SMGT 2550-02: Psychology of Sport

Provides information relating to certificate programs in sport psychology for mental health professionals, clinicians and coaches.

Founded in 1954, "the American College of Sports Medicine puts into practice its strategic efforts to advancing the health of all.

"Founded in 1986, Division 47 represents the field of exercise and sport psychology; an interdisciplinary specialization that cuts across psychology and the sport sciences." The website features the Division newsletter and a "Resources" category with books, journals, websites, organizations, job and internship postings, and conference information.

"Founded in 1986, the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) promotes the ethical practice, science, and advocacy of sport and exercise psychology. AASP is an international, multidisciplinary, professional organization that offers certification to qualified professionals who practice sport, exercise, and health psychology."

"The International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP) is an organization devoted to promoting research, practice, and development in the discipline of sport psychology throughout the world. The ISSP is a multidisciplinary association of scholars whose research interests focus on some aspects of sport psychology."

"The North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity is a multidisciplinary association of scholars from the behavioral sciences and related professions." The "Resource Center" section links to the Human Kinetics journals search page, and other sections provide information on conferences, awards, and grants.

Everyone feels a bit nervous before a big game. That’s normal. There’s a difference, however, between nerves and anxiety. When apprehension starts interfering with a player’s performance – and worse, their personal life – it’s a problem. Here’s what you as a coach can do to help. 3 Things Coaches Can Do To Help Players Overcome Anxiety According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 18 percent of adults experience anxiety. It is, by all accounts, the most common mental illness in the country, affecting around 40 million adults a year. Yet even with anxiety’s prevalence, only around […]

“Direction is more important than speed” The highest level performers in all walks of life have one specific thing in common – they have a WHY! This is true for CEO’s of Fortune 1000 companies, U.S Military Special Forces Operators, professional and Olympic athletes, and even A-list celebrities. What does it mean to have a WHY? All of the people mentioned above are able to successfully compete at the absolute peak of their field because they have a clear and defined reason to do what they do. Their WHY gives them purpose, motivation, determination, discipline and constantly reminds […]

source Walk into any random gym and try talking to a versed powerlifter. Chances are that they have, at one time or another, experienced low back issues, whether caused by a poorly performed lift or an old injury. Then talk to a tennis player, a runner, or a CrossFit athlete, and the vast majority of them will likely share similar stories with you. The lower back is perhaps somewhat of the modern human’s Achilles’ heel since it’s easy to get sprained, injured, or a disc ruptured. In such situations, the pain can become chronic and the athlete in question […]

What is success and how is measured? What does it mean to fail or succeed? Are failure and success based on end results or is it process oriented? These are important questions to consider as athletes, coaches, sports parents, and performance psychology professionals. I was freshman in High School when I first heard about the opportunity to play basketball for a college in a foreign country, thousands of miles away from my home in Boras, Sweden. At the time the idea felt so out of reach and so big that I did not want to dream about it. Fast-forwarding a few years, I […]

Almost every athlete experiences nervousness and/or anxiety about their performance from time to time. What separates the elite athletes from everyday players is the ability to control and even use this nervous energy for their benefit. This, however, is not an easy task to accomplish. “CALM DOWN!” … We have all heard this from coaches, parents, and teammates before or during a performance where it is evident that anxiety has overtaken our control. But this is easier said than done. Anxiety has potentially detrimental physiological effects on the human body. These effects can easily inhibit athletes from achieving their […]

I think if you took a poll of regular golfers, they’d say that there is no more frustrating sport than the game of golf. There are thousands of hours of YouTube clips on the internet of golfers melting down on the course if something goes wrong, to prove this point. From throwing to breaking clubs, dumping out bags in the fairway or launching golf balls into nearby water after putting out, the spectacle of expressing anger on the course is a storied tradition. But as funny as we may think those tantrums are on video, we all know that […]

At its core, coaching is a noble profession. Whether you’re working in youth sports or in a professional league, there’s a lot riding on your shoulders. It’s your job to help your players be the best they can be. That’s a lot more difficult than we imagine, especially for first-time coaches. Whether teaching kids, youths or adults, coaching is challenging work. You’re responsible for the performance of an entire group of people. For leading your team to victory and helping them through the defeats they suffer along the way. It isn’t something just anyone can do. Of course, even […]

Self-efficacy is defined as the belief in one’s ability to execute certain actions in order to achieve a specific outcome. This theory, proposed by Albert Bandura, plays a significant role for athletes and athletic performance. As coaches, if we can figure out how to nurture our athlete’s self-efficacy, then we can begin to help them unlock their full athletic potential. The question is, how do we build practice plans and teach in a way that builds this self-efficacy? Fortunately, there are several sources of self-efficacy and examples of how to incorporate them into your practices. Below I have listed […]

85 percent of the US population consumes caffeine every day in the form of coffee, tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks. Caffeine is a psychoactive drug that stimulates the brain, elevates your mood, and postpones fatigue. As is the case with any other ‘drug,’ you need to be careful about how much caffeine you take, especially if you are an athlete. Caffeine affects everyone differently depending on their size, weight, health condition, the amount taken, and whether or not the person is used to it. No matter how much you love a delicious cup of coffee in the morning or a […]

