Reflections on being a Sport Psychology Consultant at International Archery Competitions. Jo Batey “ There is more to sports psychology than the theoretical and scientific underpinnings and I believe that increasing the number of open conversations about what it actually takes to deliver sports psychology … is an essential element in pushing applied sport psychology to the next level” (Shambrook in Hemmings & Holder, 2009, p.134).

Background Archery GB not highly funded. Coaches for the junior squads receive expenses but otherwise operate on a voluntary basis. Team manager and other sport science support positions are paid. 2 international competitions with Archery GBs Olympic Development squad. Team of 10+ archers aged between 14-20. Different funding structures in operation within Archery GB meant that some of these archers had been receiving different levels of Sports Science support including psychology. Prior relationship with some, but not all of the athletes.

Before we left Competition goals. Workshop with the coaches on Effective Competition Communication. Asked each athlete what their wants/ needs in competition were. Production of cue card. Educating athletes about how they might use me. Team dynamics.

Whilst there Informed the athletes where I would be for each part of the day. Checked that each athlete had my mobile number. Checked in with each athlete daily to ask if everything was okay and gave them the chance to raise any issues.

Whilst there Support staff meeting each evening to debrief on the days events e.g. raising challenges, sharing concerns/successes. Team dynamics. 1-2-1 session with athletes who exited competition early.

Whilst there Managing things ‘in the moment’. Operating differently. Using interpersonal skills. Make notes so that these issues can be returned to later. I noticed on the bus that… What was happening with you there? Work on how to improve communication with your coach?

Emergent issues Self-Management Long hours but not always very busy – care not to overcompensate. Hodge stated that one key piece of advice for SPCs in competition is to “master the art of being available and accessible, but not getting in the way” (2010, p.410). Further compounded by my awareness that I was being paid for my services and others were not. Managing your own ‘down time’.

Emergent issues My presence Aware that this group of athletes are more used to support staff not being at competitions. How might this impact them? Conversely Me as a source of confidence. Andersen (2000) belief that the consultant can do much by “just being there”. Being in two places at once.

Emergent issues Bored teenagers Some athletes were out by day 4 of an 8 day trip. Remote location. Low-budget hotel which lacked facilities. Workshop planned on using time effectively at competitions.

Once home Follow-up with athletes. From our contact time in competition what was most/least useful for you and why? The content of informal chats/observations were brought back into more structured 121s with athletes’ post competition. Aware of discrepancy between athletes’ agenda, and organisations agenda.

Reflections Post-competition report utilising Johns model (2000) of reflective practice. Had to operate very differently in a competition environment. Quality measured by quantity. Assuaged my own feelings about this by reminding myself that informal chats on the bus or at dinner are often just as effective as a formal mental training programme (Giges & Petitpas, 2000; Gould, 2001; Hodge, 2010).

Reflections The importance of social support. Personal concerns regarding whether travelling with the squad is the best use of my time. Need to educate coaches and other support staff about sport psychology so that it is better integrated and plays a role in our absence. The importance of social support. Sport Psychology Working Group