The document provides information about the field of sport psychology including areas of specialization like personality, motivation, and mental skills training. It discusses employment opportunities in university settings, private practice, and with organizations like the U.S. Olympic Committee. Graduate training typically involves a master's degree and PhD with a focus on sport psychology, clinical psychology, or counseling psychology. Salaries range from $55k-$150k depending on the setting. While tenure track positions are limited, opportunities are increasing in exercise psychology and applying sport psychology to non-athletes.

1. Graig M. Chow, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Sport Psychology
Sport Psychology Practitioner

2. The Field
 Psychological factors that influence participation
and performance in sport and exercise
 Psychological effects derived from participation
 Theories and interventions to enhance
performance, participation, and personal growth

3. Areas of Specialization and Interventions
 Areas
 Personality
 Motivation
 Stress and anxiety
 Group dynamics
 Mental skills training
 Concentration
 Exercise behavior/adherence
 Injury
 Burnout
 Clinical sport psychology
 Character development
 Youth sport
 Interventions
 Relaxation
 Imagery
 Goal setting
 Self-talk
 Routines
 Activation
 Biofeedback
 Mindfulness
 Self-regulation techniques
 Hypnosis
 Team Building
 Communication skills

4. Activities
Typically there is a mix of these activities
Research
Consulting
Teaching

5. Employment Opportunities
 Faculty position
 Research center
 Private practice (CC-AASP)
 Private practice (clinical or counseling)
 Army Center for Enhanced Performance (ACEP)
 University counseling center
 University athletic department
 U.S. Olympic Committee
 Sport academies

6. Graduate Training
 Sport psychology/kinesiology/sport sciences track
 Masters = 2 years
 Ph.D. = 3-5 years
 CC-AASP
 Clinical or counseling psychology track
 Masters = 2 years
 Ph.D. = 4-7 years, including internship
 Postdoctoral training may be necessary
 Licensed psychologist
 Masters in sport psychology and Ph.D. in clinical or
counseling psychology has been recommended

7. Salary
 Faculty or athletic department = 55-150k
 ACEP = 60-90K
 Counseling center = 55-90k
 Private practice = range is much wider with
higher ceiling and lower floor

8. Amount and Stability of Employment
 Limited tenure track professor positions and full-
time applied work with only athlete clients
 ACEP is largest employer of sport psychology
graduate students
 Adjunct faculty, athletic department, and college
and professional retainer opportunities are
increasing
 Rapid growth in exercise psychology and
application of sport psychology to non-athlete
populations

9. Dress Code
 Business casual in university and clinical or
counseling private practice settings
 However, because much consulting work with
athletes and teams occurs during practice,
athletic coaching attire is appropriate

10. Turnover
 Low turnover rate for faculty, university
(counseling center, athletic department), and
USOC positions
 Higher turnover rate for private practice and
ACEP

11. Undergraduate Experiences
 Graduate school is necessary
 B.A. in psychology and/or kinesiology
 Typical admission requirements (varies by program)
 GPA of 3.3 or higher
 GRE
○ At or above the 50th percentile for verbal/quantitative
○ At or above the 60th percentile for analytical writing
○ Research experience of one year or higher
 Strong letters of recommendation

12. Most Rewarding Aspects
 Variety of activities and available opportunities
 Research that informs consulting and teaching
 Consulting with recreational to professional/
international level athletes across all age groups
 Supervision of neophyte sport psychology consultants
 International travel opportunities

13. Biggest Drawbacks
 Tenure track professor positions are limited
 Grant funding for research is scarce – need
to be innovative
 Difficult to find a career with only a Masters
 Full-time consulting work with only athlete
clients is rare

14. Resources
 APA Division 47
 http://www.apadivisions.org/division-47/
 AASP
 http://www.appliedsportpsych.org
 NASPSPA
 http://www.naspspa.org/
 FSU Sport Psychology
 http://coe.fsu.edu/Current-Students/Departments/Educational-
Psychology-and-Learning-Systems-EPLS/Current-
Students/Educational-Psychology/Sport-Psychology
 Directory of Graduate Programs in Applied Sport
Psychology
 http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/publications/graduate-
program-directory/