Sports

Psychology
Unit 1: Introduction
 • What is sports psychology?

• History of sports psychology

• Role of sports psychologists

• Ethical standards of sports psychologists

Topics
• Present and future trends in sports psychology

• Need and scope for sports psychology in India

• Current research in sports psychology

• Methods of data collection

What’s your first thought
when you hear
Sports Psychology?
 American Psychological Association’s (APA, 2009) Division 47
(Exercise & Sport Psychology)
“Exercise and sport psychology is the scientific study of the psychological factors
that are associated with participation and performance in sport, exercise, and
other types of physical activity"

The European Federation of Sport Psychology (1996)

Sport psychology is concerned with the psychological foundations, processes,
What is sports and consequences of the psychological regulation of sport-related activities of
one or several persons acting as the subject(s) of the activity. The focus may be
psychology? on the behaviour or on different psychological dimensions of human behaviour
(i.e., affective, cognitive, motivational, or sensorimotor dimensions) (p. 221).

The Association for Applied Sport Psychology’s (AASP, 2010)

“Applied sport and exercise psychology involves extending theory and research
into the field to educate coaches, athletes, parents, exercisers, fitness
professionals, and athletic trainers about the psychological aspects of their sport
or activity. A primary goal of professionals in applied sport and exercise
psychology is to facilitate optimal involvement, performance, and enjoyment in
sport and exercise (About Applied Sport and Exercise Psychology, para. 1).
 • 1897 - The field of Sport Psychology was born in the 1890’s when
Norman Triplett began studying the psychological effects of bicycle
racing and performance.

• 1920 - Carl Diem founded the world‘s first sports psychology laboratory
in Berlin.

• 1923 - Dr. Coleman Griffith (Father of Sport Psychology) created and

History of sports taught the first university level courses in sport psychology at the

psychology? University of Illinois.

• He also started psychology lab in the University of Illinois.
• He was the first sport psychologist ever hired by a professional
sports team, the Chicago Cubs baseball team.
• He authored two books on the Psychology of Coaching and
Athletics and conducted research.

• 1932 – Dr.Griffith’s lab was closed due to lack of funds

 • Till 1960’s - There was very little research on sports psychology
until the subject experienced a revival of interest.

• 1965 - Ferruccio Antonelli established the International Society

of Sport Psychology (ISSP)
History of sports • 1970 - The first academic journal, the International Journal of
psychology? Sport Psychology, was introduced

• 1979-establishment of the Journal of Sport Psychology

Contd.. • 1980’s - sports psychology became the subject of a more

rigorous scientific focus as researchers began to explore how
psychology could be used to improve athletic performance, as
well as how exercise could be utilized to improve mental well-
being and lower stress levels.
 A sports psychologist primarily teach athletes
mental game skills to maintain peak performance.
• Help Athletes Cope with Performance Fears

• Help Athletes Improve Mental Skills for

Performance
Role of sports
• Help Athlete Mentally Prepare for Competition
psychologist
• Help Athletes Return After Injury

• Help Athlete Develop Pregame Routine

• Help Athletes Develop Preshot Routines

• Help Athletes Improve Practice Efficiency

 Ethics Code : Six general Principles

1. Competence: Demonstrating proficiency and

expertise within the field of sports psychology in
practice.
2. Integrity: Upholding honesty, transparency, and
ethical standards in all professional interactions.
Ethical 3. Professional and Scientific Responsibility: Adhering
to professional standards and ethical guidelines
while applying evidence-based practices.
standards 4. Respect for People’s Rights and Dignity: Valuing and
honoring the rights, beliefs, and dignity of athletes
and individuals.
5. Concern for Others' Welfare: Prioritizing the well-
being and safety of athletes and those involved in
sports.
6. Social Responsibility: Recognizing and addressing
broader societal issues within the scope of sports
psychology practice.
 Ethics Code : 26 General Ethical Standards

