Sports psychology degree programs and careers

What is sports psychology?

Compared to other disciplines, psychology is still a relatively young field. One of its more recent offshoots is sports psychology, which focuses on getting the body and mind to work together. In the words of peak performance coach, DC Gonzalez: “Whatever is going on inside your head has everything to do with how well you end up performing.”

The emphasis is often on optimizing mental skills to improve the chances of success.

A sports psychologist aims to get the best performance out of athletes, by focusing on well-being, development, and performance. The emphasis is often on optimizing mental skills to improve the chances of success. If you love sports, this is an extremely exciting area to work in. You can become an integral part of a team, and contribute to its success by motivating athletes to perform at their peak.

How do sports psychologists work?

There tends to be some confusion over what sports psychologists actually do. Much of their work involves providing cognitive and behavioral skills training. This often includes things like:

• goal setting
• increasing self-confidence
• teaching clients to regulate emotions
• visualization

Sports psychologists offer counseling and clinical services for issues such as:

• lack of motivation
• overtraining or burnout
• depression
• substance abuse
• career transitions

They might offer training and consulting in areas such as:

• team building
• coach training
• parental consulting
• leadership and talent development

The attributes of a successful sports psychologist

Empathy is very important. Sports psychologists need the ability to step into the shoes of clients to identify and understand mental blocks. The challenge is then to figure out the best way to remove these issues. The solution usually depends on the personality of the client.

Becoming a sports psychologist takes more than just an interest in football or hockey. It involves years of hard work and study. Like most psychology roles, advanced academic credentials are required. For example, if you want to become a licensed sports psychologist you need a doctoral degree.

How to become a sports psychologist

Get a bachelor’s degree

The first step on the road to a career in sports psychology is to complete a 4-year undergraduate degree. To apply, candidates usually need to submit their school transcripts as proof of their diploma, and demonstrate a reasonable grade point average (GPA).

Bachelor’s degree programs in sports psychology are relatively unusual as this is mainly a postgraduate specialization. Therefore, most candidates choose psychology at bachelor’s level, because this provides a basic understanding of psychological principles and a firm foundation for later specialization.

These are somewhat interchangeable, but in general a B.S. tends to focus more heavily on the major, whereas with a B.A. there is more opportunity to choose elective liberal arts courses.

Psychology majors can either choose a bachelor of arts in psychology (B.A.), or bachelor of science in psychology (B.S.). These are somewhat interchangeable, but in general a B.S. tends to focus more heavily on the major, whereas with a B.A. there is more opportunity to choose elective liberal arts courses.

Some undergraduate psychology programs may offer a concentration in sports and performance psychology, but this rare. When researching potential programs be sure to look out for electives (or even core courses) that specifically relate to the field of sports psychology, such as:

Introduction to sport and exercise psychology

This course introduces the main theories and research behind sports psychology. It covers the skills and techniques necessary to perform assessments, aid development, and enhance performance.

Psychology of coaching

This class focuses on the relationship between an athlete or team and the coach. Students examine interpersonal skills and explore motivation, decision making, leadership and developing talent.

Human anatomy

This course examines the different body systems and how they function.

Social psychology

This module explores how the presence of others affects a person’s attitude and behavior. It also looks at group mentality and interactions.

Kinesiology

This course focuses on biomechanics. Students learn how the human body moves, including a range of physiological functions that involve the muscles and brain activity in exercise and rehabilitation.

It is by no means obligatory to major in psychology at undergraduate level. You might choose another related subject such as kinesiology or sports science. Many successful sports psychologists majored in another bachelor’s field entirely, such as business. If you take this route you may need to take additional psychology courses to apply for graduate programs though.

Get a master’s degree

Most jobs in the sports psychology field require at least a master’s degree. Typically this qualification takes 2 years to complete. If you decide to pursue a doctorate in the field early, then it may be possible to complete the doctoral degree and master’s at the same time. This can lead to less years of study, but it is also a large commitment to cover all the coursework requirements in the reduced time frame.

To enter into a master’s degree program in sports psychology requires a bachelor’s degree with at least 120 credits or the equivalent. Most schools want a minimum GPA of 3.0 to enter their master’s program. Some schools may also require you to take the GRE.

Things can become quite confusing when choosing which master’s program to take. The options available come in numerous forms, such as:

• M.A./M.S. in sport exercise psychology
• M.A./M.S. in sport performance
• M.A./M.S. in sport performance psychology
• M.A./M.S in applied sport psychology
• M.S. in kinesiology with a concentration in sport and exercise psychology
• M.Ed. in sport and exercise psychology

The above list is by no means exhaustive, yet does indicate the variation in courses available. This can cause anxiety in students because they worry they are making the wrong choice. While this understandable, the name of the degree may not be the most important thing. A lot of these degrees offer similar coursework and the same output. When researching potential courses, consider the area of sports psychology you would most like to work in, and how different programs deal with that topic.

It is also important to check that schools and programs are accredited. Most accredited colleges want to advertise their qualifications and usually display these proudly on their website. The most well-known accreditation boards are the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) and the APA Commission on Accreditation.

