Career PresentationBy: Leah Blackwell

IntroductionThe career I am interested in is Sports

Psychology.

What is sports psychology?A branch of psychology that focuses on the

psychological issues of athletes, children in sports, or people who exercise.

Just as an athletic trainer maintains an athletes body to be healthy, a sport psychologist will keep a person’s mind healthy so they can perform at their highest.

Sports Psychology Sports psychologist also work with athletes on:

Enhancing performance Self talk, visualization, relax and focus mind

Coping with the pressures of competition Pressure from parents, coaches or even their own

expectations Recovering from injuries

Tolerating pain, adhering to their physical therapy regimens or adjusting to being sidelined

Keeping up an exercise program Increase their motivation and tackle any related concerns

such as a chronic disease

Enjoying sports Promote healthy self-esteem and a fun environment for

children or adults

Job Elements Education

Master’s or Doctorate Degree AASP Certified Consultants (CC-AASP)

Where do they work? Professional Sports teams Universities Private Practice Hospitals

Salary BLS stated that general psychologist have a median of

$70,000 a year Many sites say that a sports psychologist salary is $60,000

to $80,000 a year

Outlook Expected to increase by 12% between 2012 and 2022

History In 1898, psychologist Norman Triplett found that cyclists

made better time when they were competing against others in races versus when they cycled alone

In 1920, the first sports psychology laboratory was founded by Carl Diem in Germany

Coleman Griffith is credited as being the true founder of sports psychology He started studying sports psychology as a graduate student in

1918. His research then focused on how vision and attention predicted basketball and football performance

He also taught “Psychology and Athletics” at University of Illinois.

In 1987, the American Psychological Association created the sports psychology division, Division 47

Holland Results I received my highest score of 13 in social and

artistic.

For my scores: Social

My score shows that I have an interest in helping people and communicating with them to solve problems. I love giving advice or teaching someone new hobbies or skills.

Artistic My score shows my interest in creating new things

and new ways of solving problems. Also, I like having freedom when I work to have the ability to be creative.

My SkillsSkills

I decided to obtain a major in health science and a minor in psychology I wanted to have the knowledge of how the

medical and public health systems both worked, so then I could have a different component to bring when being a sports psychologist

This will allow me to work with medical doctors, nutritionist, and exercise coaches and also understand their work while using my psychology background to find the best approach for a client’s health solution

My Experience I have worked at summer camps that include a

sport and exercise component to them.

Working with 5-11 year old children on: teaching them how to play multiple sports Motivating them to play fairly and correctly Building their confidence Teaching them to work as a team

Although this is at a lower level than professional or college sports, I believe it is a good foundation to working with the elements needed for this career

Graduate SchoolsI am looking to gain a master’s degree

in sports psychology

Schools with this degree I am interested in:University of North Carolina – GreensboroGeorgia Southern UniversityUniversity of Tennessee – Knoxville

University of North Carolina – Greensboro

UNCG has a MS/PHD programSport and Exercise Psychology specialization5 year completion

UNCG has a MS ProgramSport and Exercise Psychology

Thesis and non-thesisGRE scores required

Georgia Southern University

MS program Sport and Exercise Psychology GRE scores required Minimum GPA of 2.75

Require students to complete a research-based thesis or applied internship experience.

Offers Applied Opportunities in: New York City Trip to consult with potential NFL Players Individual and Team Consultations with NCAA Division I,

and High School Athletes Guest Lecturer in Sport & Exercise Psychology and

Coaching Education Undergraduate Courses International Sport & Exercise Psychology Consultations

in South Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean

University of Tennessee – Knoxville

MS in Kinesiology Sport Psychology and Motor Behavior

Concentration

Graduate students have the opportunity to explore their own research interests as well as to collaborate with faculty members on some of their research.

Admit twenty to twenty-five master’s students

There are no pre-requisite courses for this concentration No GRE scores required GPA of 3.0 (or a 3.0 or better in the senior year)

Conclusion Sport Psychologist are consultants that focus on

the psychological issues of athletes, children in sports, or people who exercise, and help them perform at their highest mentally.

They work in a variety of locations and make a median salary of $70,000 a year

The Holland code (SA) I received matches the career of a psychologist or counselor

There are multiple graduate schools with the program I am wanting to study near me.

Sources http://www.uncg.edu/kin/

http://cogs.georgiasouthern.edu/admission/all-graduate-programs/gradprogramsbycollege/atheletics-programs/sport-psychology/

http://krss.utk.edu/graduate/m-s-in-kinesiology/sport-psychology-and-motor-behavior/

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/psychologists.htm

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sport-psychologists.aspx

http://careersinpsychology.org/becoming-a-sports-psychologist/

http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/about/about-applied-sport-and-exercise-psychology/