What do sport psychologists do?

The main aim of a sport psychologist is to assist athletes in the development of psychological skills that facilitate both performance enhancement as well as enjoyment and satisfaction.

Such skills include: the ability to relax and focus under pressure; the ability to regulate arousal levels to a desirable and optimal level to ensure peak performance; to be able to concentrate at all times; to be intrinsically motivated for training and competition; and to be supremely confident in one’s ability, to mention but a few.

These skills are not learned over night but can be achieved over time. Typical sport psychology methods employed to help gain these skills include goal-setting, relaxation techniques, imagery, cognitive techniques and hypnosis.

In addition to performance enhancement, sport psychologists are also commonly involved in team-building, helping athletes to cope with injury and focus on recovery, giving lifestyle management advice to athletes, and coach education.