introduction to sport psychology damon burton & andy gillham university of idaho

INTRODUCTION TO INTRODUCTION TO SPORT SPORT

PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

Damon Burton & Andy Damon Burton & Andy GillhamGillham

University of IdahoUniversity of Idaho

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SPORT PSYCHOLOGY BASICSBASICS

What is sport psychology?What is sport psychology? What do sport psychologists What do sport psychologists

do?do? How old is the profession?How old is the profession? What are the key events in the What are the key events in the

history of sport psychology?history of sport psychology? What career options are What career options are

available?available?

ORIGINS OF SPORT ORIGINS OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

Psychology has a Greek derivationPsychology has a Greek derivation• Psyche means Psyche means “mind or spirit”“mind or spirit”• Logos means Logos means “sayings or speakings of”“sayings or speakings of”• Literally means Literally means “speakings of the mind”“speakings of the mind”

Definitions of PsychologyDefinitions of Psychology• William James (1890): William James (1890): “The science of “The science of

mental life”mental life”• Current Definition: Current Definition: “The study of behavior”“The study of behavior”

Scope of DisciplineScope of Discipline• from animals to humansfrom animals to humans• from nerve cells to attitudes and personalityfrom nerve cells to attitudes and personality

ACADEMIC ORIGINS OF ACADEMIC ORIGINS OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGYSPORT PSYCHOLOGY

Biomechanics

Physical Sciences

Exercise Physiology

Sports PsychologySocial Psychology of SportMotor LearningMotor DevelopmentMotor Control

Biological Sciences

Sport SociologyCultural Anthropology

Psychology

Social Sciences

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SPORT PSYCHOLOGY QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

We all know something about We all know something about sport psychology, and you’ve sport psychology, and you’ve probably wondered about probably wondered about different things related to the different things related to the mental side of sport and exercise. mental side of sport and exercise.

Write down 2 questions about Write down 2 questions about sport and exercise psychology sport and exercise psychology that you’d like to have answered that you’d like to have answered in this course?in this course?

TWO TYPES OF TWO TYPES OF QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

How do psychological How do psychological factors impact sport and factors impact sport and exercise?exercise?

How do sport and exercise How do sport and exercise influence psychological influence psychological development?development?

HOW PSYCHOLOGICAL HOW PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IMPACT FACTORS IMPACT

SPORTSPORT How does anxiety affect a basketball How does anxiety affect a basketball

player’s free-throw shooting player’s free-throw shooting accuracy?accuracy?

Does self-confidence influence a Does self-confidence influence a child’s ability to learn to swim?child’s ability to learn to swim?

How does coach reinforcement and How does coach reinforcement and punishment influence team cohesion?punishment influence team cohesion?

Does imagery training facilitate the Does imagery training facilitate the recovery process in injured athletes recovery process in injured athletes and exercisers?and exercisers?

IMPACT OF SPORT ON IMPACT OF SPORT ON PSYCHOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENT

Does running reduce anxiety and Does running reduce anxiety and depression?depression?

Do young athletes learn aggression Do young athletes learn aggression from participating in youth sports?from participating in youth sports?

Does PE class participation facilitate Does PE class participation facilitate children’s self-esteem development?children’s self-esteem development?

Does participation in college athletics Does participation in college athletics enhance character development?enhance character development?

HISTORY OFHISTORY OFSPORT PSYCHOLOGYSPORT PSYCHOLOGY

Early Years (1895-1924)Early Years (1895-1924) Griffith Era (1925-1938)Griffith Era (1925-1938) Dark Ages (1939-1964)Dark Ages (1939-1964) Contemporary Era (1965-Contemporary Era (1965-

present)present)

BASICS OF ACADEMIC BASICS OF ACADEMIC DISCIPLINESDISCIPLINES

Research

Teaching Consultation

EARLY YEARS (1895-EARLY YEARS (1895-1924)1924)

ResearchResearch•Triplett (1899): 1Triplett (1899): 1stst social social

psychology experiment,psychology experiment,• lab based procedures, lab based procedures, • topics focused on personality topics focused on personality

and motor learningand motor learning Teaching – noneTeaching – none Consultation -- noneConsultation -- none

GRIFFITH ERA (1925-GRIFFITH ERA (1925-1938)1938)

ResearchResearch• conducted a systematic program of conducted a systematic program of

theoretical and applied researchtheoretical and applied research• lab-basedlab-based• topics focused on motor learning and topics focused on motor learning and

sport performance (e.g., football sport performance (e.g., football stance)stance)

