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Sports Psychologist
Helps athletes build mental toughness, overcome performance anxiety, and stay motivated.
Did you know?
Imagining a movement activates many of the same brain areas as actually doing it, which is why athletes practise visualization.
How subjects help
- Psychology: Teach breathing and focus tricks that help athletes handle nerves before a big event.
- Biology: Explain how stress hormones speed up the heart and how to calm the body down.
- Sports Science: Understand an athlete's training so mental skills practice fits in around it.
- Communication: Build trust so athletes feel safe talking about their fears and setbacks.
A famous name
Coleman Griffith: Set up one of America's first sports psychology labs in 1925 and later advised the Chicago Cubs.
Try it yourself: Train one skill for five days
- Pick a skill you can count in 30 seconds: keepy-uppies, skips, catches against a wall.
- Do a first test and write down your score.
- Practise for five minutes a day for five days.
- Test again. How much did you improve, and which day was the jump?
Coaches and athletes measure, practise and re-test; small daily practice beats one huge session.
Also try: Map the helpers near you.
Known for it in
USA, UK, Australia, Germany, Japan