The field of exercise and sports psychology had its origins more than one century ago and continues to flourish today. Psychologists in this field work with athletes and their coaches to overcome common obstacles to optimum performance such as anxiety, poor concentration and low team morale. Additionally, psychologists research the effect of exercise and sports on the development of a healthy psyches in athletes and the ability of these activities to shape individual well-being.
History
Psychologists interested in the dynamic interplay among athletes, societies and their psyches have been around for more than 100 years. One of the first sports psychology experiments was performed by researcher Norman Triplett in 1898. Triplett found that cyclists performed better when they were in competition than they did when they were riding solo. This observation, called "social facilitation," garnered a lot of interest and is still the subject of study years later. Other scientists, including G. Stanley Hall who studied the effect of physical education, and Coleman Griffith who worked with the Chicago Cubs, followed in Triplett's footsteps. As of March 2011, two major groups are dedicated to exercise and sports psychology: the American Psychological Association, Division 47 and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
Purpose
The goal of exercise and sports psychology is two-fold: To understand the influence of psychological factors on athletic performance and to understand the psychological effects of participating in a sport or activity on the participant. For instance, an exercise and sports psychologist might study how a coach's particular style of discipline affects individual players performance and team dynamics. The psychologist might also ask how participating in organized sports influences a child's psychological development and well-being.
Careers
Exercise and sports psychologists typically work in three areas: education, research and private practice. Educators include psychologists who teach at universities or who conduct workshops for coaches and athletes who wish to enhance their performance. Research psychologists work in a variety of settings seeking to further theories regarding athletic performance, anxiety, team dynamics, injury prevention and many other subjects. Private practice psychologists work in fitness clubs, conduct private consulting, work with athletic teams or individual athletes and work in other health care settings. Often, overlap exists among the three specialties as the field of exercise and sports psychology continues to develop.
Tools of the Trade
Exercise and sports psychologists have developed several ways to enhance athletic performance in the past one hundred years of research. For instance, a psychologist might guide a nervous athlete in visualization and imagery exercises to help the athlete cope with performance anxiety. Other techniques are used to help athletes maintain their focus during a game, increase their self-confidence and facilitate communication between team players and their coaches.
References
- St. Louis Psychologists and Counseling Information and Referral Network; Sports Psychology and Exercise Psychology; Paul Susic
- University of Michigan-Dearborn: History of Sport Psychology; Richard Straub
- American Psychological Assocation: Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology
- APA Division 47: Sport and Exercise Psychology; Jack Watson, et. al.
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