TeachingTeaching• developed sport psychology class and developed sport psychology class and

taught principles in several classtaught principles in several class

GRIFFITH ERA (1925-GRIFFITH ERA (1925-1938)1938) ConsultingConsulting

• wrote bookswrote booksPsychology of CoachingPsychology of CoachingPsychology and AthleticsPsychology and Athletics

• outlined functions of sport outlined functions of sport psychologistspsychologists

• consulted with a wide variety of consulted with a wide variety of Illinois athletic teamsIllinois athletic teams

• consulted with consulted with 1938 Chicago Cubs1938 Chicago Cubs to to improve hittingimprove hitting

GOALS FORGOALS FOR SPORT PSYCHOLOGISTS SPORT PSYCHOLOGISTS

Observe the best coaches and Observe the best coaches and teachers, record the psychological teachers, record the psychological principles they use and convey these principles they use and convey these principles to new teachers and principles to new teachers and coaches.coaches.

Adapt the information gained in the Adapt the information gained in the psychological lab to sport.psychological lab to sport.

Use the scientific method and the Use the scientific method and the experimental lab to discover principles experimental lab to discover principles which will aid in answering specific which will aid in answering specific problems of teachers and coaches.problems of teachers and coaches.

DARK AGES (1939-1964)DARK AGES (1939-1964)

ResearchResearch• little systematic lab-based researchlittle systematic lab-based research • Alan Slater-Hammel -- motor learningAlan Slater-Hammel -- motor learning• Emma McCloy -- motor abilitiesEmma McCloy -- motor abilities

TeachingTeaching• John Lawther (1951)John Lawther (1951) Psychology and Psychology and

CoachingCoaching ConsultationConsultation

• minimal consultation being minimal consultation being conductedconducted

CONTEMPORARY ERA CONTEMPORARY ERA (1965-PRESENT)(1965-PRESENT)

Research Research • In 1965, 1In 1965, 1stst International Congress International Congress

of Sport Psychology in Romeof Sport Psychology in Rome

•Research mushroomed to help Research mushroomed to help develop a strong knowledge basedevelop a strong knowledge base

• In 1967, In 1967, North American Society for North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)Physical Activity (NASPSPA) founded.founded.

• In 1979, In 1979, Journal of Sport PsychologyJournal of Sport Psychology started to publish researchstarted to publish research


Research Research • In 1981, Martens’ In 1981, Martens’ Smocks to JocksSmocks to Jocks

articles promoted field researcharticles promoted field research

• In 1986, In 1986, Association for the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP)Psychology (AAASP) founded, founded,

• In 1987, In 1987, APA Division 47 – Sport & APA Division 47 – Sport & Exercise PsychologyExercise Psychology founded founded

• In 1987, In 1987, The Sport PsychologistThe Sport Psychologist startedstarted


Research Research • In 1989, In 1989, Journal of Applied Sport Journal of Applied Sport

PsychologyPsychology founded founded TeachingTeaching

•Specialized courses and graduate Specialized courses and graduate programs developed in late 1960’sprograms developed in late 1960’s

• In 1972, 6 grad programs in U.S.In 1972, 6 grad programs in U.S.• Today, over 140 grad programsToday, over 140 grad programs

•Textbooks and supplemental materials Textbooks and supplemental materials developed (e.g., over 30 texts today)developed (e.g., over 30 texts today)


Consultation Consultation • In 1967, Ogilvie and Tutko wrote In 1967, Ogilvie and Tutko wrote

Problem Athletes & How to Handle ThemProblem Athletes & How to Handle Them

• In 1981, Martens pioneered In 1981, Martens pioneered “psychological skills”“psychological skills” concept concept

• In 1983, USOC developed In 1983, USOC developed Sport Sport Psychology RegistryPsychology Registry to deal with quality to deal with quality controlcontrol

• In 1983, Burton In 1983, Burton 11stst paid sport paid sport psychologistpsychologist in university athletic in university athletic programprogram


Consultation Consultation • In 1984, NASPSPA certification vote In 1984, NASPSPA certification vote

prompted development of AAASPprompted development of AAASP

• In 1989, AAASP approved In 1989, AAASP approved “certification”“certification” of sport psychology of sport psychology consultantsconsultants

•Today, Today, most professional and Olympic most professional and Olympic teamsteams have sport psychologists have sport psychologists

•Only about 20 universities have full-Only about 20 universities have full-time sport psychologiststime sport psychologists. .

