The world today is obsessed with sports. Especially in the United States, sports are extremely important, and parents teach their children at an early age to be competitive and that winning is everything, which can lead to psychological problems in the future. This year, with the Rio Summer 2016 Olympics just months away, athletes' stress levels are extremely high. As the stakes become higher, the athletes are more vulnerable to the stress, and their performance can falter. When this happens, the athletes can benefit from visiting a sport psychologist, where they can work through their issues and fears, and can learn how to be in control so they will always be able to perform at their highest level. Professional athletes have a stressful job because they are working for themselves, their fans, and for some, their teams. However, many athletes do not utilize sport psychologists, and most people outside of the athletic world have never heard of sport psychology. 

The sport psychology field started in 1920 by Coleman Griffeth, an educational psychologist at the University of Illinois (Begel 606). In An Overview of Sport Psychology, author Daniel Begel comments, "As Massimino said, 'The primary role of the sport psychiatrist must be a clinical one: to prevent, diagnose, and treat the psychiatrically related medical issues confronting the athlete'" (Begel 606). In addition, Martin Hagger, a professor of psychology at Curtin University in his TedxPerth Talk, Inside the Mind of Champion Athletes, states that sport psychology can be defined as "the study of the practice of mental preparation for sports" (Hagger). Sport psychologists help with athletes who suffer from psychological illnesses, like anxiety, ADHD, and alcohol and drug abuse, but they also help athletes get to their best level, and have a positive outlook on their performance. In the introduction of their research article, Claudia Reardon and Robert Factor explain "The assumption that there is a low prevalence of mental illness in athletes is one reason for the paucity of research in this area. A tendency to idealize athletes leads health care providers to deny the existence or significance of psychiatric symptoms. Athletes themselves have a tendency to minimize apparent signs of weakness" (Reardon and Factor 962). Athletes try to cover up their weaknesses because they have adopted an "'I can do it myself' or 'push through it' attitude" (Petrie 1) which makes it hard for them to realize they could be struggling mentally. Because there is little concern in this area, it makes it harder for an athlete who realizes they need psychological help to find a psychologist. Sadly many people do not know what sport psychology is, so when a report comes out that an athlete uses a sport psychologist, people start to think that athletes are not as strong as society makes them out to be. The media makes athletes seem like the toughest members of society, both physically and mentally, since they are so strong and are able to beat the competition with their talents. However, this way of thinking is incorrect, but with the little media attention sport psychology receives and the small amount of research in this field, people do not know about this subject.  

Unfortunately sport psychologists are not utilized as much as they should be because athletes are too busy and some have a fear of opening up to a psychologist. In the University of North Texas' Center for Sport Psychology Newsletter, the author mentions that even though "Athletes and coaches with whom we have worked tell us that mental factors play an influential role in performance successes (50 to 80%), and performance errors (90-100%). Finally, when it comes to how much time athletes and coaches spend in 'mental training,' the percentages drop considerably (0-20%)" (Petrie 1). In the newsletter, Petrie indicates that athletes claim that they do not have enough time to meet with a sport psychologist, and they have a fear of visiting one, which is why they do not spend as much time in 'mental training' (Petrie 1). Moreover, there is not a lot of research in this field of psychology. "However, to provide informed understanding and treatment, we especially need more research on overtraining syndrome, bipolar disorder, suicidality, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and psychosis in athletes" (Reardon and Factor 962). Without effective research, athletes are not able to receive the best treatments they can. There needs to be more research about sport psychology so athletes and ordinary people can learn how it benefits athletes mentally and physically, so more athletes will utilize them.

One athlete that has benefited from sport psychology is Olympic volleyball player Kerri Walsh. As reported in Outside Magazine, Walsh is a client of Michael Gervais, "Psychologist to the Stars". The article, written by Brian Mokenhaupt, begins with the setting of an appointment between Gervais and Walsh, and he details that she dominates when she plays, but in Gervais' office, she " ... tucks her knees to her chest. She towers on beach-volleyball courts, but in a baggy sweatshirt and pink flip-flops she seems more guarded than dominating" (Mokenhaupt). The reason for this appointment was because it was May 2012, a few months before the London Olympics, and Walsh was unhappy with her performance in her past week's practice games. To get Walsh to open up about why she is not doing as well as she would like, Gervais asked her to imagine "'a time on the sand when you were in a great space,' he says. 'A moment that's amazing'" (Mokenhaupt). By the use of imagery, Gervais learned that Walsh thought that the word 'perfect' and 'ideal' meant the same thing, and he wanted to get her to think differently. "Gervais will force Walsh to peel back some scabs, and she will cry. But she knows she'll play better for it" (Mokenhaut). With the help and coaching from Gervais, Walsh was able to work through her issues to be able to play volleyball at her highest level. As Mokenhaut mentions, this appointment was emotional for Walsh, but it assisted her by getting rid of the negative thoughts and feelings out of her head and to think positively about her upcoming Olympics.

