Mimi Rossellin

Sports Psychology Introduction

During the last two decades sport psychology has received significant and increasing attention from athletes, coaches, parents, and the media. Consider, for example:

The growing number of elite, amateur, and professional athletes who acknowledge working with sport psychology professionals.
Coaches at the high school and university levels who seek sport psychology professionals to work with their athletes and teams on game preparation, team cohesion, communication skills, and other areas that affect performance.

Major universities, where sport psychology professionals are being added to athletic department staffs to assist athletes with life skills development and to improve coping with the demands of being a student-athlete.

Exercise specialists, athletic trainers, youth sport directors, corporations, and psychologists who are using knowledge and techniques developed by sport psychology professionals to assist with improving exercise adherence, rehabilitating injuries, educating coaches, building self-esteem, teaching group dynamics, and increasing effectiveness.


What is sport psychology?

Sport psychology is (a) the study of the psychological and mental factors that influence and are influenced by participation and performance in sport, exercise, and physical activity, and (b) the application of the knowledge gained through this study to everyday settings.

Sport psychology professionals are interested in how participation in sport, exercise, and physical activity may enhance personal development and well-being throughout the life span.