to teach clients to teach or
counsel themselves.
Positive psychology is an approach to human behaviour that focuses upon wellness and
not merely absence of disease.
Evidence-based practice: sound application and practice must be based upon good
science.
Sport psychology: a science in which the principles of psychology are applied in a sport or
exercise setting. It is dedicated to the enhancement of both athletic performance and the
social-psychological aspects of human enrichment. It is the study of the effect of
psychological and emotional factors on sport and exercise performance and the other way
around.
Norman Triplett (1897) analysed the performance of cyclist under conditions of social
facilitation.
Coleman Griffith: the father of sport psychology in North America. He established the first
sport psychology laboratory at the university of Illinois (1925).
Because of his pioneering work with personality and applied sport psychology, Bruce
Ogilvie is referred to as the father of applied sport psychology in North America.
Rainer Martens: father of modern sport psychology.
In 1925 Piotr Antonovich Roudik founded the first sport psychology laboratory in the
Soviet Union.
Clinical/counselling sport psychologist is trained in clinical or counselling psychology and
may be a licensed psychologist. They are prepared to deal with emotional and personality
disorder problems that affect some athletes.
Educational sport psychologists have mastered the knowledge base of sport psychology
and serve as practitioners. They teach correct principles of sport and exercise psychology to
athletes and coaches.
Research sport psychologists amplify the knowledge base.
The practice of sport psychology involves two diverse components:
- Teaching
- Clinical services
Diversity: people form diverse cultural backgrounds are represented in any group.
Inclusiveness: individuals are not excluded from a group because of their race, ethnic
background, gender, sexual orientation or religion.
Cultural competence: coach or sport psychologists understands his client’s racial identity
and his own and the role that race and cultural ethnicity play in the athlete/consultant
relationship.
Enculturation: by being born and raised in a particular group/culture.
Acculturation: learning to look at the world through a multicultural lens.
Multicultural counselling: counselling that takes place among individuals from different
cultural/racial backgrounds.
Multicultural training of sport psychology students should be provided in four domains:
- Students should experience a heightened awareness of and sensitivity ot cultural
groups different from their own.
- They should gain knowledge about people who belong to other cultures.
- Should learn helping and intervention skills through the process of role playing and
simulated interaction.
