What is exercise and sport psychology?
Exercise and sport psychologists are interested in the bidirectional relationships between physical activity and psychological well-being. They ask questions such as, “How does anxiety influence a basketball player’s accuracy at the free-throw line?” and “What is the relationship between physical fitness and children’s self-esteem?” Exercise and sport psychology, like other branches of psychology, includes teaching, research, and application. What careers are available in exercise and sport psychology? Some career possibilities include: • Coaching professional athletes • Coaching a general student population • Coaching mentally or physically disabled students • Counseling athletes • Counseling compulsive exercisers and people with eating disorders • Conducting research at a university • Teaching sport psychology at a college What training is needed for a career in exercise and sport psychology? Exercise and sport psychologists receive their training through departments of psychology or