EDUCATIONAL VERSUS EDUCATIONAL VERSUS CLINICAL SPORT CLINICAL SPORT

PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

Clinical Sport Psychology Educational Sport Psychology

NormalBehavior

Abnormal Behavior

Supernormal

Behaviorsolve problems

develop mental skills

CLINICAL SPORT CLINICAL SPORT PSYCHOLOGISTS (CSP)PSYCHOLOGISTS (CSP)

Trained as clinical or counseling Trained as clinical or counseling psychologists (i.e., licensed by state).psychologists (i.e., licensed by state).

CSPs deal with clients who have some CSPs deal with clients who have some type of psychological problem (i.e., type of psychological problem (i.e., neuroses & psychoses),neuroses & psychoses),

Their goal is to help person function Their goal is to help person function normally in daily life by overcoming normally in daily life by overcoming psychological problem(s).psychological problem(s).

Therapy often lasts months, and even Therapy often lasts months, and even years, using intense, one-on-one years, using intense, one-on-one psychotherapy sessions to identify and psychotherapy sessions to identify and correct problems (i.e., psychoanalysis). correct problems (i.e., psychoanalysis).

EDUCATIONAL SPORT EDUCATIONAL SPORT PSYCHOLOGISTS (ESP)PSYCHOLOGISTS (ESP)

Trained in sport/exercise science programs Trained in sport/exercise science programs to teach “mental skills,”to teach “mental skills,”

Deal with clients who are psychologically Deal with clients who are psychologically normal but have to perform in ultra intense, normal but have to perform in ultra intense, pressure-packed situations (i.e., Superbowl, pressure-packed situations (i.e., Superbowl, Olympics, Masters or Wimbleton),Olympics, Masters or Wimbleton),

ESPs are “mental coaches” whose goal is ESPs are “mental coaches” whose goal is to help athletes develop “super normal” to help athletes develop “super normal” mental skills necessary to (a) perform mental skills necessary to (a) perform optimally in challenging situations, (b) optimally in challenging situations, (b) experience personal highlights and (c) experience personal highlights and (c) develop to their full potential. develop to their full potential.

FOCUS OF SPORT FOCUS OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY

CONSULTATIONCONSULTATION

achieve optimal performance or achieve optimal performance or Flow – Flow – play your best when your play your best when your best is neededbest is needed

maximize personal development maximize personal development in sport and life by optimizing in sport and life by optimizing mental skills – mental skills – develop the develop the athlete and the personathlete and the person

promote optimal experiences – promote optimal experiences – create personal highlightscreate personal highlights

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SPORT PSYCHOLOGY ORGANIZATIONSORGANIZATIONS

Association of Applied Sport Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP)Psychology (AASP)

APA Division 47 – Sport & APA Division 47 – Sport & Exercise Psychology (DIV-47)Exercise Psychology (DIV-47)

North American Society for North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA)Physical Activity (NASPSPA)

ASSOCIATION OF APPLIED ASSOCIATION OF APPLIED SPORT PSYCHOLOGY (AASP)SPORT PSYCHOLOGY (AASP)

This organization is designed to This organization is designed to promote research and practice in promote research and practice in applied sport and exercise applied sport and exercise psychology. Three speciality areas psychology. Three speciality areas focus on focus on

• health/ exercise psychology,health/ exercise psychology,• intervention-performance intervention-performance enhancement, enhancement,

• social psychologysocial psychology

APA DIVISION 47 - APA DIVISION 47 - SPORT & EXERCISE SPORT & EXERCISE

PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY• The American Psychological The American Psychological

Association (APA) is the largest Association (APA) is the largest professional psychology professional psychology organization in the U.S. organization in the U.S. Division 47 is one of the newest Division 47 is one of the newest of APA’s over 50 divisions. of APA’s over 50 divisions. Division 47 emphasizes both Division 47 emphasizes both research and practice in sport research and practice in sport psychology. psychology.

NORTH AMERICAN SOCIETY NORTH AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY OF

SPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITYSPORT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

NASPSPA is the oldest NASPSPA is the oldest organization focusing on the organization focusing on the psychological aspects of sport psychological aspects of sport and physical activity. The and physical activity. The organization’s main focus is on organization’s main focus is on researchresearch in the subdisciplines of in the subdisciplines of

motor development,motor development, motor learning and control, and motor learning and control, and sport and exercise psychology. sport and exercise psychology.

