Sport Psychology Consultants Research Articles

Gatekeepers’ Experiences of Hiring a Sport Psychologist: A Phenomenological Study

Within applied sport psychology, the process of gaining entry, specifically the employment interview, has received little attention relative to other stages of practice. This study, guided by an interpretative phenomenological approach, aimed to understand the experiences of gatekeepers to practice within United Kingdom elite sport who have been directly involved in the hiring of sport psychologists. Semistructured interviews with 7 participants were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four essences emerged: consultant affability, consultant confidence versus arrogance, consultant collaboration, and presentation of consultant competency. These findings highlight the importance of developing interpersonal skills, interview technique, and self-promotion skills in sport psychology practitioners. In addition, a number of features specific to the sport psychology employment interview are discussed.Lay Summary: This study sought to understand the experiences of those individuals responsible for hiring sport psychology consultants within the United Kingdom. Analysis of interview data identified four main factors which influenced participant experiences: the consultant's affability, their confidence versus arrogance, collaborative nature, and their ability to present their competencies.

Case study – From broadcasting to listening: A case study of an independent practitioner integrating previous expertise and experience into a model of practice for sport psychology

The case study includes an overview of a previous 16-year career in communications and the events which brought the practitioner into sport psychology. It will describe how the consultancy was set up and why it was set up in the way that it was. It will describe how the practitioner assessed and incorporated suitable principles, processes, expertise, techniques and confidence from a former communications career into a sport psychology consultancy and how she has monitored and evaluated them to understand how they have enhanced her practice. It concludes with reflections on the challenges encountered during this process.

Coming-Out Experiences of a Gay Male Volleyball Player

A small but growing body of research has investigated the experience of gay male athletes “coming out” in sport, a historically homophobic environment. In this exploratory case study, the experiences of “Mark,” a male volleyball player who came out prior to a championship season, were examined using social identity perspective and athletic identity theory as the frameworks for analysis. Data sources included interviews with Mark, interviews with informants, and Mark’s social-media posts. A narrative of Mark’s coming-out experience was developed and explored in light of the theoretical frameworks, and 2 themes emerged from the data: gay athlete as a (dis)qualifier and “It’s not about the skills, it’s about the attitude,” which explores Mark’s psychological development and its relationship with athletic performance. Implications and strategies for sport psychology consultants working with gay male athletes are discussed.

A Phenomenological Study: Experiencing the Unexpected Death of a Teammate

Phenomenological interviews were conducted with nine collegiate student-athletes (M = 24.11 years; SD = 3.76), from a range of sports, to explore how they experienced the unexpected death of a teammate. Qualitative analysis of interview data revealed a total of 626 meaning units which were used to produce a final thematic structure consisting of six higher order themes: Emotional Response, Behavioral Response, Faith, Social Support, Team Cohesion, and Change of Life Perspective. The results suggest that student-athletes who experience the unexpected death of a teammate go through a wide range of emotional (e.g., shock, denial) and behavioral responses (e.g., deliberate isolation from others, tributes), which ultimately changed their perspective on life. The specific nuances of these experiences offer several practical applications for sport psychology consultants, coaches, and administrators wishing to provide support to this population during such a difficult time.

Attitudes toward sport psychology consulting in athletes: Understanding the role of culture and personality.

© 2017 APA, all rights reserved). The purpose of this study was to investigate how an athlete's Eastern-Western cultural affiliation and personality are related to their perception of sport psychology and attitude toward consultation with a sport psychology practitioner. Two hundred and nineteen athletes from Western and Eastern cultures completed the Sport Psychology Attitudes-Revised form (SPA-R; Martin et al., 2002) and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; Costa & McCrae, 1992). Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that Western athletes had lesser stigma toward sport psychology consulting, greater personal openness, and lesser preference for a consultant of the same race or culture than Eastern athletes. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that lower openness and conscientiousness predicted greater stigma toward sport psychology consulting; higher neuroticism, conscientiousness, and openness predicted greater confidence in sport psychology consulting; and lower openness predicted greater preference for working with a sport psychology consultant of the same race or culture. These findings may prove valuable to applied sport psychology practitioners, and aim to help them better understand the athletes and athletic population to whom they offer their services. (PsycINFO Database Record

Passion Play: Embracing New Scientific Perspectives for Improved Sport Psychology Consulting

Passion Play: Embracing New Scientific Perspectives for Improved Sport Psychology Consulting

