What exactly do sport psychologists do?
"Different sport psychologists do different things," explains sport psychologist
Craig Wrisberg. He works at the University of Tennessee.
"But the majority assist athletes in developing mental skills that will
allow them to perform near their potential every time they compete."
These mental skills can involve plans for competition, relaxation skills,
emotional control, attention focusing, visual imagery, goal setting and more.
Wrisberg certainly knows the field. He's worked with members of the
U.S. Olympic team, a professional golf player and a professional tennis player,
as well as university athletes.
"Very few individuals work as a sport psychologist full time -- at least
at the amateur sport level," he says.
"Many are professors or grad students in universities who do it as part
of the service component of their programs. A few are practicing psychologists
who primarily deal with non-athletic issues, but may also have a client or
two who are athletes," he adds.
"Team psychologists in professional sports are for the most part regular
psychologists who are available for athletes with personal problems. Very
few of these people do much in the way of performance enhancement training
with athletes."
What type of education does Wrisberg recommend? "If a person wants to be
involved in every aspect of the athlete's life -- such as drug or alcohol
abuse, marital problems -- then he or she should pursue a career in clinical
psychology with supporting coursework in sport psychology."
There's nothing Wrisberg doesn't like about sport psychology.
"I really like sports and am very much a people person. It's a great
rush to work with individuals who are extremely talented and who need only
to put the mental piece of their preparation in place in order to achieve
great things."
So what advice would Wrisberg offer those considering a career in sport
psychology? "You must have a passion for what you do. You must be a great
listener, be sensitive to people's needs and be flexible in your approach,"
he says.
"It also helps if you have competed in sports yourself. If athletes don't
feel comfortable around you or don't feel that they can trust you...all
of your training, degrees, licenses or certification won't do you a bit
of good."
Brooke Estabrook works as a sport psychologist consultant and teaches a
sport psychology course for credit over the Internet. The course is credited
through Mesa Community College in Arizona and Parkland Community College in
Illinois.
She stresses the importance of a doctoral degree. "In order to practice,
you need to be a PhD. You can consult and work with a master's, but most
have teaching positions at a major university and see athletes on the side,"
she says.
"There are very few people in the world that can do only sport psychology
consulting work and make a living."
Estabrook consults with athletes, teaches a course and even helps coaches
improve their skills. "I wanted to get into the field as an undergraduate,
and I've really enjoyed the experience working in it."
But she adds these words of advice: "I caution students to have a job that
doesn't rely solely on sport psychology. The field is fun but quite closed.
Unless you have the education, you're not going to get very far."
Susan Butt is a sport psychologist with a major university. "Students
have to become the best psychologist they can be, which means a [bachelor
of science], master's and PhD. Unless they have that qualification, they
can't practice legally as a psychologist in the U.S. or Canada.
"You've got to get your professional credentials first.
Students need to sample an undergraduate degree and take some psychology,
sociology and some science courses. They need to find out more about the career
and not specialize too soon."