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SPORT PSYCHOLOGY JOURNALSJOURNALS

Journal of Applied Sport Journal of Applied Sport Psychology (JASP)Psychology (JASP)

Journal of Sport and Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (JSEP)Exercise Psychology (JSEP)

The Sport Psychologist The Sport Psychologist (TSP)(TSP)


Journal of Applied Sport PsychologyJournal of Applied Sport Psychology•Begun in 1989, JASP is the official Begun in 1989, JASP is the official

journal of AASP and publishes applied journal of AASP and publishes applied sport psychology research and sport psychology research and professional practice articlesprofessional practice articles

Journal of Sport and Exercise Journal of Sport and Exercise PsychologyPsychology•JSEP publishes basic and applied sport JSEP publishes basic and applied sport

and exercise psychology research. and exercise psychology research. Begun in 1979, it is the oldest and Begun in 1979, it is the oldest and most-respected research journal in the most-respected research journal in the field.field.


The Sport PsychologistThe Sport Psychologist•TSP began publication in TSP began publication in

1987 and publishes both 1987 and publishes both applied research and applied research and professional practice articles professional practice articles designed to facilitate the designed to facilitate the delivery of psychological delivery of psychological services to coaches and services to coaches and athletes.athletes.

SPORT PSYCHOLOGY SPORT PSYCHOLOGY CAREER FIELDSCAREER FIELDS

college teachingcollege teaching performance enhancement performance enhancement

consultingconsulting health and exercise health and exercise

psychologistpsychologist sports medicine psychologistsports medicine psychologist

COLLEGE TEACHINGCOLLEGE TEACHING

Position Availability - Position Availability - 200+ 200+ positions in U.S.positions in U.S.

Salary Range - Salary Range - $35-100,000$35-100,000 Job ResponsibilitiesJob Responsibilities

•teach grad and undergrad coursesteach grad and undergrad courses

•conduct and publish research conduct and publish research

•mentor graduate studentsmentor graduate students

•secure grants to fund researchsecure grants to fund research

•consult with coaches & athletesconsult with coaches & athletes

COLLEGE TEACHINGCOLLEGE TEACHING

Professional CompetenciesProfessional Competencies•good teaching skillsgood teaching skills

•good research skillsgood research skills

•good helping skills good helping skills

•ability to juggle a variety of ability to juggle a variety of projects and roles.projects and roles.

PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT ENHANCEMENT CONSULTANTCONSULTANT

Position Availability – Position Availability – 3-5,000 PE 3-5,000 PE consultants in U.S.consultants in U.S.


•see clinical patients 6-8 hours dailysee clinical patients 6-8 hours daily

•be on call for clients in crisis be on call for clients in crisis

•may travel with junior playersmay travel with junior players

•consult with high school, college and consult with high school, college and pro athletes and teams (50% practice)pro athletes and teams (50% practice)

PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT ENHANCEMENT CONSULTANTCONSULTANT

Professional CompetenciesProfessional Competencies•good helping skillsgood helping skills

•enjoy helping others solve enjoy helping others solve their problemstheir problems

•independence & self-independence & self-sufficiencysufficiency

•business skills to run practice business skills to run practice

HEALTH & EXERCISE HEALTH & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGISTPSYCHOLOGIST

Position Availability – Position Availability – 1000’s of 1000’s of private and corporate fitness private and corporate fitness facilities in U.S.facilities in U.S.


•develop programs to attract new clientsdevelop programs to attract new clients

•modify existing programs to minimize modify existing programs to minimize dropoutsdropouts

•provide workshops on psych factors that provide workshops on psych factors that influence exercise & health influence exercise & health


Job Responsibilities (cont’d)Job Responsibilities (cont’d)•train other personnel to enhance train other personnel to enhance

sensitivity of psych factorssensitivity of psych factors

•conduct applied exercise psych conduct applied exercise psych researchresearch

•consult with high school, college consult with high school, college and pro athletes and teams (50% and pro athletes and teams (50% practice)practice)


Professional CompetenciesProfessional Competencies•good teaching skillsgood teaching skills

•well-developed consultation well-developed consultation and helping skills,and helping skills,

•skill to develop programs that skill to develop programs that will appeal to a broad range of will appeal to a broad range of clientsclients

•ability to juggle a variety of ability to juggle a variety of projects and roles projects and roles

SPORT MEDICINE SPORT MEDICINE PSYCHOLOGISTPSYCHOLOGIST

Position Availability – Position Availability – 1000’s of 1000’s of private clinics and hospitals in U.S.private clinics and hospitals in U.S.