An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Management of Vocal Cord Dysfunction in an Elite Female Swimmer: A Case Study

Acute pulmonary disorders are commonplace within the athletic population, with exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), and vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) common diagnoses. VCD is a condition that causes the adduction of the vocal folds during inhalation, causing obstruction at the larynx and thereby a severely impaired sporting performance. VCD can be brought on by laryngeal irritants, emotional and psychological stress and asthma. The gold standard of treatment for VCD centres on an interdisciplinary approach from specialists that often include a respiratory consultant, speech and language therapist (SLT) and a psychologist. The present case study details the interdisciplinary approach to the treatment of an elite female swimmer with VCD with an intervention programme that lasted nine weeks, instigated by a local general practitioner (G.P.) who chose to engage a Sport Psychology Consultant (SPC) due to the sport-specific nature of the psychological stress experienced by the individual. The steps involved in the design of the sport psychology interventions are outlined and the relationship of those interventions to the work of the other specialists is discussed. The 9 week intervention programme was aimed at reducing perfectionist tendencies and competitive state anxiety using a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), goal-setting and imagery. Overall, the treatment programme was deemed a success as perfectionism and competitive state anxiety levels reduced over time along with the frequency of VCD occurrence. This case study demonstrates the breadth of roles that can be undertaken by a SPC and raises awareness of a complex respiratory disorder that is not yet fully understood.

The role, benefits and selection of sport psychology consultants: Perceptions of youth-sport coaches and parents

ObjectivesWith practitioners needing to be ‘more things to more people’, it is essential to understand third-party consumer perceptions of the role and benefits of sport psychology consultants (SPC), and the characteristics that may influence such services being sought. DesignA qualitative thematic analysis approach was used in Study 1 and a cross-sectional conjoint analysis approach was employed in Study 2. MethodsIn Study 1, 22 participants (11 youth-sport coaches, 11 parents) took part in semi-structured interviews to investigate, a) understanding the SPC role, b) the benefits of seeking the services of an SPC, and, c) the salient characteristics of an SPC that would influence judgments on preference and likelihood to seek consultant services on behalf of their athlete/child. In Study 2, a total of 115 participants (51 youth-sport coaches, 64 parents) rated 32 practitioner profiles generated from Study 1, with a conjoint analysis employed to determine the relative importance of SPC characteristics. ResultsSPCs were viewed by youth-sport coaches and parents as practitioners who can help athletes enhance their performance and well-being, which would be of benefit to athletes. The SPC attribute most important to coaches and parents was interpersonal skills, with a preferred SPC profile also including a high level of experience and training, and a known reputation. ConclusionsSPCs are viewed by youth-sport coaches and parents as experts regarding performance enhancement and well-being. SPCs with strong interpersonal skills, extensive experience and training, and a known reputation are preferred by coaches and parents. Findings reinforce the importance of educating those responsible for the ongoing development of athletes to the role and benefits of SPCs, and for SPC training to ensure that interpersonal skills development opportunities are available.

Deconstructing sport and performance psychology consultant: Expert, person, performer, and self-regulator

Sport and performance psychology (SPP) consultants play a critical role in successful service delivery. This article inspects the consultant as an expert, person, and performer, which the three aspects are further linked through a self-regulatory (meta-cognitive) function (i.e. consultant as a self-regulator). It will be proposed that not only self-regulation is an important tool in promoting effectiveness of service delivery, but also adds to the consultant’s growth in becoming a more fulfilled human while pursuing excellence in SPP consulting. In particular, the value of self-reflection, deliberate self-regulation, and professional interactions (e.g. supervision, collegial consultations) will be underscored. Theory-driven, empirically grounded, and professional practice founded implications for consultancy, graduate teaching, and applied research will be offered.

The Performance Interview Guide: Recommendations for initial consultations in sport and performance psychology.

The Performance Interview Guide (PInG) is a semistructured approach to initial sport and performance psychology (SPP) consultations. The PInG is designed to be person centered and strengths based with a focus on performance excellence. We emphasize building a safe, trusting, and collaborative relati

A Case Study of Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Within a Varsity Volleyball Team

This study used an instrumental case study approach to investigate the ways teammates within a female varsity volleyball team regulated one another's emotions, the factors that were perceived to influence interpersonal emotion regulation (IER), and athletes' preferences for regulating their own and others' emotions. Fourteen athletes participated in semistructured interviews and reported using a variety of emotion-improving and emotion-worsening IER strategies, in addition to occasionally choosing not to engage in IER, and several factors were found to influence IER (e.g., athletes' roles and interpersonal factors). This study has theoretical implications and applied implications for athletes, coaches, and sport psychology consultants.

