Sport Psychology
Question
Required Text:
Sanderson, C. A. (2017). Sport Psychology. New York: Oxford
University Press / ISBN: 978-0-19-991744-0
Relevant Chapters: 1,3, and 4
Paper guidelines
Paper guidelines |
The papers are worth up to 20.0 points: up to 15.0 points will be
reserved for content coverage (i.e., answering all parts of the prompts
thoroughly) and the remaining 5.0 points are reserved for basic formatting,
grammar, mechanics, and organization.
These papers are about 3 (minimum) or 4 pages in length, with
standard one-inch margins, double-spaced with an 11- or 12-point font. The
prompts are constructed specifically to promote a paper about this length. When
writing, if all terms are described and supported, and/or personal examples and
perspectives are integrated, the paper will approximate or exceed this
length. Papers consisting of a short paragraph with a few sentences
generally lack substance and thoroughness for full credit. While going over two
pages is acceptable (grades won't be marked down for it), aim for at least 3
pages in length. Note the minimum length does not include the
title or reference pages.
In terms of formatting, APA style should be adhered to. For a
student paper, there should be an APA style title page (abstract not needed)
and headings (e.g., level 2) which break apart sections at logical spots.
Assuming you use the book for most material, please cite it in APA style. If
you use additional sources (articles, websites) those should be cited
appropriately in text and on the reference page.
A helpful APA style resource is the OWL at Purdue University,
which may be found at: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
Paper 1
How would you define and describe a
sport and exercise psychologist? Moreover, what do sport psychologists do in
terms of professional activity (i.e., specific roles and careers)? Should only
professionals licensed in psychology be able to call themselves a "sport
and exercise psychologist” or should other professionals who deal with
psychosocial aspects of sport and exercise (e.g., kinesiologists, physical
educators, sport scientists) also qualify as a psychologist? Be sure to
clearly defend your points and rationale. In addition, how might sport
psychology professionals help athletes specifically with cognitions,
attributions, and motivation? In answering, introduce these terms and discuss
why they are relevant in sport. Also discuss how they can become problematic
for athletes and what sport psychology professionals aim to do to modify and
help. Use examples to illustrate points.


Solution
Sport Psychology
Sport and exercise psychology involves the study of
psychological and mental factors which influence or are associated with
participation in exercises, sports, or any form of physical activity. A sport
and exercise psychologist is a person who has earned a doctorate degree in the psychology
field. He or she must also have specialized knowledge and expertise in
performance psychology. The psychologist works with sportspersons, coaches, and
teams to advance their motivation and performance. There are two main concerns
of a sport and exercise psychologist. One is to monitor how sports and exercise
can help to enhance a person’s health, performance, and satisfaction with
specific activities (Sanderson, 2017). This mainly focuses on mental skills
development, which involves the aptitude of a person to improve in performance while
enjoying the activity. The second concern is to understand the effects of sports
and exercise participation on a person’s psychological development and well-being.
The Roles
of Sport Psychologists
Sport psychology is diverse, and the roles of the
psychologist vary according to the patient’s engagement, objectives, and place
of work. Some of their daily responsibilities may involve evaluation, report
writing, and communication with the sportspeople and their coaches (Sanderson,
2017). In most cases, the sport psychologist dedicates a lot of time to
building and implementing plans to help athletes in different areas.
Mental Skills Development
Mental skills
development is among the top roles of sport and exercise psychologists. They
teach athletes critical mental skills that help improve performance while on
the field. The mental techniques help an athlete develop confidence, intensity,
focus, and steadiness in athletics as a career (Sanderson, 2017). Psychologists
usually train athletes in how to use tools like self-talk, visualization, and
relaxation techniques in their career.
Fear and Anxiety Management
Athletes often face performance fears or anxiety,
especially when engaging in a race or competition. It is human nature to
experience anxiety or fear in a competition. Sport psychologists help athletes
overcome the fear via therapeutic techniques like meditation, stress
management, and relaxation techniques.
Injury Recovery
Athletes may sometimes experience traumatic injuries on
the field. Psychologists offer mental and physical rehabilitation to help in
recovery. They support and guide the athletes in all injury matters. In the case
of a challenging recovery process, they offer tools and techniques to help a
person cope with the associated pressure.
Program Habit Development
Mental preparation before any sport is a critical factor
in success. Sport psychologists help athletes develop healthy habits like
meditation and visualization. This helps them to always focus on the process
and not the results. The mindset shift from results to the process helps the
athletes to remain positive and confident during a race. During the off-season,
athletes find it hard to balance and maintain training routines. Sport
psychologists play a critical role in ensuring athletes remain dedicated to
their exercise routines. In addition, they help them with motor learning, which
is critical in building an effective exercise routine.
Every professional has a set of skills that define their
profession. There are different psychology professionals, who go by terms such
as mental game coaches,
high-performance coaches, and sports consultants (Sanderson,
2017). However, none of these is a
sport psychologist. To be referred to as a sport and exercise psychologist, you
must have a license to practice psychology and meet “American Psychological
Association-Division 47 (Proficiency in Sport Psychology) educational and
training standards.” Also, the sport psychologist must attain certification through
the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). In some states—for
instance, in Minnesota—sport psychologists are required to obtain certification
through the psychology board. Thus, not everyone with an understanding of the psychosocial
aspects of sport and exercise is a sport psychologist (Cherry, 2022).
How Sport Psychology
Professionals Help Athletes
Sport psychology professionals help athletes in cognition
and attribution, and motivate them. In sports, cognition skills involve the
ability of the sportsperson to identify and get relevant information for
success in a specific sport. Athletes need to use mental strategies to
reach their full potential. The sport psychologist helps them through cognition
by offering them knowledge and information that helps them focus on the process
rather than the end goal (Sanderson, 2017). In addition, they help athletes
with attribution, through which they analyze and understand what athletes
attribute their success to, and influence their thinking to ensure they strive
to reach their goals (Sanderson, 2017). In sports, attributions define what the
players attribute their success or loss to. Sport psychologists also help motivate
the athlete to continue working hard and support them when they need help. Motivation
is foundational to one’s drive to continue taking part in the sport (Sanderson,
2017). The psychologist offers techniques to help athletes stay motivated and handle
daily matters like stress management and meditation techniques.
Cognition, attribution, and motivation may be problematic
for an athlete, consciously or unconsciously. When a player lacks the necessary
knowledge about a race, for instance, they may be pessimistic. Several
instances of defeat may discourage an athlete. The sport psychologist helps
them to stay motivated, gives them stress management techniques, and helps them
get over the defeat and continue training for future matches.
References
Cherry, K. (2022). An overview of sports psychology. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-sports-psychology-2794906
Sanderson, C. A. (2017). Sport psychology.
Oxford University Press.




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