1. Psychology of Sport August 26-31, 2009 Classes #2-4
Introduction to Sport Psychology – Chapter 1 Professional Issues – Chapter 2 History of Sport Psychology – Chapter 4
Psychology of Sport
August 26-31, 2009
Classes #2-4

2. What is Sports Psychology
“Being in the flow” (Csikzentmihalyi) or “in the zone”
Optimal experience
Enhance performance
Clinical issues
Individual differences

3. Sugarman (2007)
What’s needed to reach optimal performance?

4. Types of Sport Psychologists
Clinical/Counseling
Educational
Research

5. Training the Sport Psychologist
College Departments:
Physical Education
Kinesiology
Sport Studies
Human Movement Studies
Sport Sciences
Psychology
Athletic Counseling

6. Credentialing: Who can be called a “sport psychologist”?
Licensure
Statutory process designed to regulate member conduct
Certification
Nonstatutory credentialing procedure carried out by an organization (AASP)
Registry
Nonstatutory procedure indication professional recognition

7. Ethical Principles Competence Integrity
Professional and Scientific Responsibility
Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity
Concern for the Welfare of Others
Social Responsibility

8. Image of the Profession
Some players and coaches are skeptical (“old school”)
Media seems to be supporting advances made because of interventions of sport psychologists

9. Employment for Sport Psychologists
Set up private practice allocating some or all to working with athletes
Need earned Ph.D. in clinical or counseling and take sport sciences courses or athletic counseling degree
University professor in psychology, kinesiology, sport sciences, etc. department and teach, conduct research, and train athletes in sport psychological techniques
Need earned Ph.D. in sport psychology or related field

10. History of Sport Psychology
Triplett (1897) often cited as the first sport psychology experiment
Triplett, who was a bicycling enthusiast, noticed that cyclists performed better in races than they did when they were paced by motor-driven cycles or when they were timed riding the course alone

11. Mere Presence of Others and Social Facilitation
Same result when he asked children to wind fishing reels as quickly as possible
He thought that the mere presence of others would improve our performance

12. Triplett (1897): Fishing reels study
Participants:
40 children ages 8 to 17
Procedures:
A trial consisted in turning the reel at the highest rate of speed until a small flag sewed to the silk band had made four circuits of the four-meter course
The time of the trial was taken by means of a stop-watch
Results:
All children performed faster when in competition compared to when alone

13. History of Sport Psych
Griffith
Ogilvie
Martens