Facilitating Positive Youth Development by Fostering Collaboration Among Community-Based Sport and Physical Activity Programs

Positive youth development (PYD) programs assist youth in acquiring the skills, attitudes, and values that are critical in coping with various risk factors in their communities. The purpose of this paper is to highlight strategies that sport psychology consultants can use to support PYD programs and develop collaboration and consistency of delivery among community youth serving agencies that use sport and physical activity-based experiences to promote positive youth development. In particular, the role of sport psychology consultants within sport and physical activity programs that serve as a catalyst for community youth development (CYD) is examined. Barriers to collaboration among community-based organizations are identified and strategies to overcome these obstacles are proposed. Sport psychology consultants are in a unique position to support PYD and CYD in the athletes and communities they serve.

Models of performance excellence: Four approaches to sport psychology consulting

ABSTRACTThe models of practice of four sport psychology consultants (Jon Metzler, Mark Aoyagi, Alex Cohen, and Artur Poczwardowski) are presented. While each model is distinct, collectively they illustrate the benefits of theoretically-grounded foundations to practice. The practitioners represented derive their models from multiple disciplines associated with sport psychology. Pure Performance emphasizes precise definitions of key terms and components while utilizing deliberate practice to develop authentic skills. Mental FITness is based on focus, inspiration, and trust to conceptualize and facilitate performance excellence. The P.A.C.E. model incorporates Perception, Activation, Concentration, and Execution and applies these elements to Performance Readiness Planning. The “5 Rs” model comprises Respond, Release, Replay, Recharge, and Refocus. The models are presented here for the purpose of demonstrating the breadth with which performance excellence can be conceptualized and facilitated. Implications for practitioners include examples of how theory guides the development of service delivery programs.

Study the Attitude, Knowledge and Experience of Coaches of Karate Federation Islamic Republic Of Iran toward Sport Psychology Counseling

The purpose of this study was study the attitude, knowledge and experience of coaches of Karate Federation Islamic Republic of Iran toward sport psychology counseling. For this purpose, 150 official coaches (75 women and 75 men) of karate Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran who had grade 1 and 2 of certified coach and had participated in the senior Championships of Iran, championship adolescents of young people and under 21 years, national team qualifiers and teams participating in premier League, had participated in this research as individual. In order to collect the required information the researcher made and the research questionnaire Sports coaches on sports psychology was used. Research results by using a two variable Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there is meaningful relationship between experience and attitude to sport psychology consulting and as well as between knowledge and attitudes toward sport psychology consulting that is (p=0.001,p=0.001 respectively). also results of research using independent t-tests showed that there is not meaningful relationship between male and female attitudes towards sport psychology consulting (p=0.207) while there is meaningful difference between adult and youth educators' attitudes towards sports psychology counseling (p=0.001). It seems that according to common concerns that exist between coaches and athletes perhaps existence sport psychology can be effective to athletes and coaches in reducing stress and achieve the desired result.

Study the Attitude, Knowledge and Experience of Coaches of Karate Federation Islamic Republic of Iran toward Sport Psychology Counseling

The purpose of this study was study the attitude, knowledge and experience of coaches of Karate Federation Islamic Republic of Iran toward sport psychology counseling. For this purpose, 150 official coaches (75 women and 75 men) of karate Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran who had grade 1 and 2 of certified coach and had participated in the senior Championships of Iran, championship adolescents of young people and under 21 years, national team qualifiers and teams participating in premier League, had participated in this research as individual. In order to collect the required information the researcher made and the research questionnaire Sports coaches on sports psychology was used. Research results by using a two variable Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there is meaningful relationship between experience and attitude to sport psychology consulting and as well as between knowledge and attitudes toward sport psychology consulting that is (p=0.001,p=0.001 respectively). also results of research using independent t-tests showed that there is not meaningful relationship between male and female attitudes towards sport psychology consulting (p=0.207) while there is meaningful difference between adult and youth educators' attitudes towards sports psychology counseling (p=0.001). It seems that according to common concerns that exist between coaches and athletes perhaps existence sport psychology can be effective to athletes and coaches in reducing stress and achieve the desired result.

