Many athletes acknowledge working with sports psychology professionals. The American Psychological Association added sports and exercise psychology as division 47 in 1986, calling it a quickly developing specialization that cuts across psychology and the sports sciences. Several career choices are available to people with this specialization.
Sports Psychology
Exercise and sports psychology are defined by the Psychtreatment website as "the scientific study of people and their behaviors in sports and exercise contexts and the practical applications of that knowledge." Individuals who specialize in the field of sports psychology identify guidelines and principles professionals can use to assist children and adults who participate in and benefit from exercise and sports activities. Those who become professionals in this field do so to understand the psychological factors affecting an individual's performance as well as how sports participation affects a person's psychological development, health and well-being.
History
Norman Triplett, a psychologist from Indiana University, is usually credited with being the first sports psychologist. Around the turn of the 20th century, Triplett researched and confirmed that bicyclists sometimes rode faster when they raced in pairs or groups than when they rode alone. Today, not all sports psychologists are trained the same way and might have different roles within the field such as conducting research, teaching and consulting with exercisers and athletes. Some treat athletes with emotional disorders such as substance abuse or anorexia, while others take on the role as mental coaches and work with well-adjusted people on improving their skills.
Anxiety
In the role of promoting optimum performance of athletes, sports psychologists deal with issues having to do with anxiety, arousal and performance. They may need to figure what would be the optimal level of arousal for the individual athlete as well as how stress and anxious feelings might affect the competitor's performance. They take into consideration both situational and individual trait anxiety when developing enhancement strategies. Relaxation and mental imagery are two techniques which are widely used.
Motivation and Well-Being
Successful athletic competition is dependent on motivation and goal-setting. Sports psychologists use both internal and external rewards to increase motivation. They also study the relationship of aggression with sports performance. They consider group dynamics and how such factors as how the audience affects the competition from the viewpoint of the competitor and the viewer. They research and inform people of the relationship between psychological well-being and vigorous physical activity.
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