12000 Psychology subject sub_topic The sports psychology specialization of psychology incorporates psychological methods to address issues specific to athletics, observe social and developmental factors that accompany athletic participation, and naturally enhance athletic performance through good mental health. A sports psychology degree will open up careers in sport psychology which typically require a master's or doctoral degree. 0 0 0 12300 <p>Sports psychology is the study of the psychology of athletes and other exercise participants. Sports psychology covers an incredibly broad range of topics, however most topics can be classified into one of two divisions; professionals who work to improve the performance of athletes, and professionals who work to maintain the mental health and well being of athletes.</p> <p>There are many ways sports psychologists try to reach their set goals. For instance, a sports psychologist who focuses on performance enhancement may be hired by a football team to work with the coach and counsel players on a psychological level and in a way that improves physical performance. Others, who choose to focus on maintaining mental health and well being, may work with a star soccer player who became injured, concentrating on the psychological aspects involved with rehabilitation. Still others work at the university level, conducting scientific research in the area of sports psychology.</p> <p>The nature of the work as a whole is highly rewarding. Sports psychologists get to interact and advise some of the best athletes in a given sport, share in the successes and triumphs of athletes and help to improve athlete’s overall mental state. Sports psychologists also work in very social environments, usually as part of a team and most professionals consider this part of their career to be energizing. However, burnout is a problem for some professionals because many sports psychologists have to work as hard and as long as the athletes they’re counseling.</p> <b>Required Education to Become a Sports Psychologist</b> <p>Entry-level positions as a sports psychologist that only require a bachelor’s degree are virtually unheard of. At minimum, a master’s degree is needed to work and receive training and experience in the field. However, to actually be a sports psychologist, a doctoral degree is required because every psychologist needs a license to practice and counsel clients and the law mandates that doctoral degrees are a required for licensure.</p> <p>There are few programs that offer a sports psychology degree, most professionals receive a doctorate of psychology and gain experience in sports psychology along the way. Division 47 of the American Psychological Association suggests that sports psychologists obtain the appropriate education to become licensed psychologists while gleaning "experience in applying psychological principles in sports settings." This can mean taking specialized courses in sports psychology, working with a professor who is conducting research in the area or taking on an internship in the field.</p> <p>Becoming a full-fledged sports psychologist demands a large amount of education and requires initiative on the part of students to go out and get the necessary experience in this specialty area that they may not be able to get at their college or university. This is why more and more aspiring sports psychologists are earning their advanced degrees through web-based schools. Online study affords sports psychology students the flexibility to work to earn money and valuable experience while simultaneously earning their master’s degree or PhD.</p> <b>Earnings of a Sports Psychologist</b> <p>Unfortunately the salaries of sports psychologists tend not to be competitive with other areas of applied psychology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual earning of psychologists working in clinical environments was $59,440 in 2006, and this includes sports psychologists. Every 10 years the American Psychological Association conducts a study of the salaries of psychologists in more specific fields. The last study was performed in 2001, and although somewhat outdated, it found that while a few sports psychologists make an annual income over six figures depending on their clientele, most have modest earnings in line with the findings of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.</p> <b>Article References</b><br/><br/> Bureau of Labor Statistics<br/> <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm#earnings" target="_blank">http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm#earnings</a><br/><br/> American Psychological Association<br/> <a href="http://www.apa.org/" target="_blank">http://www.apa.org/</a><br/> <a href="http://research.apa.org/01salary/index.html#applied2" target="_blank">http://research.apa.org/01salary/index.html#applied2</a><br/><br/> The North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity<br/> <a href="http://www.naspspa.org/info/" target="_blank">http://www.naspspa.org/info/</a><br/><br/> International Society of Sports Psychology<br/> <a href="http://www.issponline.org/" target="_blank">http://www.issponline.org/</a><br/><br/> sports-psychology Sports Psychology Sports Psychology Search Sports Psychology Schools for Accredited Sports Psychologist Career Training 1 0 0