About My Interest in Psychology

When I look at the various topics over the scientific study of mood and behavior, I'm most intrigued by sports psychology. This branch provides a personal connection for me as my passion for sports has prolonged throughout my life ever since I could walk. As I continue my career in sport's today, I will expect to use the tools I learn from sport's psychology on myself and my teammates so we may continue finding success for our future.

Sports psychology is a branch of psychology that goes over the psychological and physical factors that may be affecting performance in a sporting event or just an athletic activity in general. A practice that can incorporate a multitude of sciences such as physiology, kinesiology, and biomechanics to help athletes perform at the ability their capable of. Injuries are not the only thing that affects athletes from performing at their top level, an athletes mindset can be affected by an outside source as quickly as a basketball player can roll their ankle. The mindset of an athlete is crucial, if their level of concentration decreases when it comes to the game because an outside source conflicting with their mindset, their ability to perform at their highest level is bound to go down. Sports psychology works with the distraction that affect an athlete's performance as well as rehabilitation after an injury. Some athlete's may find rehabilitation to be harder than other's as each athlete's injury has a unique affect over the mindset of a player. Some injuries may be so traumatic to the player in which they may not feel like they will be able to continue their athletic career any further. This practice helps find the motivation and drive to fight back from an injury and help an athlete get back to performing at their top level.

In order to become a sports psychologist, high level education is required. Unfortunately, there are not many schools in the U.S. that offer undergraduate or graduate programs that specify over that specific field of psychology. When students are getting their undergrad with hopes of being a sports psychologist in their future, some may double major in psychology and exercise science while others may pursue a degree in clinical psychology with a concentration in sports psychology. This is very common in students getting their undergrad who wish to pursue sports psychology. The main piece of education that is required is a master's or doctoral degree in clinical psychology, sports psychology, or counseling.

There are many professions that relate to this field of psychology besides the obvious sports psychologist. Some examples of these professions are: athletic trainers, physical therapists, coaches, and performance enhance consultants. Each occupation having it's own unique process in what they do on a day to day bases, but all remaining in the same realm when deciding if sport's psychology is applied or not. Some may work with rehabilitation with the athletes after their injuries and may apply tools used in sports psychology to help find success. Other's may create deeper connections with athlete's to help find the proper mindset so they may achieve their highest level of performance. All these professions use sport's psychology in some way shape or form.

Coleman Griffith, other wise known as "The father of sport's psychology" in the U.S.A. based off his contribution to the field of sports psychology. His biggest achievement was when he was hired as a sports psychologist's for the Chicago Cubs in 1938. Another huge name is Dr. John F. Murray. Dr. Murray has been identified as "the most quoted psychologist in America." His works throughout the National Football League was just an astonishing accomplishment.

The main cause for my interest in sports psychology is due to my pursuance of becoming a physical therapist in the future. I would like to concentrate my interest over helping athletes not only get over their injury but make sure they are performing better than they were before their injury. I hope I can learn more about this field so I may translate my knowledge towards the profession I will have one day.

Sources:
http://www.psychology.org/careers/sports-psychologist/#what-is
http://www.appliedsportpsych.org/about/about-applied-sport-and-exercise-psychology/
https://www.psychologyschoolguide.net/blog/famous-sports-psychologists/
http://mindbodyhealth.us/services-offered/sports-and-performance-psychology/
https://study.com/academy/lesson/coleman-griffith-sports-psychology.html
http://www.johnfmurray.com/