The chapter was informative and now serves as a reference for the future. However, I could infer, using the book alone, that I would need a degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology (SEP) to actually teach or counsel someone with the mental side of sports. However, I know from taking several KINE classes that one doesn’t have to have a degree in this subject to teach mental skills to athletes. It’s a foundational part of coaching. I also lived out most of the mental training tools and skills as a pilot and now I’m using the knowledge I learned this summer in Kinesiology with my professional background to assist a local baseball team with their mental side to the game. Don’t get me wrong on seeking a degree, I have a goal to one day earn
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I had read their website before, so this information wasn’t new, but the book reinforced the information. However, it did make me wonder why such a certification program exists. Sport Psychology should be available for every athlete; however, with the current system, most athletes are not going to be exposed to this subject until they are in college or attending one of the sports academies. This was my first introduction to this concept of sports academies which would be unaffordable and unrealistic for the common person. I remember in class you stating that it’s sad how the current rec league kids have had the fun taken out of sports. I would think a sports academy would have this same mentality on steroids. Athletes are also taught goal setting, imagery, communication skills, leadership skills, management of emotions, and concentration skills at these academies which is great. These are basically all the skills that I’m currently trying to develop in a local private school that would never consider hiring a sport psychologist due to funding. Thankfully Auburn is teaching SEP to their students so that we can go back to our communities and make a difference without bureaucracy. I am also scheduled to take a two-day course in imagery training in December. The organization teaching imagery is called Habitudes and their techniques are now intertwined in
I had read their website before, so this information wasn’t new, but the book reinforced the information. However, it did make me wonder why such a certification program exists. Sport Psychology should be available for every athlete; however, with the current system, most athletes are not going to be exposed to this subject until they are in college or attending one of the sports academies. This was my first introduction to this concept of sports academies which would be unaffordable and unrealistic for the common person. I remember in class you stating that it’s sad how the current rec league kids have had the fun taken out of sports. I would think a sports academy would have this same mentality on steroids. Athletes are also taught goal setting, imagery, communication skills, leadership skills, management of emotions, and concentration skills at these academies which is great. These are basically all the skills that I’m currently trying to develop in a local private school that would never consider hiring a sport psychologist due to funding. Thankfully Auburn is teaching SEP to their students so that we can go back to our communities and make a difference without bureaucracy. I am also scheduled to take a two-day course in imagery training in December. The organization teaching imagery is called Habitudes and their techniques are now intertwined in