‘Exercise is good for you,’ a choir of adult voices hammered it in throughout your lifetime. But it is almost as if everyone expects you to take this as a given. Sure enough, it is not hard to dig up a plethora of articles and studies that explain how physical exercise improves your health, but there are also at least 5 ways it boosts your mental health too. 1. Energy requires energy You’ll rarely see happy people constantly stuck inside their home, comfortably clutching their couch pillows. If you were to take a more philosophical stance and throw […]

2019 is the year of self-care, and athletes are no exception. In fact, the NBA just released new guidelines on mental health, part of which includes hiring psychiatrists to help players and outlining action plans in the event of a mental health emergency. The focus and determination required to be an athlete means that your mental attitude is just as important as your physical fitness. It is especially important for teams, since the energy of one member can greatly influence another. Instead of leaving individuals to fend for their own mental health, how about trying these strategies to improve team morale […]

Only 23% of Americans are exercising enough to meet the recommended levels laid out in federal physical activity guidelines. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the major causes of obesity, which according to the American Medical Association, now affects nearly 40% of the population. Simply increasing activity through sports can help, but the causes of obesity are complex and can be confounded with mental health and emotional well being. Combining activity with sport psychology can be a more useful approach. Getting in the zone mentally is just as important for an elite athlete as physical training. In the same way, exercise alone isn’t enough to […]

There is no magic bullet for athletic success. If you want to reach your maximum performance, you have to put in the time and effort. Then again, if you are reaching for the stars, the process will be grueling and you will unavoidably discover the limits of your capabilities. However, there is such a thing as pointless suffering in the world of muscle-building and certain quality of life changes can smooth out a few bumps on the road. Among such tweaks and tricks, compression garments, such as compression calf sleeves, hold a well-deserved place in the echelon of helpful […]

If you’re considering taking part in your first marathon or if you’re starting preparations for your next adventure of such kind, you will have to follow a certain routine to build upon your strength, endurance, and performance. Most preparation plans will take from 16 to 20 weeks, and they consist of running several times a week, gradually increasing your mileage, adding some extra cross-fit training, and proper pre-race tapers. Such training plans, which you can easily find online, tend to focus on your mileage and getting your legs and muscles ready to handle such a physical challenge. Yet, there […]

Achieve Better Sleep By Incorporating Rest When you over train, you could be doing more damage to your sleep pattern and habits than other factors. Constant exercise can leave you feeling restless, which is one of the top factors affecting you getting a good night’s rest whether you are traveling or even at home. Therefore, achieving the right balance between training and rest is crucial, since exercise has also been shown to promote good sleep and reset your body’s sleep cycle. So, while those who are regular exercisers have better quality of sleep, too intense of a workout regime can also aggravate […]

It is no secret that athletics helps us build not only the body but also the mind. And even though mental health very often is not the goal of practicing martial arts, sports psychology has established a positive link between physical and mental well-being, or mental toughness, if you will. But how exactly would martial arts make you mentally tough? Martial arts build confidence The first benefit of martial arts for your mental toughness is that they help with building confidence. Martial arts can provide you with a massive mental boost thanks to the skills acquired and the ability […]

Life has become really busy where most people spend more than half of their day in office and doing other works. But it is understood pretty easily that all work and no play, makes Jack, a dull boy. Hence, it is necessary for us to indulge in some healthy games to refresh our minds. Since the time for leisure has become minimal in our life, therefore video games are now sprinting new life among the entire generation and are reviving their energy with the best android game apps. This year also has not been an exception as it has […]

It is an illusion to think that the elderly are incapable of physical activity, therefore cannot participate in sports. Some people sincerely believe that physical activity becomes obsolete with age. The widespread misconceptions also includes the idea that it is dangerous for older people to participate in sports due to the risk of injury. A recent report provided by healthcare specialists revealed that most people avoid physical activity all together at the age of 65. They either just sit or lay down most of the day – chillin. The immobility of the seniors increases their vulnerability making them suffer […]

Athletes often talk about “being in the zone” after some of their best performances. They usually describe the experience using similar language. They’ll talk about how they felt invincible, or how the rest of the world seemed to fade away. Although many athletes have experienced being in the zone and know how to describe it, most of them say that they can’t predict it. They don’t know how to get in the zone, and they don’t know when it’ll happen. As a result, the zone, as an elusive state which leads to enhanced sports performance, has piqued an interest […]

Horse racing in America has a rich history and tradition of many centuries lined with several legendary racing events that have made the country proud. Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes constitute the famous Triple Crown of horse racing that takes place over a 2 km or 11/4 mile stretch on a dirt track in Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky. The same race covers 1.9 km or 13/16 mile in Pimlico race course, Baltimore, Maryland for Preakness Stakes. The Belmont Stakes race covers a longer distance of 2.4 km or 11/2 miles. It is, therefore, a matter of great […]