Diploma in Sports Psychology

The programme was developed to give sports enthusiasts a general introduction to the often misunderstood subject of sport psychology. The programme provides an ideal opportunity for people to understand exactly what sport psychology is, how sport psychologists work and how athletes use sport psychology to enhance their performance. On completion of the programme, students should have acquired the skills to identify the psychological skills important for success in sport and the theory based interventions that help to develop these mental skills. To be awarded the Diploma in Sports Psychology, a student will be assessed on the basis of an assignment that is completed within the 10 weeks. The module will examine the relationship between the mind and the body, the role of the sport psychologist and the route to becoming a sport and exercise psychologist.

The student will study the role, value and effectiveness of mental rehearsal and visualisation in sport in relation to different tasks facing both the individual and team performers. In particular, differences in concentration type and level required for various sports will be examined. Discussion of issues specifically relating to team sports will constitute two modules. Psychology related sports stories reported in the media are discussed on weekly basis. An elite athlete is invited as a guest lecturer every semester to share their experiences and outline their use of sport psychology from a practical perspective.

Students vary widely in age, sporting interest and involvement in sport. Coaches, managers, sports parents, current or retired athletes are catered for.

Sports Psychology » Olivet College

Olivet College is one of a handful of schools now offering an undergraduate major in sports psychology. Sport psychology provides students with the behavioral knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance the physical and mental performance of those participating in recreation, fitness/exercise and sport settings. With this major, you will receive extensive training in sport and exercise science, in addition to taking a number of psychology courses. By understanding the psychology associated with human movement, students will specialize in the context of sport and exercise performance and the strategies for achieving peak performance. The major will better prepare those seeking careers in coaching, wellness management, sport management, life skills programming and physical rehabilitation.

Students could also work with patients in hospital wellness or rehabilitation programs supporting patients as they recover from sports-related injuries. You’ll also be well-prepared for graduate studies in sport psychology, sport sociology, sport management or counseling. If you are looking to become a certified sport psychologist, you must continue your education at the graduate level as well. The following is an overview of courses associated with our sport psychology major. We encourage you to speak with a faculty representative during your on-campus visit for detailed information about your specific program interests.

For an official description of courses and degree requirements for the 2018-19 academic year, please reference our academic catalog.

To perform at your best, you have to be physically and mentally tough. Athletes spend countless hours improving their physical skills, but very few spend any time developing mental skills. Balancing academics and athletics, competitive pressures, attending to relationships with teammates and coaches, and managing multiple time demands create significant challenges. It’s no wonder that about half of all student-athletes report that the stress they experience from their sport significantly affects their mental or emotional health. VCU Sport Psychology Services is here to help student-athletes negotiate these challenges successfully, as well as to learn specific mental skills to build mental toughness to enhance their sport performance.

Mental skills training – Learning skills such as goal-setting, imagery, psyching up and psyching down techniques, and self-talk strategies can help student-athletes build mental toughness, strengthen concentration, stay positive, increase confidence, manage emotions, and cope with adversity. Injury recovery – Utilizing certain mental skills can also help with injury recovery, enabling student-athletes to manage pain, optimize healing, and return to sport with more confidence and less anxiety. Personal counseling – Individual, confidential counseling for stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, relationship problems, overtraining and burnout, and all other psychological concerns is available to help student-athletes improve their mental wellness.