In contrast, Martin Hagger in his TedxPerth Talk mentions Rory McIlroy and James Magnussen as two athletes that should have used sport psychologists. Rory McIlroy was in first place in the 2011 Augusta Masters on the second-to-last day of the competition. However, the next day, the pressure to win affected his performance, and he ended the championship tied for fifteenth place. Furthermore, during the 2012 London Olympics, James Magnussen, an Australian swimmer was vocally confident in his ability to win the gold medal, lost by a few seconds. Hagger infers that Magnussen could have been overconfident in his talent, or he could have used an overconfident exterior to hide a more vulnerable inside. In both cases, Hagger says that both athletes could have possibly won their competitions had they previously spoken with a sport psychologist, because they would have learned to successfully handle stress, and to be the right level of confident. 

In both Hagger's TedxPerth Talk and Mokenhaut's article, they both indicate the technique of imagery to help athletes boost their self-confidence before a competition. Hagger defines the imagery technique as a "mental rehearsal strategy that many athletes use ... almost like a video of their performance ...  to visualize any barriers or problems or difficulties that can arise during the course of their competition" (Hagger). Imagery can be extremely useful for an athlete because it can prepare them to watch out for certain aspects of their performance so they will be ready on game day, and can motivate them before their competition. Furthermore, sport psychologists also teach their clients other techniques such as goal setting, the key to motivation (Carnes). Another is self-talk, where the athlete can be meditational and say 'calm down', or motivational and say, 'you can do this'. Focus, as described by David Carnes in his article for Livestrong, is "the execution of a particular skill to the extent that you 'shut out' the outside world (Carnes). The last technique is anxiety management, which is deep breathing, stretching and meditation. These approaches can help athletes deal with setbacks and defeats as well (Hagger). 

There are several physical benefits athletes can learn from seeing a sport psychologist. These procedures are personalized by sport, but a sport psychologist can teach their clients several different methods to find which one is best.  By doing this, athletes can improve correct motor skills, provide structure, lower their heart rate, and reduce stress. For athletes that use a swinging motion like golf, tennis and baseball, practicing that swing before a match or a game can help improve motor skills, for example, "tapping your club on the ground twice before golf shots will help trigger the correct swing if you've tapped the club on the ground twice during driving range practice" (Ashe-Edmunds). By learning how to control their breathing, and become calm, even when losing, athletes can lower their heart rate while performing. Additionally, athletes can learn from sport psychologists that they should "follow a set pattern between points and plays" (Ashe-Edmunds). This approach will make athletes more concentrated on their playing, and will get the athlete to repeatedly make the same types of plays. 

According to sport psychologist Patrick J. Cohn, "Sports Psychology is about improving your attitude and mental game skills to help you perform your best by identifying limiting beliefs and embracing a healthier philosophy about your sport" (Cohn). It is used to assist athletes with their mental obstacles. Some athletes suffer from psychological illnesses like Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, and they use sports psychologist to alleviate their issues. In their article, A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Medical Treatment of Mental Illness in Athletes, Claudia Reardon and Robert Factor begin by describing the search methods they used to find how much research is done on several types of disorders in athletes. For example, they found that bipolar disorder has been found alone and in addition to depressive disorder in athletes, but they found very little other research on this disorder in athletes. However, their results found that "exercise as a compulsive behavior" as a common compulsive disorder in athletes because it relieves anxiety. (Reardon and Factor 965). The authors also add that some athletes suffering from compulsive disorders experience depression and irritability when they are not exercising and become 'addicts' (Reardon and Factor 966). If athletes suffering from a compulsive disorder visited with a sport psychologist, they could learn to channel their compulsive tendencies into other more positive ways. Lastly, the authors found that ADHD is frequent in athletes, "possibly because those with ADHD are drawn to physical activity ... " (Reardon and Factor, 967). This research is significant because it shows athletes try cope with their disorder through exercise, and seeing a sport psychologist for this can help athletes handle their psychological disorder in other ways as well. Especially when a game or match does not go well, or they are not performing at the level they think they should, athletes get more stressed, and they might perform worse. To help with this, a sport psychologist can teach their clients how to manage this stress and put it into their playing. Also a sport psychologist can help manage their client's stress by using imagery or trying to get rid of the athlete's use of negative self-talk. (Ashe-Edmunds)

