What Is Sports Psychology | 7 Facts You Must Know About Degree In Sports Psychology Programs

Sports Psychology Degree

If you are interested in sports and looking for a career in which you can deal with performance issues of a sports team, an athlete, a team captain or a player, think of becoming a sports psychologist. Let’s discuss this promising field of sport psychology in detail.

Fact 1 # What Are The Career Option In Sports Psychology?

Sports psychologists are the experts who help sportsmen, athletes and players to stay on top of their games in the face of competing pressures and growing stress. The sub-field of psychology deals with the study of biopsychosocial elements of individuals who play sports and how sports affect their behavior, cognition and emotions. The career options for a sports psychologist are opening up and growing vastly in the contemporary times. They work with beginners to mature players and deal with their psychological issues that might hamper their performance in the field. Their main focus is to de-stress them and help them overcome the anxiety before the game. They are also instrumental in developing a good sports team in which players are cohesive, cooperative and play in tune with each other and in tandem with the objectives of the team captain.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), Sports psychology is a multidisciplinary field spanning psychology, sport science and medicine. This means that a student interested to become a sports psychologist must have a sound knowledge of sports science along with expertise in the areas of physiological and psychological health of players. He should be well-trained in physical education, exercise physiology, sports medicine, counseling and clinical interventions related to sports performance.

Fact 2 # Where Does Sports Psychologist Work?

Sports psychologists are appointed in sports academies, sports club, sports management companies, local authorities, schools and universities, recreational centers, and national and international sports organizations. Many also work independently in private settings and give consulting services as and when required.

Fact 3 # What Various Roles A Sports Psychologist Has To Perform?

A sports psychologist has to perform a variety of roles in his job that may range from a motivator, counselor, coach, mentor, personal trainer, manager, therapist, movement analyst, dietician, nutritionist etc. The primary job of a sports psychologist is to handle the stress of players thereby increasing their performance.

Fact 4 # Sports Psychology Graduate Programs That Makes A Successful Sport Psychologist

To become a sport’s psychologist requires 5-7 years of rigorous academic training along with hands-on experience of working with athletes, Olympians, sports team. It is important to note that sports psychology is an applied psychology field (the other major applied psychology disciplines are forensic psychology, school psychology, business psychology and clinical psychology), that assists teams and players to utilize their talent and skills to gain competitive advantage. The actual crux of the field can only be obtained by working with players and understanding their issues and challenges in the playground. Thus, internships, part-time consultant jobs, research assistant positions and summer trainings are essential for a prospective sports psychology student apart from academic degrees.

In terms of educational qualifications and degrees, one must hold a major and a master’s degree in sports psychology / physical science to be eligible to gain registered license to practice as a sports psychologist. The doctorate degrees in sports Psychology, PhD and PsyD, can make one enter in research and university positions and generate theoretical, research-based and applied knowledge of optimizing the mind of players.

Fact 5 # Sports Psychology Courses That Needs To Be Considered

Fact 6 # Sports Psychology Programs Offered At Some Top Notch Colleges

Fact 7 # Skills That Helps In Sport Psychology

It’s an important fact of psychology to understand that a good sports psychologist should be capable of instilling confidence, consistency, concentration, control and commitment in the players.

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