Sports Psychologists - Helping Athletes Get Back On Track
In sports, where a fraction of a second can make all the difference between winning and losing, the impact of psychology has become more and more an area of focus and for this reason sports psychologists are beginning to find themselves in great demand. Starting with Norman Triplett, a psychologist from Indiana University who discovered that cyclists rode faster in groups than when cycling solo, the discipline has since grown to encompass a range of terms and theories and has found its way in to most professional sports today from football to sprinting. Even Olympic curling benefits from sports psychology…
The role of the sports psychologist then is to provide consultation to help train the mental state of the athlete or team (as well as their coaches) thereby increasing their endurance, conscientiousness, confidence and the effectiveness of their training. Additionally they must manage emotion in a very high-pressure arena and try to minimize the psychological impact of injury or illness. Finally they will teach athletes to utilize techniques and ‘tricks’ such as goal setting, visualization, self talk and concentration; for example, sports psychologists teach that visualization can be useful both as a way of practicing and boosting confidence. Some studies suggest that when we ‘imagine’ ourselves performing the perfect golf swing our neurons fire in much the same way as they do when we actually perform the action, making it almost as valuable as ‘real’ training. Meanwhile, concentration and relaxation techniques can be utilized leading up to and during a game or event increasing their mental clarity and eliminating nerves or jitters. Athletes will then asked to practice these techniques on a regular basis in order to perfect them much in the same way that they practice their physical skills. This is known as ‘Psychological Skill Training’ or PST.
While these are the mains role of a sports psychologist ‘in the field’ (no pun intended); they will also be required to fulfill the roles of teacher and researcher. This means passing their knowledge down to the next generation of sports psychologists as well as breaking new ground by carrying out experiments and research projects to test new theories and techniques. This will also require you to be able to write up your results and calculate correlations for significant findings by using statistical programs such as SPSS, after which they will usually be published in a peer reviewed journal such as the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
In order to become a sports psychologist many universities are now offering degrees that cater specifically to that career. In order to work in the field you will need to obtain at least a masters or preferably a PHD to enable you to carry out research and work with the most high profile clients. You can also get certification from an accredited source such as the ABSP (American Board of Sport Psychology) or AASP (Association for Applied Sports Psychology), for which you also need a masters degree or doctorate in a clearly related field (PE, psychology or even sports psychology). For this reason becoming a sports psychologist represents a fairly large commitment in terms of your time and requires a certain amount of dedication.
For those who stick at it however, job satisfaction undoubtedly comes from having a hand in creating the winning team or athlete and in helping them to go from bronze to gold through your consultation and guidance, and there’s also something satisfying about having your research published in psychological or sports journals. Sports psychology presents an interesting blend of sports and academia and an interest in both will benefit you greatly. It’s a job that’s suited well to those who are interested in pushing the boundaries of human performance, who like working with people and who are maybe looking for something a bit different to the typical office job.
Explore Online Sports Psychology Degree Programs
Explore Online Psychology Degree Programs
Explore accredited online Psychology degree programs and request additional information about requirements, tuition, financial aid, and start dates directly from schools offering programs that match your interests:
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Argosy University
Campus
At Argosy University we prepare individuals for careers that make a difference, whether in business, education, or psychology. Learn how you can make a difference in your life, and the lives of others.
Programs:- Sport-Exercise Psychology (MA)
- Advanced Studies in Psychology (BA)
- Psychology (BA)
- Phoenix
- San Bernardino
- Orange
- Atlanta
- San Diego
- Schaumburg
- Honolulu
- Nashville
- Sarasota
- Chicago
- Arlington
- Dallas
- Alameda
- Seattle
- Santa Monica
- Denver
- Saint Paul
- Draper
- Tampa
Argosy University Online
Campus
Earn your degree without disrupting your life with Argosy University's flexible online programs in business, education and psychology. Benefit from experienced faculty, personalized service, and a supportive community.
Programs:- Sport-Exercise Psychology (MA)
- BA Psychology
- Phoenix
University of the Rockies
Online
Take the next step in your professional career with University of the Rockies.
Programs:- MA in Psychology, Sports and Performance Psychology Specialization
- Doctor of Psychology, Sports and Performance Psychology
- Doctor of Psychology, Criminology and Justice Studies
Ashworth College
Campus
Get the hands-on training and skills it takes to succeed with Ashworth College, a respected, worldwide leader in distance education. Study at the times and places most convenient for you.
Programs:- Sport Psychology
- Associate of Science Degree in Psychology
- Norcross
Keiser University
Campus
Keiser University eCampus Online offers degrees in fields that are in high demand and provides job placement assistance to all its students and alumni.
Programs:- Psychology, BA (Online)
- Fort Lauderdale
Kaplan University
Campus
Advance your career and get the distinct competitive advantage you need with an online degree from Kaplan University. And do it without missing a day of work.
