Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionWhat Sports Psychologists DoSalaryEducationIs It Right For You?Pros and Cons
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
What Sports Psychologists Do
Salary
Education
Is It Right For You?
Pros and Cons
Close
Sport psychology careers are focused on helping athletes perform and feel their best. Sport psychologists work with athletes, including amateur and professional ones, to help them do their best, handle competition, and overcome mental health challenges.
At a Glance
Sport psychology is a specialized field that connects trained psychologists with athletes. People who work in sports psychology careers use their knowledge to help athletes from all skill levels improve their performance, manage competition stress, and cope with other unique challenges associated with athletics.
An Overview of a Sports Psychology Career
According to Division 47 of theAmerican Psychological Association, sports psychology encompasses a range of topics including:
While popular perceptions often presume thatsports psychologyis only concerned with professional athletics, thisspecialty areaincludes a broad range of scientific, clinical, and applied topics involving sports and exercise.
There are two key areas of interest in sports psychology: understanding how psychology can be applied to improvemotivationand performance and understanding how sports and athletics can improvemental healthand overall well-being.
According to the American Psychological Association, sports psychologists may also choose to specialize in a particular area. Some examples of major specialties within this field include:
Sports psychologiststypically perform a range of tasks related to sports performance and education. Some opt to teach at the university level, while others work directly with athletes to increase motivation and enhance performance.
Other options include client counseling, scientific research, and athletic consulting.
In addition to working with professional athletes, sports psychologists also utilize their expertise to increase the mental well-being of non-athletes. They may work with a range of non-professional clients, including children and teens involved in athletics and injured athletes working toward returning to competition.
Salaries for Sports Psychology Careers
Pay ranges vary considerably within sports psychology based on training, education, and area of specialization. According to 2018 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, average salaries for clinical, school, and counseling psychologists range between $44,040 to $129,310.
The median salary for university faculty positions ranges from $60,000 to $80,000 a year. Some top sports psychologists earn six-figure salaries working as consultants for professional athletes, but most earn a more modest yearly income.
Counseling Psychology Careers and Training
Education for a Sports Psychology Career
Entry-level positions with abachelor’s degreeare rare, usually taking the form of internships. Most positions require a master’s or doctorate degree in clinical, counseling or sports psychology as well as direct training and experience in applying psychology to sports and exercise.
Sport Psychology Career CertificationThe American Board of Sport Psychology offers a professional certification for licensed psychologists pursuing this specialty. This board certification signifies that the holder has advanced training and experience in sport psychology and is especially aware of ethical, methodological, and research issues associated with the application of methods to enhance the psychological performance of athletes.To pursue this certification, applicants must have a doctorate degree and a license to practice in at least one state.
Sport Psychology Career Certification
The American Board of Sport Psychology offers a professional certification for licensed psychologists pursuing this specialty. This board certification signifies that the holder has advanced training and experience in sport psychology and is especially aware of ethical, methodological, and research issues associated with the application of methods to enhance the psychological performance of athletes.To pursue this certification, applicants must have a doctorate degree and a license to practice in at least one state.
The American Board of Sport Psychology offers a professional certification for licensed psychologists pursuing this specialty. This board certification signifies that the holder has advanced training and experience in sport psychology and is especially aware of ethical, methodological, and research issues associated with the application of methods to enhance the psychological performance of athletes.
To pursue this certification, applicants must have a doctorate degree and a license to practice in at least one state.
Because there are few graduate programs offering specialized degrees in sports psychology, it can be difficult to determine what exact combination of training and experience qualifies a professional to be called a ‘sports psychologist.’
Division 47 of the APA suggests that sports psychologists should be licensed psychologists with “experience in applying psychological principles in sports settings.”
Additionally, extensive educational background and training in sports, motivation management, performance, and athletics are recommended.
Is a Career in Sports Psychology Right for You?
Only you can decide if a sports psychology career is suited to your needs, interests, talents, and goals. If you dislike sports or exercise, this career is probably not for you. But if you enjoy helping people achieve their full potential, solving complex problems and working as part of a team, this field might be an ideal match for you.
Pros and Cons of a Sports Psychology Career
Benefits of a Career in Sports Psychology
Downsides of a Career in Sports Psychology
What This Means For YouA sports psychology career can be a great option if you love both psychology and athletics. If you are interested in a career as a sports psychologist, talk to an academic advisor to learn more about your options and academic path.While there are some programs that offer degrees in sports psychology, you may also opt to earn a master’s or doctorate in psychology, obtain your state licensure, and then gain relevant experience working in the field.
What This Means For You
A sports psychology career can be a great option if you love both psychology and athletics. If you are interested in a career as a sports psychologist, talk to an academic advisor to learn more about your options and academic path.While there are some programs that offer degrees in sports psychology, you may also opt to earn a master’s or doctorate in psychology, obtain your state licensure, and then gain relevant experience working in the field.
A sports psychology career can be a great option if you love both psychology and athletics. If you are interested in a career as a sports psychologist, talk to an academic advisor to learn more about your options and academic path.
While there are some programs that offer degrees in sports psychology, you may also opt to earn a master’s or doctorate in psychology, obtain your state licensure, and then gain relevant experience working in the field.
80+ Jobs in Psychology to Consider
7 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lochbaum M, Stoner E, Hefner T, Cooper S, Lane AM, Terry PC.Sport psychology and performance meta-analyses: A systematic review of the literature.PLoS One. 2022;17(2):e0263408. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263408
APA Division 47.About Div. 47.
American Psychological Association.A career in sport and performance psychology.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.19-3031 Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists.
American Board of Sport Psychology.Certification roadmap.
APA Division 47.How a psychologist becomes a sport psychologist.
Meet Our Review Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit
What is your feedback?