A typical master’s degree in sports psychology might contain classes such as:

• advanced exercise physiology,
• motor learning and control
• biomechanics
• kinesiology
• the psychology of athletic injuries
• the role of sports in American culture
• sports ethics
• team dynamics
• psychopathology
• counseling skills
• developmental psychology
• theoretical aspects of sport and performance psychology
• coaching, mentoring and motivational processes
• performance enhancement psychology

Some colleges may provide ways to acquire practical experiences. Examples of these include internships and community service. Even if this is not a requirement, it may be beneficial to seek out a summer internship anyway. This can give you a better idea of what it means to be a sports psychologist and allow you to make contacts in the field.

Whether you have to complete a thesis depends on your choice of school and program. It may be a requirement if your course is more research focused, so be sure to check this when considering potential programs.

Get a doctorate degree

This is the highest academic qualification in the field. Most doctoral applicants have a master’s in sports psychology or closely related subjects. As well as the requisite grades from your previous education, you may also be asked to provide academic references.
There are various programs available, but the most common options at this level are:

• Ph.D. in psychology with a concentration in sports psychology (or similar)
• Psy.D. in psychology with a concentration in sports psychology (or similar)

A Ph.D. stands for doctor of philosophy, whilst a Psy.D. means doctor of psychology. The main difference between courses in these fields is that Ph.D. courses are more research focused, whilst a Psy.D. is usually aimed at individuals who want to work with patients in a clinical environment.

The contents of the doctoral program tend to be highly individualized, with the student agreeing on study topics with their supervisor. The dissertation is an important component. Again, the topic covered can be decided on with the assistance of your supervisor.

Some doctoral programs require an internship and others don’t. This usually depends on the focus of the program and the specific career the course is aimed at.

A doctoral program typically takes 4-6 years to complete.

Get licensed

In many states, a license is required to practice and use the word psychologist in your title. In this case, you need to obtain a license from your state’s licensure board. The process can include demonstrating supervised practice hours, proving you have earned a doctorate, and passing the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

Other certifications of interest may include becoming a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). Or you can become a board-certified sports psychologist through the American Board of Sport Psychology (ABSP).

Is it possible to earn these sports psychology degrees online?

It is possible to achieve your entire undergraduate and a substantial portion of a master’s degree online, depending on your chosen school. Because this profession has a physical sports component, hybrid learning will likely be preferable at higher levels. In-person learning is sometimes preferable in performance coaching, but with the advent of additional options for online medical treatment and therapy, the profession may yet transition to a more virtual focus.

Is financial aid available?

Post-secondary education can be expensive. Apart from savings, students can fund their studies in a variety of ways:

Federal student aid programs

The first step in researching financial aid from the federal government is filling out the Financial Student Aid (FAFSA) website to assess your eligibility for federal assistance. This website covers all types of aid options for students including:

• The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
• The Perkins Loan Program
• The Federal Work-Study Program

State aid

Be sure to check to see if state-specific additional loans are available in your state.

Post-9/11 GI Bill®

Check with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the financial aid options available to current and honorably discharged service members.

School-based aid programs

Many schools offer their own financial aid programs. Research your options at each institution.

Private loans

Look at options available through financial institutions or loans from family or friends.

Scholarships and bursaries

Many organizations offer gifts for qualified students. Often these are given as a prize for an essay competition.

How much money does a sports psychologist degree holder make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of a qualified psychologist is $82,180. The average salary for those with a master’s degree in psychology to be $64,000.

The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook shows projected growth in the psychology field at 8% from 2020 to 2030, due in part to an increased awareness of the importance of mental health.

Within that job, there are several different specializations. These include:

• Clinical sports psychologists – work in a private practice, or as part of a healthcare team at a hospital, counseling individuals who are facing crises. Some of the most common issues tackled are anxiety regarding performance, adverse cognitive responses to physical injuries, and ongoing behavior modification.
• Applied sports psychologists – work closely with coaches to support athletes or sports teams, either on a full-time or consulting basis. This role encourages and directs mental conditioning, communication, career transitions, and can teach valuable relaxation and concentration techniques.

If you’re wondering what you can do with a master’s degree in sports psychology, know that there are many options. While a doctoral degree is preferred for clinical counseling, those holding a master’s degree have access to several professions.

Alternatively, you could become a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMP). The responsibilities of a CMP are like those of a sports psychologist. You don’t need a doctorate to become a CMP. A master’s degree and certification from the Association for Applied Sports Psychology is enough. To get a certification from the Association for Applied Sports Psychology, you need to go through their certification program and pass the certification exam. As a certified CMP, you’d be obligated to adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct.

With additional experience, master’s degree holders can also be employed as professional coaches, or teachers.

Those with a bachelor’s degree can still put their knowledge of performance, fitness and motivation to use. These include becoming a personal trainer, the military, or working as a sports coach.

Conclusion

If you want to enter the field in sports and performance psychology, expect many years of hard studies. The reward that follows is often an exciting and challenging career. Sports psychology graduates can also use their skills in the care of first responders, military applications, corporate teamwork exercises, and assisting performers in the arts. If you are a caring individual with a keen enthusiasm for sports and performance, this profession could be for you.