•promote psych aspects of rehabilitationpromote psych aspects of rehabilitation

•teach clients the value of health and teach clients the value of health and exercise in quality of lifeexercise in quality of life

•teach pain management strategiesteach pain management strategies

•promote injury and disease prevention promote injury and disease prevention

SPORTS MEDICINE SPORTS MEDICINE PSYCHOLOGISTPSYCHOLOGIST

Professional CompetenciesProfessional Competencies•good consultation & helping skillsgood consultation & helping skills

•ability to work with other ability to work with other members of sports medicine teammembers of sports medicine team

•understanding of how mental understanding of how mental factors influence illness & injuryfactors influence illness & injury

•strong desire to help others strong desire to help others

BEST SPORT BEST SPORT PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANTSCONSULTANTS

likeable and perceived as having likeable and perceived as having something very applied and something very applied and concrete to offerconcrete to offer

flexible and knowledgeable enough flexible and knowledgeable enough to meet individual needsto meet individual needs by by soliciting athlete inputsoliciting athlete input

accessible enough to establish a accessible enough to establish a rapportrapport with individual athletes and with individual athletes and to care about what happens to them to care about what happens to them

BEST SPORT BEST SPORT PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANTSCONSULTANTS

started working with a team at least started working with a team at least 9 months prior to the Olympics9 months prior to the Olympics and and most had begun an ongoing mental most had begun an ongoing mental training program 2-3 years priortraining program 2-3 years prior

had multiple contacts with individual had multiple contacts with individual athletesathletes, usually beginning with the , usually beginning with the first training camp of the yearfirst training camp of the year

conducted several follow-up sessionsconducted several follow-up sessions with individual athletes before and with individual athletes before and during the competitive seasonduring the competitive season

WORST SPORT WORST SPORT PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANTSCONSULTANTS

poor interpersonal skillspoor interpersonal skills (e.g., not (e.g., not liked by athletes, viewed as liked by athletes, viewed as wimpy or domineering, wanted wimpy or domineering, wanted the athlete to carry their bags, the athlete to carry their bags, turned people off with their turned people off with their personality, didn’t fit in)personality, didn’t fit in)

ineffectively applied psychology ineffectively applied psychology to sportto sport (e.g., not applied enough (e.g., not applied enough or didn’t fit the sport or situation or didn’t fit the sport or situation in training or competition)in training or competition)

POOR SPORT POOR SPORT PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANTSCONSULTANTS

lacked sensitivity or flexibility to lacked sensitivity or flexibility to individual needsindividual needs (did not adapt input (did not adapt input to meet the needs of different to meet the needs of different individuals on the team, weren’t individuals on the team, weren’t flexible to individual needs, imposed flexible to individual needs, imposed own methodology on everyone)own methodology on everyone)

limited contact with athleteslimited contact with athletes (too (too much group work, too many lectures, much group work, too many lectures, not enough one-on-one time)not enough one-on-one time)


demonstrated demonstrated inappropriate inappropriate application of consulting skills on-siteapplication of consulting skills on-site at a competition or inappropriate at a competition or inappropriate behavior on site (e.g., crowding behavior on site (e.g., crowding athlete, staring at athletes, getting athlete, staring at athletes, getting athlete to fill out forms or answer athlete to fill out forms or answer questions just before competing), questions just before competing), thereby altering the athlete’s familiar thereby altering the athlete’s familiar pre-event preparation patternpre-event preparation pattern


had bad timinghad bad timing (i.e., their involvement (i.e., their involvement began too close to major international began too close to major international event, or in some cases even at an event, or in some cases even at an international event, without knowing international event, without knowing athletes beforehand)athletes beforehand)

did not provide enough consultant did not provide enough consultant input or feedbackinput or feedback (i.e., contact with (i.e., contact with athlete was too infrequent, particularly athlete was too infrequent, particularly ongoing feedback was too limited to ongoing feedback was too limited to make a difference)make a difference)


What type of training is What type of training is required to become a required to become a sport psychologist?sport psychologist?

How do students find out How do students find out about graduate school?about graduate school?

How do I find out more How do I find out more about sport psychology?about sport psychology?


What type of training is required to What type of training is required to become a sport psychologist?become a sport psychologist?•mastersmasters•Ph.D.Ph.D.

How do students find out about How do students find out about graduate school?graduate school?•AASP Graduate DirectoryAASP Graduate Directory

How do I find out more about sport How do I find out more about sport psychology?psychology? Books, journals, conferencesBooks, journals, conferences

introduction to sport psychology damon burton & andy gillham university of idaho

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