• Professional and Scientific • Documentation of Professional

Relationship and Scientific Work
• Boundaries of Competence • Fees and Financial Arrangements
• Human Differences • Definition of Public Statements
• Exploitation and Harassment
Ethical • Personal Problems and Conflicts
• Informed Consent to Practice
• Maintaining Confidentiality
• Avoiding Harm • Informed Consent to Research
standards • Misuse of Sports Psychologists’ • Conduct of Research
Influence • Deception in Research
• Misuse of Sports Psychologists’ • Minimizing Invasiveness
Work • Honesty in Research
Contd.. • Multiple Relationships
• Barter (with Patients or Clients)
• Conflicts between Ethics and
Organizational Demands
• Consultations and Referrals • Resolution of Ethical Conflicts
• Third-Party Requests for Services • The Integration of Technology in
• Delegation to and Supervision of Professional and Scientific Work
Subordinates within Sport, Exercise and Health
Psychology
 • Interdisciplinary Approach: Programs often integrated psychology,
kinesiology, sports science, and counselling, providing a
comprehensive understanding of the psychological aspects of
sports performance.
• Still, it is exceptionally rare to find a program that prepares graduates
along all necessary dimensions.

• Thus, for students to acquire competency in both kinesiology-based

training and psychology-based training requires degrees from both fields,
which presents an unnecessarily cumbersome path.

Present trend: • Increased Availability: Many universities offered specialized

programs in sports psychology, ranging from undergraduate to
Current State of doctoral levels, catering to the growing interest in the field.

Training • Practical Experience: Emphasis on hands-on experience through

internships, practicums, or supervised training
Programs
• Diverse Specializations: Some programs focused on specific areas
like performance enhancement, clinical applications, coaching
psychology, or exercise psychology, catering to various career paths.

• Continued Research Emphasis: Programs encouraged research

initiatives, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in sports
psychology, with topics spanning from mental skills to team
dynamics and sports-related mental health.
 • 2 primary professional organizations:
AASP and Division 47.

• In 1992, AASP developed and instituted a curriculum-based

method of certification to designate a minimum standard of
education and training in both kinesiology and psychology.
Present trend:
Current State of • Those who earn the designation ― "Certified Consultant,
AASP" (CC, AASP)are deemed by AASP to be competent to
Profession provide a range of services depending on their training.
These services commonly include:
(a) educating individuals, groups, and organizations
about the role of psychological factors in sport (e.g.,
assisting with communication or teamwork); and
(b) teaching participants mental and emotional control
skills for sport.
 1. Technology Integration:
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): for immersive mental training, scenario
simulations, and visualization techniques to enhance performance.
Biometric Feedback Tools: Advancements in wearables and biofeedback devices for real-time
monitoring and analysis

2. Neuroscience and Brain Training:

Neuroscience Applications: Deeper exploration of brain function and cognitive processes
Brain Training Programs: training regimes targeting specific cognitive functions like focus,
decision-making, and emotional regulation.

Future trend 3. Mental Health and Well-being: Holistic Mental Health Support & Preventive Mental Health
Programs

4. Personalized Interventions: Individualized Training Plans

5. Applied Research and Collaboration:

Transdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborating with experts from diverse fields like AI, data
science, nutrition, and sociology to address complex performance and mental health issues.
Applied Research in High-Pressure Situations: Conducting research in extreme environments
or high-pressure situations to understand mental resilience and optimal performance under
stress.
 • Until the 1960‘s, science was seldom applied to the arena of sports in India.
• The first major development in the establishment of the Indian sports
science movement was initiated when an International course of sports
medicine was held in Athens, Greece in 1970.
• 3 delegates from India participated on behalf of the Indian Medical
Association and the Indian Olympic Association.
• Upon their return home, the participants decided to form the Indian
Association of Sports medicine (IASM).
Need and scope • During the 7th annual conference of the IASM at Varanasi in 1977,
delegates interested in the psychological aspects of sports decided to form
in India a group of their own - the Indian Association of Sport Psychology was
boom.
• Most studied topic in Sport Psychology for the Indian investigators are
personality, Arousal
• Other topics are intelligence, motivation and self-esteem.
• Following the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, the Government of India
established a separate ministry for sports.
• Budget allocations for sports have also increased substantially and facilities
are being provided for research in sports sciences.
 • We do not have the necessary infrastructure to serve its
athletes by helping them enhance their psychological skills.
• However, several amateur and professional sport teams have
taken interest in utilizing the services of sports scientists to
help athletes achieve optimal performance.
Need and scope
• Obstacle
in India • Absence of adequate numbers of trained personnel.
• Lack of formalized academic course offering in Sports
Psychology in the country.
Contd…
• Top priority must be given to the establishment of degree
courses and programmes at academic institutions.
• This would result in the first generation of Indian Scientists
specifically trained in the field of Sport Psychology.
 1. Relationship between Personality and Performance:
Current Research Focus:

Researchers continue to investigate the complex relationship between personality

Current traits and athletic performance, examining how individual differences impact various
aspects of sports participation.

research in Key Areas of Study:

sports • Big Five Personality Traits: Exploration of how traits such as openness,
conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism influence
psychology performance.

