Even the best athletes at the top of their game can go into a slump. Suddenly, it’s impossible to make a basket, put the tennis ball where you want it, or connect the bat with the ball. Any sport requires hours of physical training and practice, but athletes also need the right emotional and psychological focus to excel at their game. Increasingly, professional athletes and sports teams rely on a sports psychologist to help optimize players’ performance, especially those in training for major games.
Job Description
Sports psychology is interdisciplinary since it involves the basics of applied psychology and knowledge of sports science. Sports psychologists work with individual athletes who are experiencing performance problems and with teams that need help with their group dynamics. They also advise coaches and counsel injured players going through rehabilitation. As a sports psychologist, you will help athletes prepare for competitions by teaching them relaxation and visualization techniques, anxiety reduction skills and strategies for focusing their concentration. You might work one-on-one with players who have depression or substance abuse problems. Or you might use your sports psychology training to help non-athletes find the motivation to overcome mental or physical problems.
If you have an interest in psychology and want to work with people involved in sports and physical activities, a sports psychology career might be a good choice. Becoming a sports psychologist requires some commitment, since you will need to pursue the education, training and licensing credentials necessary to land a position. Like all psychology professionals, sports psychologists should have good communication skills and the ability to inspire trust in their clients. You should also be able to meet the challenge of figuring out what psychological factors are affecting each client’s physical performance and finding ways to solve the problem.
Educational Requirements
The requirements for a career in sports psychology includes a four-year Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, followed by a five- to seven-year doctoral program with an emphasis in applied psychology and/or sport psychology. You will need a PhD or PsyD from an accredited psychology program to be licensed to practice. Some universities offer sports psychology programs. If none of the colleges near you offer these programs, pursue an advanced degree in psychology and supplement your studies with sport science classes. Coursework will typically involve theoretical, clinical, and applied psychology, in addition to sports science classes in kinesiology, exercise physiology, exercise psychology, biomechanics, rehabilitation and occupational therapy. Along with the coursework, you will also be expected to complete a one- to two-year internship or training fellowship to get hands-on clinical practice with a qualified supervisor.
License to Practice
Most states require psychologists to be licensed, and this includes sports psychologists. After finishing your degree, find out licensing requirements for the state where you want to practice. Licensing requirements generally include a graduate degree from an accredited university, one or two years of clinical work, and passing an examination.
Sports Psychology Credential
In addition to your psychology license, a sports psychology credential will enhance your employment prospects. There are several professional organizations that offer a sport psychology credential:
- The American Board of Sport Psychology (ABSP) offers a professional sport psychology credential to applicants who fulfill educational, training and licensing requirements. This certification must be renewed by taking a specified number of continuing education classes related to the field or ABSP workshops.
- The Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) offers a Certified Consultant credential to members who complete a doctoral degree with AASP required courses, demonstrate supervised clinical hours or work experience, and agree to abide by the AASP code of ethics.
Another professional organization, the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), supports research and holds an annual conference.
Job Prospects and Salary
The average annual salary for a sports psychologist is about $62,000. Sports psychologists who work as consultants for professional sports teams earn the highest salaries, though these positions are competitive and limited. Sports psychologists are also employed by the athletic departments in universities; others who work in universities conduct research and teach. Those who specialize in rehabilitation may find employment in health centers or hospitals.
Once you decide to pursue this hybrid profession, stay motivated and focused as you go through your sports psychology studies, supervised training, and licensing. Keep a positive, goal-directed attitude when you venture out to look for jobs. After all, these are the attributes you will be helping your clients achieve.