Sport Psychology is the science that deals with the mental and emotional aspects of physical performance.

Dr. Donald A. McMurray is a former college basketball player who received his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He developed Mental Edge/Sports Training in 1980 and has provided sports psychology training to amateur, collegiate, and professional athletes.

Dr. Maryla Madura, a full-time licensed psychologist staff member of Comprehensive MedPsych Systems brings a unique set of training and expertise not only to the local area but as far all sports psychology is concerned. Not only does she provide sports psychology services, but she also has been a highly ranked player in the field of women's tennis.

Her tennis accomplishments include:

• 1992-93 Achieved a professional women's (WTA) world ranking of 620 in singles and 625 in doubles.
• 1992 Represented Poland at the U.S. Open Juniors in Tennis (singles).
• 1991 Sunshine State Conference Singles Champion
• 1992-1993 Tennis Scholarship Recipient and training at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy
• 1995 Ivy League Tennis Championship
• 1998 Sunshine State Conference Senior Award in Women's Tennis
• 1998-1999 ITA Scholar-Athlete All-American

CMPS provides a full range of sports psychology services including:

Cognitive Assessment of Visual processing Speed Performance Enhancement Managing Performance Anxiety Overcoming Competition Pressure Confidence Building/Recovering From Lost Confidence Being in the Zone Time Management Skills Effective Communication with Coaches & Trainers Balancing School, Family, & Sport

She also provides clinical psychological services as needed in terms of:

• Psychological Testing for ADHD and emotional disorders
• Individual Psychotherapy
• Family education

 

Definition of Sport Psychology

European Federation of Sports Psychology (FEPSAC) Position Statement  1995

Several studies have revealed the importance and acceptance of sport psychology. However, the crucial question about the real nature of sport psychology is difficult to answer precisely. Although many definitions have been suggested, there is no comprehensive and internationally accepted definition of sport psychology until now. There is, therefore, a need for a clear description and definition for this area of growing importance.

In this Position Statement FEPSAC makes a proposal which takes into account (a) the historical roots of European sport psychology, (b) the complexity of the subject and (c) the potential user of sport psychology.

Although some cultures and languages use distinct terms for different types of physical activity, in this statement the term sport is used as an umbrella term including all kinds of exercise, sport and physically active pursuits.

 

What is sport psychology?

Sport psychology is concerned with the psychological foundations, processes 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 on behaviour or on different psychological dimensions of human behaviour, i.e. affective, cognitive, motivational or sensori-motor dimensions.

The physical activity can take place in competitive, educational, recreational, preventative and rehabilitation settings and includes health-related exercise. Subjects are all persons involved in the different sport and exercise settings, e.g. athletes, coaches, officials, teachers, physiotherapists, parents, spectators etc.

 

How is sport psychology constituted?

Sport psychology as a scientific discipline, as well as a professional field, is loosely associated with, and draws upon, the three areas of (1) sport practice, (2) psychology and (3) other sport sciences. These areas are considered equally valid. All of them have a bearing on the topics, the theoretical foundations, the methodological approaches, and the scientific and ethical standards of sport psychology.

The interrelations between these areas are briefly described as follows:

• Sport psychology - Sport practice: Sport psychology is faced with issues that arise from exercise and sport practice. It tries to better understand these demands and attempts to give assistance in satisfying them.
• Sport psychology - Psychology: Sport psychology is an applied subdiscipline of psychology. It partly draws upon knowledge adopted from different branches of psychology and contributes to the further understanding of psychology in general.
• Sport psychology - Other sport sciences: Sport psychology is one discipline of the sport sciences. The more sport psychology generates specific knowledge by empirical work in the field of sport and physical activity, the more the findings and methods of other sport sciences have to be accounted for. Some questions may only be answered using interdisciplinary approaches.

 

What may sport psychology contribute to sport?

Sport psychology as a scientific discipline and professional area furthers the understanding of sport. It analyzes, assesses and directs activity in all aspects of sport by means of psychological processes. Thus sport psychology has a responsibility for well-being, the attainment and maintenance of health, and the improvement of performance. Sport psychology may support the individual or the group with the aim that the actions of the subject master the requirements of the task, fit with situational demands and constraints, and are appropriate to the subject’s abilities and needs.

Sport psychology gives the body of knowledge that contributes both to the personal growth and development of the subject and to the formation of the conditions under which exercise and sport are performed.

 

What do people in sport psychology do?

We use the term ‘sport psychologist’ in a broad sense including all qualified persons working in the field, independent of their academic education. Different countries may have restrictions on the use of the term ‘psychologist’.

Sport psychologists have three interrelated tasks:

 

• Research: Research is needed to understand the psychological regulation of activity in the setting of sport. The following types of research are conducted: Theoretical or empirical, basic and applied, laboratory and field studies. All contribute to the construction of a specific body of knowledge.

• Education: Sport psychology is an important subject in the education of almost every person involved in sport. Three different groups of people may be given knowledge and competence in sport psychology: a). on an academic level, students in psychology, the sport sciences and physical education; b). on a professional level, psychologists moving into the field of sports, coaches, training supervisors, officials and administrators; and finally c). sport participants, e.g. top level athletes, health-related exercise participants, participants in adventure sports, or rehabilitation patients.

 

• Application: Knowledge and competence in sport psychology may be applied to two main functions, namely (1) diagnosis and assessment (e.g. talent detection, testing of cognitive or sensori-motor skills, or evaluation of the needs of participants), and (2) intervention (e.g. guidance in cooperation with – other responsible persons in the field, counseling, or consulting in special problem situations).

 

Quality of applied sport psychology services, FEPSAC Position Statement 2006

Situation analysis and purpose Top level sport is characterised by a relentless quest for success which includes the investment of time, energy and money of those involved. On average 10 years of intensive training (deliberate practice) are required for an athlete to reach a high level of performance. Numerous support systems have been developed and are offered to support those in the field through their long journey (medical assistance, performance diagnosis, nutritional consulting, and physiotherapy). Additional assistance is required in the area of psychological support. Failure in sport is frequently attributed to inadequate arousal, disturbing thoughts, lack of mental readiness or a general lack in psychological skills to cope with the situational demands during competitions. The aim of applied sport psychology in competitive sport is to provide efficient psychological support for athletes, teams, coaches, sport clubs, organisations and significant others through sport psychology consultants. These may be sport psychologists, mental trainers, psychological coaches or other sport psychology service providers. While a central focus is usually on optimising performance, other psychological themes such as well-being, work-life-balance or interpersonal issues may also come across. Many athletes and sport teams rely heavily on the services offered, and a large number of intervention strategies and methods have been developed, scientifically tested and successfully applied in the past. This increases the sport people’s trust in the power of sport psychology assistance, thus enhancing the responsibility of sport psychology organisations and the individual sport psychology consultants to be professional and to deliver services of only highest quality. In the domain of top level sport this means working in a highly professional environment, often under the public eye and under high time pressure and efficiency requirements. The consultant needs to be on the highest level of competence and to maintain this level over time. Sport psychology consultation always comprises interpersonal work based on a trusting relationship with the client who may have an urgent need for help and support. It is indispensable to take responsibility for all the actions and to avoid harming others.