‘More than just religion’: a case study of the psychological preparation of an African American division I female golfer at a HBCU

Abstract

Mental or psychological preparation/training in sport are essential components for athletes to be ready for competition. Often, athletes have personal regimens that develop over time or through past experiences. Sport psychology research has focused efforts on applying psychological skills training principles in various sport settings and formats. Factors such as race, gender, environment, and culture may also heavily impact psychological preparedness. However, little research in sport targets the influence of religion in applying psychological principles although religion and sport are a large part of U.S. society. In hypothesizing that principles of psychological skills training would be applied and used in competition, golf, a sport deemed majorly mental, was targeted. Since golf is typically dominated by Caucasian males, the mental preparation of a minority female offers a unique perspective. At the core of an African American division one female golfer’s mental preparation was a relationship with God.