Programs:- BS in Psychology
- MS in Psychology - General Psychology
- MS in Psychology
- Fort Lauderdale
Grand Canyon University
Campus
Don't Miss a Day of Your Future! Grand Canyon University is offering Bachelor and Master degrees through our College of Education, Ken Blanchard College of Business, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts, and College of Entrepreneurship. Classes start soon!
Programs:- BS Psychology
- Ph.D. in General Psychology with an Emphasis in Cognition and Instruction
- Phoenix
University of Phoenix
Campus
As the largest private university in North America, University of Phoenix has more than 200 locations, and is available online in most countries around the world. Whether you're seeking a college degree at an associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral level, we can help you reach your academic goal—and sooner than you might think.
Programs:- M.S. in Psychology
- BS in Psychology
- B.S. in Psychology
- Columbus
- Online
- Grand Rapids
- Meridian
- Nogales
- Houston
- San Diego
- Troy
- San Jose
- Gardena
- Hillsboro
- Livermore
- San Antonio
- East Lansing
- Chandler
- Minneapolis
- Fort Lauderdale
- Costa Mesa
- Salida
- Las Vegas
- Westminster
- Hollywood
- Tulsa
- Phoenix
- Flint
- Marietta
- Tigard
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- Sacramento
- Oakland
- Plantation
- Fresno
- Bakersfield
- Palm Beach Gardens
- Lone Tree
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- Reston
- Killeen
- Orlando
- Jacksonville
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- Augusta
- Springfield
- Duluth
- Bossier City
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- Macon
- Pasadena
- Ontario
- Maitland
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- Flowood
- Sarasota
- Henderson
- Brookfield
- Lathrop
- Reno
- Dallas
- Irving
- Austin
- Oklahoma City
- Kansas City
- Fairfax
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- Appleton
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- Hurst
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- Milwaukee
- Spring
- Little Rock
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- Pleasant Grove
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- Fairfield
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- Mesa
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- Sugar Land
- Saint Paul
- Chattanooga
- Madison
- Tampa
- St. Louis
- Richmond
- Clearwater
- Salem
- Aurora
- San Francisco
- Roseville
- St Louis Park
- Temple Terrace
South University Online
Campus
South University enjoys a long-standing tradition of excellence in education and personalized student attention. Enjoy the convenience of earning your bachelor's degree entirely online.
Programs:- Psychology (BA)
- Savannah
Liberty University
Campus
We keep our tuition affordable because it is an integral part of the overall mission for our university. The vision of our Chancellor, Jerry Falwell Jr., is to keep Liberty's Distance Learning Program affordable so as many individuals as possible can experience a Christ-centered education and become equipped for excellence, professionally as well as spiritually.
Programs:- AA in Psychology
- BS in Psychology
- MA in Professional Counseling
- Lynchburg
Walden University
Online
Balance your personal and professional commitments while earning a respected Ph.D., master's degree, or bachelor's degree online at Walden University. Programs offered in management, education, psychology and health and human services.
Programs:- M.S. in Psychology - General
- B.S. in Psychology - Psychology Applied in Helping Professions
- M.S. in Psychology - Crisis Management & Response
Keiser University Graduate School
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Psychology, PhD
- Fort Lauderdale
North Park University
Campus
North Park's School of Adult Learning offers you a convenient and affordable way to finish your bachelor's degree while working full-time. Face-to-face and online courses mean convenience and scheduling flexibility, and you can choose from one of seven different majors, including business administration, criminal justice, and nonprofit management.
Programs:- Counseling Psychology
- Chicago
- Grayslake
Keiser University Campus
Campus
Keiser University offers accredited degree programs in today's high-demand careers: Healthcare, Technology, Paralegal, Business, Nursing and Legal Studies.
Programs:- Psychology, BA
- Sports Medicine & Fitness Technology, BS
- Sports Medicine & Fitness Technology, AS
- Melbourne
- Tallahassee
- Miami
- Fort Myers
- Hollywood
- Lakeland
- West Palm Beach
- Fort Lauderdale
- Daytona Beach
- Sarasota
- Orlando
- Tampa
- Port Saint Lucie
Colorado Christian University
Campus
With a heritage dating back to 1914, Colorado Christian University is committed to offering a complete education that develops students intellectually, professionally, and spiritually. As the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities located in the mainline Rocky Mountains region, and just a few minutes from downtown Denver, CCU is uniquely positioned to offer students a distinctive variety of educational opportunities and experiences. CCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs designed to equip students to become leaders in their careers, communities, families, and in the world. CCU students are enrolled at the main campus near Denver and at satellite locations throughout Colorado.
Programs:- Psychology, B.S.
- M.A. Counseling
- Grand Junction
- Denver
- Englewood
- Colorado Springs
- Sterling
