Psychology is a broad field that has many sub-specialties such as abnormal psychology, educational psychology and sports psychology. According to West Chester University, sports psychology is the "study of the psychological and mental factors that influence and are influenced by performance in sport, exercise, and physical activity, and the application of the knowledge gained through the study to everyday settings."
History
The first sports psychology laboratory was founded in Berlin, Germany, in 1920 by Carl Diem. Five years later, in 1925, the first laboratory devoted to the field was founded in North America at the University of Illinois by Cloman Griffith. The lab closed in 1932 due to financial constraint, and few advancements were made in the area until the 1960s. By 1985 two scholarly journals and three professional organizations were devoted to the field of sports psychology.
Focus
Sports psychology focuses on a variety of factors associated with athletic performance, coaching and participation in sports. Motivation and confidence are two very important considerations of sports psychology. The driving force that motivates an athlete is not only important to personal satisfaction, but also has a huge influence on performance as well. Confidence is one of the most important characteristics of a successful athlete. Athletes continually push themselves beyond their physical and mental boundaries, and they must have high levels of self-confidence to achieve the goals they set for themselves. Sports psychology can also be beneficial in helping athletes to focus their attention on the sporting event and learn to engage in imagery during which they envision themselves performing a specific sport or activity in a certain manner. Sports psychology can also be beneficial for sports teams as well as individual performance. Team cohesion is an extremely important factor of team performance. It is important for team members to understand and respect one another as individuals as well as function as a single unit. Sports psychologists can help with team building both on and off the field.
Techniques
Sports psychologists utilize a variety of techniques to help athletes reach their full potential. Visualization and imagery is used to help athletes reduce stress, improve focus and build confidence. Cognitive restructuring is another popular technique used by psychologists. Cognitive restructuring involves redirecting thought processes. Instead of focusing on negative outcomes, positive performances and outcomes are encouraged. Many psychologists that specialize in sports also utilize techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing exercises and emphasizing process over outcome.
Benefits
There are many benefits of sport psychology for athletes. Sports psychology counseling can help athletes improve their attitude, tap into their true motivation for performance and improve their mental game skills. Counseling can help increase self-confidence, improve focus and develop strategies for dealing with distractions during competition and achieving optimal performance. Sports psychology services can also be beneficial for athletes recovering from injuries. Injuries often affect the confidence, motivation and attitude of an athlete, and a skilled and experienced sports psychologist can offer the support and guidance necessary to restore these essential characteristics.
Careers in Sports Psychology
Just as there are several sub-fields of psychology, there are several sub-fields and specific career paths of sports psychology. Sports psychology professionals can choose to focus on clinical counseling services specific to athletes or consulting geared toward coaches. Teaching and research in sports science and performance is another appealing career path option for many sports psychology professionals. The developing field allows for endless career possibilities for both new graduates and advanced professionals.
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