Sport Psychology Module 1 PDF

MODULE 1 : INTRODUCTION TO SPORT PSYCHOLOGY ANJALI PANDEY EMAIL: [email protected]  NATURE OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY Understanding the nature of Sport Psychology is quite difficult because of the varied perspectives in the field These differences in the perspective are there because...

MODULE 1 : INTRODUCTION TO SPORT PSYCHOLOGY ANJALI PANDEY EMAIL: [email protected]  NATURE OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY Understanding the nature of Sport Psychology is quite difficult because of the varied perspectives in the field These differences in the perspective are there because of the differences in the definition of the term & the role of the sport psychologist presumed to play in the field Writers in sport psychology came up with 2 differentiations Psychology focusing on athletics, & Psychology of physical activity (exercise psychology)  DEFINITIONS OF SPORT PSYCHOLOGY “The effect of sport itself on human behavior” (Alderman, 1980) “A field of study in which the principles of psychology are applied in a sport settings” (Cox, 1985) “The branch of sports & exercise science that seeks to provide answers to questions about human behavior in sport” (Gill, 1986) “A subcategory of psychology focusing on athletes & athletics” (Cratty, 1989) “The educational, scientific, & professional contribution of psychology to the promotion, maintenance, & enhancement of sport-related behavior” (Rejeski & Brawley, 1983) “An applied psychology; the science of applied psychology applied to athletics & athletic situations” (Singer, 1978) “The scientific study of people & their behavior in sports & exercise related activities” (Weinberg & Gould, 1995)  BRIEF HISTORY ON SPORT PSYCHOLOGY The first recorded study in sport psychology took place at the close of the nineteenth century. Norman Triplett (1898) performed the first experiment in social psychology as well as the first in sport psychology, where he investigated the phenomenon of social facilitation, in which performance is affected by the presence of others. In 1925, Coleman Griffith set up the Athletic Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois. He is often called the ‘father of sport psychology’. In 1986, the American Psychological Association officially recognised sport psychology as a branch of psychology, and in 1993 the British Psychological Society formed a Sport and Exercise Psychology Section, which has now become a full division of the society.  HISTORICAL & RECENT PERSPECTIVES ON SPORT PSYCHOLOGY IN INDIA Until the 1960’s, there was a scarce application of science to the area of sports in India. The interest of researchers in sports psychology in India sparked because of the early publications of sports psychology studies in journals of medicine, physical education and psychology that found its way to India from abroad in the 1960s and 1970s The formation of the Indian Association of Sports Medicine (IASM), we see the first major development of the Indian sports science movement in 1970. Another important milestone for sports psychology in India was seen in 1977, during the seventh annual conference of the IASM, when some delegates from the IASM interested in the psychological aspects of sports came together to establish a group of their own. Succeeding the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi, the Government of India established a separate ministry for sports.  WHO ARE SPORT PSYCHOLOGISTS? Combining an interest in psychology with a passion for sports, sports psychologists improve the performance of everyone from amateurs to professional athletes Sport psychologist is a proficiency that uses psychological knowledge and skills to address optimal performance and well-being of athletes, developmental and social aspects of sports participation, and systemic issues associated with sports settings and organizations. APA recognizes sport psychology as a proficiency acquired after a doctoral degree in one of the primary areas of psychology and licensure as a psychologist. Interventions in Sport Psychology are designed to assist athletes and other sports participants (e.g., coaches, administrators, parents) from a wide array of settings, levels of competition and ages, ranging from recreational youth participants to professional and Olympic athletes to master’s level performers. There are certain Specialized knowledge a Sport Psychologists must have, these includes: Theory and research in social, historical, cultural and developmental foundations of sport psychology. Issues and techniques of sport specific psychological assessment and mental skills training for performance enhancement and participation satisfaction. Clinical and counseling issues with athletes. Organizational and systemic aspects of sport consulting. Developmental and social issues related to sport participation. Biobehavioral bases of sport and exercise (e.g., exercise physiology, motor learning, sports medicine). Specific knowledge of training science and technical requirements of sport and competition, International Olympic Committee (IOC), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, etc.  NEED FOR SPORT PSYCHOLOGIST Sport psychologists can help athletes/ sport person in: Enhance performance. Various mental strategies, such as visualization, self-talk and relaxation techniques, can help athletes overcome obstacles and achieve their full potential. Cope with the pressures of competition. Sport psychologists can help athletes at all levels deal with pressure from parents, coaches, or even their own expectations. Recover from injuries. After an injury, athletes may need help tolerating pain, adhering to their physical therapy regimens, or adjusting to being sidelined. Keep up an exercise program. Even those who want to exercise regularly may find themselves unable to fulfill their goal. Sport psychologists can help these individuals increase their motivation and tackle any related concerns. Enjoy sports. Sports organizations for young people may hire a sport psychologist to educate coaches about how to help athletes enjoy sports and how to promote healthy self-esteem in participants.  ISSUES IN SPORT PSYCHOLOGY IN INDIA One of the foremost reasons of issues in sports psychology in India could be the negative connotation associated with the term ‘psychology.’ Till date many individuals including athletes and athletic coaches think of going to a psychologist as having a ‘problem.’ and that can prove to be a difficult perception to overcome. Another issue linked to the previous one is the importance of an athletes “image”. Image management is a key issue in India wherein the players want to maintain a problem-free and healthy image of themselves. The lack of trained resource personnel and inadequate funding prove to be a major setback for the field of sports psychology in India. THANK YOU!