One cause for why there is not much knowledge in this field of psychology is because many athletes are afraid to meet with a sport psychologist, for a number of reasons. According to Bill Cole, the "Mental Game Coach" in his article Why are Some Athletes Reluctant to use a Sports Psychologists?, he explains that, "First, many people are very hesitant to see a counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist and psychotherapist for non-sport issues, so it should be no surprise that they are also leery of seeking the services of a sports psychologist. Their concerns and fears are so strong, that many people who would definitely benefit from these psychological services never receive them" (Cole). It is possible for athletes to be uncomfortable opening up to a therapist, and they view speaking with a sport psychologist similarly. These two are different though because sport psychologists boost confidence and get their clients refocused on their sport. Cole lists several fears that athletes have towards sports psychologists in his article, and most could be avoided if athletes knew more about what sports psychologists do. One common fear athletes have is that they will have to change themselves after seeing a psychologist, but that would not happen. Sport psychologists are there to help their clients with their mental obstacles, not change who they are as humans. Another fear that keeps athletes away from seeing a sports psychologist is that if others find out that they are speaking to a psychologist they will be labeled as psychotic or weak, and that they cannot handle their issues themselves. This is a wrong way of thinking because athletes can speak with a psychologist to learn stress-reducing techniques or how to mentally prepare for a challenging upcoming game or match, which every athlete could use. A third common argument athletes have against sport psychology is that they do not want to be told what to do, or to be told how to live their lives. Cole states that while a sports psychologist will give athletes advice, their job is to let the athlete take control of their performance; they should talk to a psychologist to learn how to take the first steps to become mentally strong and focused. 

There are a few arguments against athletes going to meet with sport psychologists. For instance, many people who work in the field of psychology are starting to believe that sport psychology is not actually psychology. In Tom Ferarro's article Is Sport Psychology Failing the Athlete? He argues that sport psychologists, instead of giving athletes a real diagnosis for their signs of psychological distress, are more focused on imagery and calming breathing exercises. Ferraro insists that sport psychologists do not give athletes the proper attention they need for their psychological health, and instead they dismiss the problem as only needing to learn how to breathe better. "I think it's high time we learn to respect these problems and give them the treatment they need and deserve. And this treatment will not consist of three quick sessions on how to breathe deeply, exhale and say something like 'Excellent' to yourself when you get nervous" (Ferarro). Throughout this article in the Online Journal for Sport Psychology, Ferarro asserts that many athletes are suffering from psychological illnesses, like severe anxiety and depression, and they go to a sport psychologist to be cured of their illnesses; however sport psychologists treat their clients by listening to them visualize their performance and giving them techniques to prevent mistakes in the future. Alternatively, athletes are "given a little biofeedback or some mantra like 'don't worry, be happy'" (Ferarro) which does not help their problem at all. Ferarro states that sport psychology should become more focused on psychotherapy, not just pep talks. Another argument is from Mark H. Anshel, in his text The Case Against the Certification of Sport Psychologists: In Search of the Phantom Expert where Anshel insists that sport psychologists are not qualified to be beneficial for athletes. He claims that even though sport psychologists are certified, that does not mean that they have a real expertise in this field, because "the necessary skills and knowledge of counseling sport psychologists have never been identified" (Anshel, 282). Similarly to Ferarro, Anshel argues that sport psychology is not as clinically based as it tries to be. This means that sport psychologists do not use psychological techniques to help their clients, and so the field of sport psychology is not a real field of psychology.

The topic of sport psychology is significant to me because I ran cross country and track in high school, and I run on my own now. A runner's performance is based off of how strong they are mentally, and that performance demands a strong, focused mental state. I personally understand the hardships that come out of needing to perform well, and how performance and competition can change how well a race goes. I have witnessed stress affect coaches until they are close to quitting and runners who have fallen out of love with the sport. I understand the importance of needing a sports psychologist because whether someone runs alone or on a team, at the time of the race it is just that person and their brain at the starting line, and that person needs to be mentally strong to push through the pain and the beat the competition. During runs I find myself not as focused as I need to be, and that makes my runs not as good as they should be. With the help of a sport psychologist this problem could definitely be resolved for all athletes who are going through the same pressures to perform well.

In conclusion, there are many professional athletes who are suffering from psychological illnesses or are feeling lackluster in their performance, but because of the lack of research in the field of sport psychology they are not getting help. According to J.B.M. Clark in his text "Sport Psychology", "Without confidence the best player is nothing. With it he can work miracles" (Clark 61). If an athlete is not as confident as he or she should be, then their performance will falter, but this could easily be fixed with the help of a sport psychologist. However, more research needs to be conducted in this field so more athletes will feel more comfortable meeting with a sport psychologist because they know that they will be able to get help for their sport. A solution to this problem is media outlets like Sports Illustrated can publish articles on what sport psychology is and athletes who have positively benefited from it, so more people will learn that this field needs more research so it can help more athletes.
Ferarro, Tom. "Is Sport Psychology Failing the Athlete?" Athletic Insight. The Online Journal of Sport Psychology, 2004. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.

Hagger, Martin. "Sport Psychology- Inside the Mind of Champion Athletes: TEDxPerth" Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 22 January, 2013. Web. 25 February 2016.

Mockenhaupt, Brian. "The Sports Shrink: Michael Gervais, Psychologist to the Stars." Outside Online. N.p., 23 Jan. 2013. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

Petrie, Trent A., Ph.D. Why Do I Need Sports Psychiatry? 1st ed. Vol. 1. Mu nchen: Carl Hanser, 2012. Performance Excellence. Spring 1999. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

Reardon, Claudia L., and Robert M. Factor. "Sport Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Diagnosis and Medical Treatment of Mental Illness in Athletes." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Nov. 2010. Web. 24 Feb. 2016.

 

 
