What is sport psychology?
A basic description of sport psychology is the mental side of exercise and sport. It deals with both a) how the mind (our thoughts and feelings) affects exercise and sports performance; and b) how exercise and sport participation affects well-being and personal development. The practice of applied sport psychology usually involves a combination of individual and group consulting or counseling, depending on the style of the professional conducting the intervention and the needs of the client. AAASP Certified Consultants and specially-trained licensed psychologists are typically the most competent practitioners in applied sport psychology. Although there are many specific concepts within applied sport psychology (e.g., goal setting, concentration, relaxation, imagery), the general goal is to teach athletes the mental skills necessary to perform consistently in training and competition and to help them realize their potential as people and athletes. From www.aaasponline.
