DEFINED:  The study of the psychological factors that affect the learning and performance of motor skills (including sport and exercise and recreational games).

WHO IS TO BENEFIT FROM SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY?

Brief History
PHILIP K. WRIGLEY - 1938 Conducted one of the first attempts to utilize psychological data in order to obtain profiles on champion baseball players.  Objective:  Was to determine who or who not to contract as a professional

Major Resistance from Athletes

OGILVIE & TUTKO - LATE 1950’S AND 1960’S, Wrote a book (Problem Athletes and How To Handle Them).  This book has been viewed in defiance of the humanistic approach to coaching.  It favored an authoritarian approach to coaching.?

POINT:  In sports, what may be good for the coach, in terms of his/her best interests, may not be in the best interest of the athlete.?

ie:  Sport Psychologists were often hired to administer intelligence tests to prospective pro players:

Results:  Players scoring at high extreme were dismissed (too difficult to handle) and the players scoring at the low extreme were dismissed (wouldn’t be able to learn the complicated plays).

POINT:  Sport Psychology was being used in the coach’s best interest regardless of how it affected the athlete.

SPORT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE AS IF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS EXIST IN A VACUME.

EXAMPLES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS STUDIED IN SPORT

CONCENTRATION & FOCUS

Blocking or Clearing?

Focus  -  Both Wide and Narrow?

PERSONALITY

TYPE A OR B,  AGGRESSIVE OR PASSIVE

MOTIVATION

AROUSAL & PERFORMANCE

STRESS AND ANXIETY

DISCIPLINE, OBEDIENCE, FEAR, PAIN

SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

RACISM, CHEAVANISM

FAMILY AND PEER INFLUENCES

RESPONSIBILITY FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

FIRST SPORT PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS - 1925

BY -  COLEMAN R. GRIFFITH  (FATHER OF SPORT PSY IN U.S.)

JOHN LAWTHER - PUBLISHED 1951 TEXT - The Psychology of Coaching.

BRUCE OGILVIE AND THOMAS TUTKO - PUBLISHED CONTROVERSIAL TEXT - Problem Athletes and How To Handle Them - 1966.

ETHICAL ISSUES OF CONCERN

Responsibility to Individual Athletes

Need for privacy

How valid and reliable are the findings from psychological tests?

Responsibility to the Team

Rights to Disclosure

Buckley Amendment

SPECIALIZATIONS WITHIN SPORT & EXERCISE  PSYCHOLOGY

SPECIALISTS ARE GENERLY SEPARATED IN ACCORDANCE TO:

SUBJECTS LEVEL OF SKILL

CLIENT POPULATIONS

Examples of Clients in Sport & Exercise Psychology Which are Health Psychology, Performance Enhancement, Social Psychology Oriented?

ELITE ATHLETES

SEDENTARY POPULATIONS

ELDERLY

HIGHLY STRESSED

COACHES

DISABLED

CARDIAC PATIENTS

YOUTH ATHLETES

RECREATIONAL ADULTS?

THREE POSSIBLE CAREER ALTERNATIVES

EXERCISE AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGIST

SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST

SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGIST

CAREER OBJECTIVES OF THE EXERCISE OR HEALTH PSYCHOLOGIST?

To Treat The Recreational Participant Seeking To:

Gain Physical Conditioning

Reduce Psychological Problems

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF MOST PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS THAT THE RECREATIONAL PARTICIPANT ENCOUNTERS?

STRESS

MOOD SWINGS

LACK OF SELF-ESTEEM & SELF-EFFICACY

ADDICTIONS

EXERCISE ADHERENCE

DEPRESSION

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF SPORT AND EXERCISE

TREATMENT OF THOSE WITH SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS ARE REFERRED TO  LICENSED PSYCHOLOGISTS

EXAMPLES OF SEVERE PROBLEMS:

FEAR OF FAILURE

ADDITIONS SUCH AS BOLEMIA, ANOREXIA

DRUG AND ALCONHOL ABUSE

SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION

TREATMENT MODALITIES USED BY SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGISTS

GROUP THERAPY

EXERCISE THERAPY

MOVEMENT THERAPY

WITH EXERCISE, THE FACTS ARE FAIRLY CLEAR

Exercise Is Crucial In:

Maintaining Health

Improving Appearance

Weight Loss

CAREER OBJECTIVES OF THE SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST

ENHANCEMENT OF PERFORMANCE IN ATHLETES FROM DIFFERING LEVELS OF SPORT

LITTLE LEAGUE SPORTS

PUBLIC/PRIVATE OGRANIZED SCHOOL SPORTS

COLLEGIATE SPORTS

PROFESSIONAL SPORTS

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS

WHAT TECHNIQUES ARE USED BY THE SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST TO INHANCE PERFORMANCE?

RELAXATION TECHNIQUES

PREVENTION OF BURNOUT

ENHANCED COMMUNICATION

MOTIVATION AND SELF REGULATION

DISENGAGEMENT

DRUG ABUSE COUNSELING

ENHACEMENT OF PERFORMANCE IS THE MOST GLAMOROUS AREA IN SPORT PSYCHOLOGY.

ESPECIALLY IN ELITE ATHLETES.

LIMITED CAREER OPPORTUNITY IN THIS AREA

OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Facilitate Positive Social Interactions In A Variety Of Competitive Team and Recreational Settings

Work With Youth Athletes Developmental Needs

Social Facilitation

Feedback and Rewards

Gender and Sex Roles In Sport and Exercise

Ethnicity In Sport & Exercise

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST

RESEARCH IN EXERCISE AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGY

ENGAGE IN THEORY TESTING AT SPORT LABORATORY FACILITIES

IE:  U.S. OLYMPIC VILLAGE IN COLORDO SPRINGS

IE:  UNIVERSITY SETTING SUCH AS U OF I.