• Trait Anxiety: Understanding how anxiety as a personality trait relates to

performance outcomes.

• Self-Regulation: Investigating the role of self-regulation in managing stress and

enhancing performance.
 2. Personality Characteristics among Elite Athletes
Current Research Focus:

Investigating the psychological characteristics that distinguish elite athletes from non-
elite counterparts, aiming to identify key traits associated with high-level athletic
Current performance.

Key Areas of Study:

research in • Mental Toughness: Examining mental toughness as a critical factor in handling
sports pressure, setbacks, and maintaining focus during competition.

• Self-Efficacy: Assessing an athlete's belief in their ability to perform specific tasks

psychology and achieve desired outcomes.

• Arousal and Motivation: Analyzing the relationship between arousal levels,

motivation, and performance.

• Commitment, Competitiveness, and Control: Understanding the psychological

aspects of commitment, competitiveness, and perceived control among elite
athletes.
 3. Testosterone Changes
Current Research Focus:

Exploring the dynamics of testosterone changes in athletes during various

Current phases of training, competition, and recovery. (Especially in men)

research in Key Areas of Study:

• Endocrine Response to Exercise: Investigating how different types and

sports intensities of exercise impact testosterone levels.

psychology • Recovery Periods: Examining testosterone changes during post-exercise

recovery and sleep.

• Psychological Factors: Assessing the influence of psychological stress,

performance pressure, and competition on testosterone fluctuations.
 1. Observation Method:
Observation involves systematically watching and recording behaviors,
events, or phenomena in their natural/real-time settings.

Pros:

- Provides firsthand, real-time data.

Methods of - Minimizes response bias.

data collection - Versatile and applicable in various settings.

Cons:

- Observer bias may influence interpretations.

- Some behaviors may not be observable.

- Time-consuming for long-term observations.

Examples: Observing athlete's Training, Golf Swing Analysis

 2. Interview Method:
Interviews involve direct interaction between the researcher and
participants to gather information, opinions, or insights.

Pros:

- Allows for in-depth exploration of experiences.

Methods of - Opportunities for clarification and probing.

data collection - Flexibility in questioning.

Cons:

- Potential for response bias.

- Influence of interviewer bias.

- Time and resource-intensive.

Example: Coach-Athlete Debriefing, Pre-Competition Interviews

 3. Questionnaires:
Questionnaires consist of a set of standardized questions administered
to participants to gather quantitative data.

Pros:

- Scalable for large-scale data collection.

Methods of - Anonymity encourages honest responses.

data collection - Easy quantification for analysis.

Cons:

- Risk of low response rates.

- Limited depth compared to interviews.

- Ambiguity in questions may lead to misinterpretation.

Example: Athlete Motivation Survey, Sports Nutrition Questionnaire

 4. Schedules:
Schedules involve recording behaviors or events at predetermined
intervals, often using a structured format.

Pros:

- Offers a standardized format for consistency.

- Efficient for systematic recording.

Methods of - Provides objective, quantifiable data.
data collection Cons:

- Limited in capturing subjective experiences.

- Potential for observer bias.

- Complexity in categorizing certain behaviors.

Example: Sleep Patterns Schedule, Soccer Training

Behavior Schedule
 5. Depth Interviews:
Depth interviews involve one-on-one interactions between the researcher
and participant, aiming for a detailed exploration of experiences.

Pros:

- Captures rich insights and context.

Methods of - Flexible questioning and free expression.

- Useful for understanding nuanced details.

data collection Cons:

- Time-intensive due to detailed exploration.

- Subjectivity influenced by interviewer.

- Findings may not be easily generalizable.

Example: Retired Athlete Career Transition Interviews, Team Conflict

Resolution Interviews