Integrating pre-game rituals and pre-performance routines in a culture-specific context: Implications for sport psychology consultancy

Common unorthodox pre-game rituals (PGR) are prevalent in sports, especially soccer, in Ghana and other Sub-Saharan states, yet research literature on how to draw valuable insights from these superstitious rituals to optimize sport performance are sparse. This conceptualized article highlights the conceptual differences between PGR and pre-performance routines based on scientific descriptions, empirical studies, and particular field observations. We then present the determinants and theoretical underpinnings of these behaviours. The manifestations of PGR in different forms during preparatory phases prior to competitive fixtures are also captured. The article concludes by throwing light on how sport psychology consultancy could tap into some of these unique ritualistic cultural practices by incorporating them as part of formalized pre-performance routines. Additionally, suggestions are made regarding possible future research using an intervention approach to empirically test the functions and efficacy of these localized practices.

Butterflies, Magic Carpets, and Scary Wild Animals: An Intervention With a Young Gymnast

This article presents a reflective case example of a sport psychology consultation carried out with a 9-year-old gymnast during the final year of the consultant’s training to become a British Psychological Society–chartered sport psychologist. During this period of time, the author was under the supervision of an experienced applied sport psychologist. The article draws on the published research in applied sport psychology and the wider child development literature to inform and negotiate the challenges of a neophyte practitioner working in a relatively unfamiliar sport with a very young gymnast. The intervention, which took place over 6 months, involved a focus on psychological skills training. This article reflects on the intervention experience and makes observations that may be of benefit to both neophyte and practiced consultants working with very young children. Although the consultancy involved goal setting, relaxation, and commitment, the focus of this article is on those activities and skills that are specific to such a young athlete and that may be of interest to other practitioners in similar scenarios.

Conflict Management and Cultural Reparation: Consulting “Below Zero” With a College Basketball Team

Although sport psychology consultants typically engage in conflict resolution as part of team interventions, cases of extreme relationship conflict in teams resulting in distrust, tension, and hostility require special consideration for the consultant who is starting “below zero” when beginning a consultant relationship with a program. Such a case warrants not just culture building, but cultural reparation and the development of resolution efficacy among team members. The purpose of this case study is to describe an intervention program with a college basketball team that was experiencing multiple relationships conflicts and an extremely dysfunctional team culture. The intervention focused on (a) enabling players to take ownership of and be accountable for a “smart system” team culture, (b) initiating a process to build resolution efficacy that focused on accepting and managing task conflict (while reducing relationship conflict) and emphasized interpersonal risk-taking and vulnerability to build trust, and (c) enhancing coach-athlete relationships. Reflections on the case include the importance of vigilance about ethical boundary and confidentiality issues in “below zero” situations and the role of coaches who prefer transactional leadership styles in building team culture and resolution efficacy for conflict.

A Reflective Case Study of Sport Psychology Support at the Lacrosse World Cup

The purpose of this paper is to share and reflect on personal experiences of providing sport psychology support to an international lacrosse squad during their World Cup participation. Based on the needs analysis assessments from observation reports and informal communications, key areas of support included: (1) creating structure and routine, (2) facilitating team reflections, (3) goal setting, (4) game preparation, and (5) providing off-field support. Working with this team exposed the dynamic nature of sport psychology consultancy, and the unpredictability of what is required from a team in a high-performance setting. Individual consultancy through informal communications with players signaled the importance of supporting the person beyond their role as an athlete. Team-level support via group workshop sessions was predominantly performance-related, and required the adoption of solution-focused approaches given the time pressure on strategies to be effective. The support facilitated team organization and preparation, which enabled players to be both mentally and physically ready for each game. Establishing stable routines, game plans, and clear goals, and having adequate reflection and feedback time were reported by the players as important facets of their World Cup experience and success.

The Jeremy Lin Effect: Being an Asian Sport Psychology Consultant in a Black and White World

As racially diverse, early-career sport psychology consultants (SPCs), we reflect on our experiences working with collegiate athletes and coaches whose racial/ethnic status were different from our own. Our reflections cover (a) the external effects of stereotypes, presence (and pernicious effects) of microaggressions, and strategies for effectively coping with such transgressions; (b) stereotype threat and how Jeremy Lin’s entry into the NBA affected our self-perceptions; and (c) a call to action to further promote a multicultural approach to sport psychology training, research, and practice. In sharing these thoughts, we hope to promote further dialogue in the emerging field of cultural sport psychology.