Psychology of Sport August 26-31, 2009 Classes #2-4 Introduction to Sport Psychology – Chapter 1 Professional Issues – Chapter 2 History of Sport Psychology – Chapter 4 Psychology of Sport August 26-31, 2009 Classes #2-4

What is Sports Psychology “Being in the flow” (Csikzentmihalyi) or “in the zone” Optimal experience Enhance performance Clinical issues Individual differences

Sugarman (2007) What’s needed to reach optimal performance?

Types of Sport Psychologists Clinical/Counseling Educational Research

Training the Sport Psychologist College Departments: Physical Education Kinesiology Sport Studies Human Movement Studies Sport Sciences Psychology Athletic Counseling

Credentialing: Who can be called a “sport psychologist”? Licensure Statutory process designed to regulate member conduct Certification Nonstatutory credentialing procedure carried out by an organization (AASP) Registry Nonstatutory procedure indication professional recognition

Ethical Principles Competence Integrity Professional and Scientific Responsibility Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity Concern for the Welfare of Others Social Responsibility

Image of the Profession Some players and coaches are skeptical (“old school”) Media seems to be supporting advances made because of interventions of sport psychologists

Employment for Sport Psychologists Set up private practice allocating some or all to working with athletes Need earned Ph.D. in clinical or counseling and take sport sciences courses or athletic counseling degree University professor in psychology, kinesiology, sport sciences, etc. department and teach, conduct research, and train athletes in sport psychological techniques Need earned Ph.D. in sport psychology or related field

History of Sport Psychology Triplett (1897) often cited as the first sport psychology experiment Triplett, who was a bicycling enthusiast, noticed that cyclists performed better in races than they did when they were paced by motor-driven cycles or when they were timed riding the course alone

Mere Presence of Others and Social Facilitation Same result when he asked children to wind fishing reels as quickly as possible He thought that the mere presence of others would improve our performance

Triplett (1897): Fishing reels study Participants: 40 children ages 8 to 17 Procedures: A trial consisted in turning the reel at the highest rate of speed until a small flag sewed to the silk band had made four circuits of the four-meter course The time of the trial was taken by means of a stop-watch Results: All children performed faster when in competition compared to when alone

History of Sport Psych Griffith Ogilvie Martens