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The application of psychology to sport and exercise settings is a
relatively new field which is rapidly developing and expanding. This
branch of psychology is concerned with understanding the behaviour,
mental processes, and well-being of people who are involved in sport
and exercise. Practitioners typically specialise in either the sport or
exercise branches, though some work equally in both fields.
What is a Sport and Exercise Psychologist?
Sport and exercise psychologists work with individuals, teams, and
organisations in a wide range of contexts. Examples of their work
include:
- Helping elite performers to develop preparation strategies to deal with the demands of competition and training
- Applying research into motor learning and psychophysiological processes to maximise practice and fitness regimes
- Assisting coaches, managers, and referees with enhancing their interpersonal and communication skills
- Counselling injured athletes during their rehabilitation
- Advising youth sport performers travelling to international
fixtures on how to deal with disappointment, homesickness, and family
problems
- Working with health promotion staff to increase exercise motivation and adherence in sedentary individuals
- Facilitating an optimal 'motivational climate' for the clients of exercise instructors
- Optimising the psychosocial benefits that cardiac rehabilitation patients can gain from their exercise involvement.
Where do Chartered Psychologists work in Sport and Exercise Settings?
Sport and exercise psychologists work in a variety of sport and
exercise settings and with a diverse range of clients participating in
recreational, amateur, and elite levels of competition. Some
opportunities exist to work as full-time psychologists, and these are
constantly increasing.
Some sport psychologists work as private consultants, or hold
full-time positions with professional sports teams or national
governing bodies of sport, but most combine their consultancy work with
teaching and research or also work in other areas such as the clinical
and occupational domains. Similarly, exercise psychologists tend to
combine consultancy with teaching and research careers. Exercise
psychologists' work might see them involved in GP exercise referral or
cardiac rehabilitation schemes.
The work of a sport and exercise psychologist is centred around
people and can be varied. Although consultancy work may be office based
it is equally likely that sport and exercise psychologists will work in
field settings such as team premises, youth academies, competition
venues, clinical rehabilitation, and recreational exercise settings.
Pay, Prospects and Conditions
Pay is very much dependent on the client and whether or not the
psychologist combines consultancy within sport and exercise with other
professional activities such as teaching and research. Prospects of
sustaining full-time consultancy work are limited, but both full and
part-time positions are becoming more widely available. Conditions vary
greatly depending on the client, activity and location. For example,
practitioners may find themselves in a warm, comfortable interview
room; a sports science laboratory in a university; a recreation centre;
a rainy athletics track; or an Olympic athletes' village or training
camp.
How can I become a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist?
The Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology was formed in 2004,
and the document below outlines the routes to becoming a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist in the
U.K.
Qualification and Training Routes to Become a Practising Sport and Exercise Psycholgist in the UK
Broadly it requires a first degree in psychology or a closely-related
discipline with a large psychology component which gives the Graduate
Basis for Registration with the British Psychological Society, followed
by an approved higher degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology and
supervised experience.
Individuals who have not completed a qualification
approved by the Society on an individual basis, may still be considered
for Full membership of the Division and Chartered Status through the
‘grandparenting’ scheme, but will have to demonstrate training and
experience in the required key competencies at an appropriate level
over a period of at least five years. This route is for
experienced academics and practitioners and is only considered in
special cases.
You will find further information on the 'grandparenting'
procedures, the advantages that membership of the Division confers,
categories of membership, and details on how to join in the 'How to Join' section.
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